Last updated on November 11th, 2021 at 01:16 am
You decided to store your motor home or RV in a nice place with lights and cameras, no problem, right? When the call comes that your catalytic converter was removed from your motor home and perhaps a few others as well, you are shocked. How could this happen in this nice place with barbed wire fences and lots of lights? The fact is that unless a person is living on the premises or there are angry dogs around at night, your RV is not safe.
Recently, my motor home was parked in just such a location. I received that call about the catalytic converter being stolen. When I arrived the owners told me that they would supply camera feeds to the Sheriff but they did not understand how the people got in. The gate was not cut. At this point, I was not concerned about what “had” happened, I started thinking about what to do about the situation.
I contacted my insurance company since the comprehensive portion of the policy less the large deductible would pay for it. Next thing was to call the sheriff’s department and report the crime. Following that, I wanted to get the motor home fixed as soon as possible given all of the supply shortages going on around the country. Fortunately, the part was available and I was told it would be done in a few days.
The person who lost his as well at the same location reminded me not to take it to an RV shop. I agreed immediately, taking your RV to a big RV shop means storage for months while they get to it. The sheriff deputy and the other person suggested a shop very close to the storage place with a great reputation. I called and they said come over.
The next thing is what to do with the motor home when it is fixed. The insurance adjuster told me that several people have had more than one stolen from the same location (not where I was storing). Fortunately for me, I can store it behind my fence on the side of my house. I decided to store at a facility because the sprinkler water lines were just below the ground and I have driven over them several times and they broke.
This time would be different. I called a handyman that I know and he dug up the water lines and buried them a foot deep the way they should have been when they were first laid. Now I can drive over my grass to my side gate without damaging the lines. Ok, enough for my saga, how about some pearls of wisdom to keep your RV from being broken into, stolen, or damaged.
I suggest that if you want to use an RV storage location that you find one that has wifi and power. If they do not have power and wifi, you can get by if you have solar panels on your unit. If you do not have solar panels, you can buy a standup set of solar panels from Harbor Freight or Amazon that will generate enough power to keep a mobile hot spot charged.
If there is power and wifi, buy the security lights that you can detach from your unit when you are driving it. Plug them into RV or electrical outlet. Plugin your RV and turn on some lights inside. Close your curtains, let a bad guy guess if anyone is inside. Next, buy an alarm system that includes motion detection. Go to an installer if you do not feel comfortable installing a system. With electricity available you can buy items made for homes e.g. cameras, alarms, etc.
If you do not have power at the site, set up your mobile hot spot. You may be paying $50-100 per month for it but consider the value of your unit. You can set up your alarm system to the hotspot as wifi and get the same notification as if you have electrical power. Install battery-operated motion lights around and or on top of your unit. You can get power from solar panels for much of this. Try to position cameras so you can see on your cell phone what is going on at any time.
Of course, be sure to lock the windows and doors. Someone told me one time that the locks that come standard on the storage compartments can be opened by others with similar keys. You can change the locks and put the barrel-type locks on which can not be picked and they are stronger inside as well.
If you have access to power, I strongly suggest that you not use your heavy 30 or 50 amp cord to connect. All you need is a standard 15-30 amp 110 connection for security items. Buy a 12 gauge extension cord and use it. Some of these idiots are stealing copper and your heavy cable would be a great catch.
Be sure that your battery compartment is secure. If you have a 5th wheel invest in a hitch lock to prevent someone from just taking it away.
The best thing you can do is use the security set up to turn on alarms that will frighten would be thieves away. It is unlikely that law enforcement will arrive in time to arrest the bad guys and even more unlikely that you will ever recover anything stolen.
Don’t ask why I did not follow all of my advice above. Frankly, I knew about most of this, and the two places that I stored my motor home had people living there with cameras in their houses. I just did not think ahead. Now that you have read this, you will have no excuse but to secure your RV. I hope that you do not have the same miserable issue that I went through.
