Preventing RV Theft

While you’re out in your RV or you’re planning your next trip in your RV, the last thing you want to think about is what could go wrong. But if you’re responsible for the RV and the camping trip, then there are a lot of safety measures you’ll want to keep in mind. One such safety measure is making sure your RV and your family are safe from thieves. RV thieves can break in and steal your belongings, or even worse, they can steal your RV, so make sure you’re taking all the necessary precautions against theft

Here at Carolina Coach & Marine, we’ve provided some of the basics for preparing your RV with all the proper safety measures to protect it from thieves, whether you’re on a budget or you have a little more money to spend. And if you’re still looking for the perfect RV, then check out what we have in stock right now. We proudly serve the areas of Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Hickory, and Lake Norman, North Carolina.

Parking your RV

One of the easiest precautionary measures you can take is how and where you park your RV, whether you’re out at a campground or at home. When you’re out and about, try to find a campsite that’s out of the way, but also near other campers. As tempting as it may be to give yourself plenty of privacy, having more people around will prevent suspicious activity from going unnoticed.

There are also many ways to secure your RV once you find a spot. Tire boots are a great way to secure all RVs. You can also get a wheel lock for motorhomes and a hitch lock for towable RVs. You can even invest in a hitch jockey, which allows you to maneuver a towable RV without hooking it up to your tow vehicle. This means you’ll be able to point your hitch away from the road and prevent thieves from hooking up their own tow vehicle and driving off with your RV.

If you choose to store your RV for an extended period of time, avoid leaving it out on the street. The more secure and the closer to your home your RV is, the less tempting it’ll be to thieves. Ideally, you would use a large garage or barn to store your RV, but we know this isn’t practical for many people. If you have an accessible, large backyard, that can also work really well. The point is the closer a thief has to get to your home, or the harder they have to work, the less likely they’ll waste their time on your RV.

Reducing Temptations

Consider applying basic car theft prevention techniques to your RV. Many experts will tell you to hide your valuables in your car so they’re out of sight and make your vehicle less tempting to thieves. This is just as true with an RV. Stow all high-value equipment and personal items so they’re not visible to peeping eyes. This includes laptops, jewelry, and other valuables. You’ll want to also invest in a safe for items like firearms and ownership papers. But you can avoid wandering eyes altogether by drawing your shades when you’re not at your RV and at night. Not only will this protect you from thieves, but it will also keep your RV insulated and prevent sun damage to the interior of your vehicle.

Further Measures

If you’re willing to invest a little more money into your theft prevention strategies, there are more expensive, but generally more effective options. You can get an alarm or security system installed for the most protection. But sometimes it isn’t about how to prevent theft, but rather how to find your RV if it gets stolen. Talk to your local law enforcement about tagging your RV to locate it. You can also customize your RV with paint jobs, graphics, and interior decorating to make it easier to distinguish.

Your RV is no doubt one of your most valuable and prized possessions. Not only is it a great way to spend a vacation, but it also holds a number of memories, so make sure you’re taking all the right steps to protect it. If you need help installing a security system or would like more information on how you can prevent RV theft, stop by Carolina Coach & Marine. We welcome all RV owners from the areas of Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Hickory, and Lake Norman, North Carolina.