Wheel clamp and hitch lock security
Evening all, we are just in the process of purchasing our first caravan. I am confused as to what would be the best security device to fit 1, on the wheels 2, hitch. Any comments or advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Evening all, we are just in the process of purchasing our first caravan. I am confused as to what would be the best security device to fit 1, on the wheels 2, hitch. Any comments or advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Write your comments here...Hi I have both on my caravan
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personaly I would fit security to the hitch and the wheels it will make your insurance cheaper Mention it when you take out caravan insurance
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I was planning on fitting both, but I was wondering what brand of devices to fit, there are so many out there. I was after other owners recommendations please.
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Fit the best (not dearest) you can get. Don't rely on less than three items.
Remember, what you are buying is time. To convince thieves that another van will be an easier mark.
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We have the AL_KO AKS hitch lock that is designed to fit on their AKS stabiliser hitches, we have it for about 10 years. We also have their wheel lock that fits onto the chassis. And then a bulldog euro clamp. As has been said you're just trying to make
it as difficult as possible. Mind you we have also the van stotred on a gold storage site and a tracker. Touch wood no probelms so far.0 -
Both my caravan wheels have clamps, also the hitch lock. In addition I store my van with the hitch lower to the ground than the rear and I have Milenco locks on the rear corner steadies so that the front cannot be lifted and hitched onto a thieves vehicle.
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Does your new caravan have a receiver for an Alko wheel lock?
They are considered to be very difficult to remove without the key.
This might give you more information
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Thanks for all your comments, think I'll probably go for the alko wheel lock, and also the alko hitch lock.
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Thanks for all your comments, think I'll probably go for the alko wheel lock, and also the alko hitch lock.
Just be aware that the Alko wheel lock would not be very easy to fit unless you have a power mover. We have an Alko wheel lock and it is a great bit of kit but it takes a bit of practice getting it lined up. It cannot be positioned where the inflator is located, so sometimes some shuffling is required, particularly if you are limited for space in storage. All very easy with a mover, but without much more difficult.
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I totally agree with the comment that all you are doing is buying time. I am using Alko wheel lock and hitch lock. I've also got other security devices. Have you had a look at http://www.soldsecure.com Plus
check what your insurance company will accept.0 -
The ALKO wheel lock is probably the best security device on the market but can be a problem to line up. For more standard wheel clamps I would go for the Nemisis.
If you fit the Alko wheel lock I can see no point in fitting a hitch lock unless the insurance needs this. Hitchlocks will not deter any thief who can tackle the ALKO as all you need is a length of stout rope or for the best thieves a metal bracket that
fits over the a frame to bypass them.0 -
If your caravan is a twin axle you will need two wheel locks on the same side (normally near side on Uk caravans) if you want to benefit from the CC insurance etc. The Al-Ko wheel lock is light and not bulky which is good but as mentioned is difficult to
line up as the freeplay tolerance is very tight. For this reason a power mover makes life easier as you can watch for the receiving unit being lined up centrally between the wheel spokes.0 -
If your caravan is a twin axle you will need two wheel locks on the same side (normally near side on Uk caravans) if you want to benefit from the CC insurance etc. The Al-Ko wheel lock is light and not bulky which is good but as mentioned is difficult to
line up as the freeplay tolerance is very tight. For this reason a power mover makes life easier as you can watch for the receiving unit being lined up centrally between the wheel spokes.Tirril, just out of interest, how does one ensure that both wheels link up so that their respective locks can be positioned betwen the spokes. Surely by the law of averages one of the wheels will not line up properly.
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If your caravan is a twin axle you will need two wheel locks on the same side (normally near side on Uk caravans) if you want to benefit from the CC insurance etc. The Al-Ko wheel lock is light and not bulky which is good but as mentioned is difficult to
line up as the freeplay tolerance is very tight. For this reason a power mover makes life easier as you can watch for the receiving unit being lined up centrally between the wheel spokes.Tirril, just out of interest, how does one ensure that both wheels link up so that their respective locks can be positioned betwen the spokes. Surely by the law of averages one of the wheels will not line up properly.
Unless you are very lucky you will need to jack up the caravan to align one wheel.
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Evening all, we are just in the process of purchasing our first caravan. I am confused as to what would be the best security device to fit 1, on the wheels 2, hitch. Any comments or advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Point to bear in mind there are a few brands of caravans that are not built on Alko chassis so alko product may not fit the hitch.
Write your comments here...
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If your caravan is a twin axle you will need two wheel locks on the same side (normally near side on Uk caravans) if you want to benefit from the CC insurance etc. The Al-Ko wheel lock is light and not bulky which is good but as mentioned is difficult to
line up as the freeplay tolerance is very tight. For this reason a power mover makes life easier as you can watch for the receiving unit being lined up centrally between the wheel spokes.Tirril, just out of interest, how does one ensure that both wheels link up so that their respective locks can be positioned betwen the spokes. Surely by the law of averages one of the wheels will not line up properly.
Unless you are very lucky you will need to jack up the caravan to align one wheel.
That's what I thought one would have to do. Not ideal if it's hissing down!!
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In my opinion, fitting just one Alko to a TA is a waste of time. All the thief has to do is deflate the tyre on the wheel the one lock is fitted to, and drag it away. There is also the problem of not being able to access the jacking points if a motor mover
is fitted. This is why I have opted for the Lock 'n Level which makes the process of fitting both Alkos very simple.0 -
Hello can i ask when you say lock and level , do you mean an alko jack? And would you jack up the wheel and then put the alko lock on the wheel ? And also can the alko bottle jack be used as a leveller when you are actually using caravan ? Cheers mrs bc:)
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Hello can i ask when you say lock and level , do you mean an alko jack? And would you jack up the wheel and then put the alko lock on the wheel ? And also can the alko bottle jack be used as a leveller when you are actually using caravan ? Cheers mrs bc:)
No the lock and level is a pneumatic pillow that you inflate under the tyre and can be used for levelling the van and fitting the second lock on a TA. The Alko jack is not a bottle jack but fits onto a bracket on the caravan chassis, which is why a mover could get in the way of its use. (It doesn't on ours) You can not use it as a leveller, it is purely for jacking up the van to change / rotate a wheel. The lock and level can be used to level the van, but as far as I am concerned the jury is still out on its reliability. There is some concern if it punctures the steadies could become overloaded.
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Just Google Lock 'n Level - there is a video on there giving a full explanation of how it works. It isn't a wheel clamp - just an air bag which can be used for both jacking and levelling. I have used ours extensively for over a year and have had no reliability
problems or issues with deflations or suggestions that strain could be put on the floor/chassis. On our TA there is no other safe way of jacking the van because of the motor movers - either for fitting the Alkos or changing a wheel.0 -
I suppose it is different with a TA, presuming it uses two airbags, both would have to deflate for there to be a problem. However, on a single axle if it deflated the steadies would effectively be jacking up the caravan, a task they are not designed for. This is the concern I refered to.
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I thought the lock and level is a combined wheel clamp and leveller which can raise a wheel as well as act as a clamp. This is not the airbag suggested.
I think you may be thinking of the
Milenco leveller. Although a wheel clamp would still be required, certainly for insurance purposes, because the leveller has no lock. Or at least the one we have doesn't.0
