Smoky
Well-known member
Besides my big dog, are there any other security systems I should consider for my pending new motorhome? What has worked well for you folks? Are they necessary when full timing?
Security Systems
- Thread starter Smoky
- Start date
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Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Smoky said:
I think the big dog is probably more than adequate. ;D ;D ;D What came as standard equipment door locks and bin locks have been enough for us.
Tom
Administrator
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- Jan 13, 2005
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You could do as Carl Icahn (sp?) did after buying American Airlines. First cost cutting measure was to fire the graveyard security guards and replace them with dogs. Next cut he fired the dogs and installed tape recorders playing tapes of dogs barking.
Karl
Moderator Emeritus
Ron,
Ned will back me up on this: Last summer some friends bought a new rig. We looked it over and, while standing outside, the topic turned to security. Ned commented that HIS keys would probably open THEIR coach and and proceeded to do just that, bays and all. Afterwards, I did the same with y keys. Try it some time. You may be as surprised and shocked as they were! The coaches may be custom, but many builders buy their coach and basement doors from the same mfg'r with exactly the same locks, or close enough to be less than secure. Personally I always travel with two trusted friends; Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson. While this is not for everyone and certainly won't help when I'm away, a security system (or merely the appearance of one) will do more to deter would-be thieves than any standard lock.
Ned will back me up on this: Last summer some friends bought a new rig. We looked it over and, while standing outside, the topic turned to security. Ned commented that HIS keys would probably open THEIR coach and and proceeded to do just that, bays and all. Afterwards, I did the same with y keys. Try it some time. You may be as surprised and shocked as they were! The coaches may be custom, but many builders buy their coach and basement doors from the same mfg'r with exactly the same locks, or close enough to be less than secure. Personally I always travel with two trusted friends; Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson. While this is not for everyone and certainly won't help when I'm away, a security system (or merely the appearance of one) will do more to deter would-be thieves than any standard lock.
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Karl,
Yes I am aware of this.? Some time ago I offered to close a bay door for an RVer that had a bay door swinging open.? While he was trying to get the key off the ring I closed and locked the bay for him.? Kinda suprised him that I had a key.? However, Locks only keep honest folks honest.? Come think of it maybe I should ask Smoky for a tape of his big dog barking. ;D
Yes I am aware of this.? Some time ago I offered to close a bay door for an RVer that had a bay door swinging open.? While he was trying to get the key off the ring I closed and locked the bay for him.? Kinda suprised him that I had a key.? However, Locks only keep honest folks honest.? Come think of it maybe I should ask Smoky for a tape of his big dog barking. ;D
Karl
Moderator Emeritus
Ron,
That sounds like a great idea! But you'd need to hook it up to some kind of proximity switch or risk getting thrown out of a lot of parks...Maybe even get arrested for harboring a vicious tape recorder ;D Ned and Lorna's dog, Sasha, seems to do a pretty good job. I've yet to hear of Ned being stolen ;D ;D ;D
That sounds like a great idea! But you'd need to hook it up to some kind of proximity switch or risk getting thrown out of a lot of parks...Maybe even get arrested for harboring a vicious tape recorder ;D Ned and Lorna's dog, Sasha, seems to do a pretty good job. I've yet to hear of Ned being stolen ;D ;D ;D
OP
OP
Smoky
Well-known member
LOL, this thread did not go where I had hoped.
Is security really this unnecessary?
Keep in mind that our fulltiming plan does not include staying at well patrolled luxury campgrounds 365 days a year.? We plan to do a lot of dry camping and to find nice natural settings along the way where we might not have much company.? We worry that if we take the toad off for a day's excursion and leave the coach unoccupied that there at least should be some security devices.? In addition to Sky, my Chesapeake Bay retriever I also have my friend Mr. Browning hi-power, but Mr. Browning won;t be much help without me there to guide him.? And much of the time, if we are hiking or fishing, Sky will be with us, not with the coach.
Sounds like you folks are saying that security won't be much of a problem and everyone treats a coach with honesty, even though keys interchange.? This worries me.? We don;t want the coach to be our prison, but rather our magic carpet to take us to places we have never seen before and then be our home base from which we explore.? Our mother starship so to speak.
Is this simply another one of those lifestyle adjustments like ironing boards and picnic tables?? ;D
Is security really this unnecessary?
Keep in mind that our fulltiming plan does not include staying at well patrolled luxury campgrounds 365 days a year.? We plan to do a lot of dry camping and to find nice natural settings along the way where we might not have much company.? We worry that if we take the toad off for a day's excursion and leave the coach unoccupied that there at least should be some security devices.? In addition to Sky, my Chesapeake Bay retriever I also have my friend Mr. Browning hi-power, but Mr. Browning won;t be much help without me there to guide him.? And much of the time, if we are hiking or fishing, Sky will be with us, not with the coach.
Sounds like you folks are saying that security won't be much of a problem and everyone treats a coach with honesty, even though keys interchange.? This worries me.? We don;t want the coach to be our prison, but rather our magic carpet to take us to places we have never seen before and then be our home base from which we explore.? Our mother starship so to speak.
Is this simply another one of those lifestyle adjustments like ironing boards and picnic tables?? ;D
If you plan to leave the rig unattended for hours at a time in isolated areas, you might want to change the bay locks to a different, unique, keyed set. Also, use the deadbolt lock on the entrance door, that's a unique key as well.
And what's an ironing board?
And what's an ironing board?
BernieD
Well-known member
Smoky said:
Smoky
All you need to do is put your ironing board on top of your picnic table and leave them in front of the bays. Then nobody will touch your ;D ;D ;D
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
RVer/s in general are not security risk. ?However like everything else there are a few that don't fit the mold I'm sure. ?I think leaving the MH in an isolated place unattended is no more risking than leaveing any vehicle unattended. ?Like was mentioned the bay doors and the door latch locks on MH are not unique. ?The dead bolt latch is unique as far as I know. ?However, since we began motorhoming in 1991 we have not had one case of theft or anything like that. ?I am sure there is more theft and damage that occurs ?to RV/s in secured and unsecured storage lots than ever occurs when the RV is being used. ?Personnally we have not experienced any real concern over secuity. ?If a place didn't feel right to us would just move or not stop in the first place. ?I just checked with Sam and as far as we can recall we have never felt the need to move because of security concerns.
The other day I saw a coach with the fold-a-boat mounted to the side of the coach. ?Althogh I have seen this several ?times in the past this time I thought of you and thought to myself "now theres another solution for Smoky's ironing board what ever that is'. ;D ;D ;D
The other day I saw a coach with the fold-a-boat mounted to the side of the coach. ?Althogh I have seen this several ?times in the past this time I thought of you and thought to myself "now theres another solution for Smoky's ironing board what ever that is'. ;D ;D ;D
Tom
Administrator
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Smoky
I don't need a dog. One time we were camped overnight off the side of the road at the entrance to the Berkley marina where I was helping dock boats for an event. Around 2.00am I was awakened by a loud thumping on the door and I saw a very bright light shining through whatever window coverings we had. Realizing it was the local police, I thought I'd lay still and quiet, pretending there was nobody home. Right about then my wife woke up, not realizing I was awake, and started shouting "wake up, there's someone banging on the door".
We spent the remainder of the night at the Berkley Marriott, with the coach in their parking lot. So you see, I have my own night security guard on board
I don't need a dog. One time we were camped overnight off the side of the road at the entrance to the Berkley marina where I was helping dock boats for an event. Around 2.00am I was awakened by a loud thumping on the door and I saw a very bright light shining through whatever window coverings we had. Realizing it was the local police, I thought I'd lay still and quiet, pretending there was nobody home. Right about then my wife woke up, not realizing I was awake, and started shouting "wake up, there's someone banging on the door".
We spent the remainder of the night at the Berkley Marriott, with the coach in their parking lot. So you see, I have my own night security guard on board
OP
OP
Smoky
Well-known member
Well I can see the ironing board will be put to many interesting uses!
Wonder how expensive it would be to change those locks?
Wonder how expensive it would be to change those locks?
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Smoky,
Sam & I have never felt threatned nor have we experienced any security issues. I never changed my locks and if you do you will be the first person I know that did. Why not let that wait until you get on the road and see how you feel about it.
Sam & I have never felt threatned nor have we experienced any security issues. I never changed my locks and if you do you will be the first person I know that did. Why not let that wait until you get on the road and see how you feel about it.
OP
OP
Smoky
Well-known member
"Why not let that wait until you get on the road and see how you feel about it."
Should I wait until my fishing gear and other valuables have flown the coop?
Should I wait until my fishing gear and other valuables have flown the coop?
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
I doubt if anybody in the framily has lost anything out of their bays due to theft. If you lost your fishing gear you would be the first. Better stop by Sam's Camp for a little fishing.
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Gee you were just checking to make sure the secuity system was working properly weren't you. ;D ;D ???
OP
OP
Smoky
Well-known member
ROFL Jeff!
OP
OP
Smoky
Well-known member
this was posted today on the rv.net forum:
Posted: 04/10/05 08:38pm Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
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Last friday nite at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Connecticut we lost two front hubcaps, the RV beside us lost one tail lite. There was about 50 RV on the lot that night boondocking in parking lot 9, so be careful if you go to Foxwoods Resort & Casino.
the whole thread:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15361640.cfm
Posted: 04/10/05 08:38pm Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last friday nite at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Connecticut we lost two front hubcaps, the RV beside us lost one tail lite. There was about 50 RV on the lot that night boondocking in parking lot 9, so be careful if you go to Foxwoods Resort & Casino.
the whole thread:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15361640.cfm
John From Detroit
Well-known member
Tom said:
I've long held that a good security system (And I understand someone actually makes one like this) is a statue of a dog, in attack pose, lips back snarling, with motion detector eyes and a tape recorded barn/snarl.
I mean, what self respecting burgler is going to stick around and find out it's only a plaster casting... he's going to be clearing out
1: of there and 2: His bowels, very fast
This would not be as effective in an RV but in a house...... Just a recording, digital prefered, A shotgun being "racked"
No gun, just gun sound effect #1 (Sound effect #2 is the BOOM and #3 is the SCREAM, burgler does not wish to hear 2, and for sure does not which to create 3)
Recent cartoon (Parage magazine) 2 "Gentelmen" sharing a room down at the local gray bar in........
First is saying: I had just disabled the alarm when my cell phone rang
(Good he had a cell phone,,, where he is now all phones are CELL phones)
