An RV is a valuable possession for you and your family. You look forward to using your travel trailer or another recreational vehicle every summer to enjoy a few memorable vacations, so it would be devastating if someone were to steal this vehicle or anything in it. Believe it or not, thieves are just as attracted to RVs as any other type of vehicle, especially since many people keep valuable possessions inside their trailers and motorhomes. Thankfully, it’s pretty hard to steal these vehicles, but if you don’t take the appropriate measures for preventing RV theft, you could potentially be faced with the unthinkable. At Airstream of Montana, we don’t want anyone to lose something so valuable, so we put together this brief guide to explain what you can do to prevent RV theft.
Don’t hesitate to come talk to us in Missoula, Montana if you have any further questions, and while you’re here, feel free to browse our inventory of Flying Cloud and other RV models.
Parking
When thieves select their prey, they look for the most wide-open, exposed target available. They wouldn’t bother going after an RV that they can’t see from the road, which is why it’s so important that you park your trailer or motorhome as far away from the street as possible. If you live in a house with a big yard, you can put it in the back or along the side of your home, which either completely or partially hides it from people passing by on the road. Ideally, an RV should be parked in a garage, barn, or shop, as these can be locked to prevent anyone from seeing or accessing it at all.
However, if you don’t have an easy way to hide your RV, smaller models can safely be kept on the road with the assistance of a jockey wheel. This device will allow you to move it without using a car or truck. Once you get it in place, you can move the hitch points to face the sidewalk, effectively disarming a potential thieves effort to connect to your trailer.
Securing Locks
An RV needs to be secured even more carefully than a home. You don’t always sleep in your trailer or motorhome, so you won’t know when someone decides to slip in through a cracked window or unlocked door. Especially if you own a motorhome, an intruder could easily drive away with your entire RV. To avoid this, Make sure everything’s closed tightly, and we recommend locking every door when you’re not staying in your recreational vehicle.
Don’t Tempt Thieves!
Along with locking your doors and windows, you’ll also want to keep your valuables out of sight. If you leave a laptop or other expensive item out in the open in and viewable from the window, it will entice thieves even more to find a way to break in. Draw all the shades and blinds so they can’t see what you have in your RV, and it’s not a bad idea to invest in a safe to store your valuables.
Additional Measures
Securing your locks, keeping your RV hidden, and storing your valuables out of sight are all great ways to avoid tempting thieves, but since you really cherish your recreational vehicle, it’s not a bad idea to take some extra security measures. An alarm or security system might be a little costly, but when it comes to bringing you some piece of mind about your RV’s safety, the extra price is worth every penny.
A stolen RV would be a heartbreaking experience for you and your family, so don’t take any chances when it comes to thieves. Implement these RV theft prevention strategies, and you’ll sleep easier knowing that your trailer or motorhome is much safer. If you have any further questions, or still don’t have your own recreational vehicle yet, come visit us at Airstream of Montana, where we sell a great selection of Flying Cloud RVs. We’re in Missoula, serving Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, as well as customers from Billings and Whitefish, MT.
