CL Site Security?

[PHOENIXFLIER]

Having just joined the MH&CC, we were disappointing to read that they suggest that you never leave your caravan unattended whilst on site. Generally, we would want to go and explore the area, and assuming we took sensible security precautions I cannot really see the need to be stuck in the middle of a remote field for days on end. Am I missing something? Is it a an umbrella statement?. Advice / experience welcome as always!. Simon.

 

[Damian]

It is a blanket statement which absolves them if anything does go wrong.
However, on all the sites we have used over the past lot of years we have only encountered one occasion when we had an aquaroll stolen.
Most caravan owners are good people who look out for each other and tend to keep an eye on each others vans when on site, not in an obtrusive way but in a passive way, noticing if something seems amiss from usual.

Whilst I would not advocate leaving expensive items on show and insecure if going out, if you spend all your time worrying about "what if", you may as well sell the van and stay at home.

If you have good insurance in operation your bases are covered !!

 

[PHOENIXFLIER]

Cheers for that, like I said we would take "sensible precaution" irrespective of where we were. Certainly not staying at home after the wedge we have spent!.

 

[Tukums]

We use CL/CS's a lot and over the many years of caravanning never had any problem, just the usual precautions do not leave anything out or like our bikes lock them up and lock to the caravan or leave in the awning locked up. Insurance policy does state that awnings should be secure, pegged down and zipped up. Bikes and personal possessions are covered on our house insurance for fix amount and written into the policy.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Presuming you have given an accurate quote the weasle word you have tolds us is "suggest"

Its not really a fair contract term to expect a caravanner never to leave their caravan whilst on site, That defeates the normal purpose of having a caravan, and I suspect that if you did make a claim, I don't think they could resist the claim on that basis, Especially if you have taken reasonable precautions to secure your caravan for example not leaving valuables in sight, windows and doors locked, wheels and hitch clamped.

 

[Thingy]

Just referring to the CARAVAN CLUBS insurance, when a discount is applied to the premium for the ALKO wheel lock, it states that the wheel lock must always be fitted when the caravan is unhitched or unattended. By dint of that very statement, they accept under the cover of their own insurance that the caravan WILL BE unattended.

 

[Jaydug]

I've been using Caravan Club CLs for a lot of years and I've never come across that suggestion before. When you say "they", to whom are you referring - the site owner or the club? It seems a suggestion which I would apply more to a service area rather than a site.

 

[Raywood]

I have never noticed that statement but it is pretty silly as the whole purpose of tge caravan is to see other places. It may be they have missed the point they were making and it might be intended tp say never leave the caravan unlocked and unattended when on site. In that case it would suggest locking it if going to the toilet or walking a dog.

 

[PHOENIXFLIER]

Its in the latest handbook.......so it must be true. Common sense needs to be employed I think.

 

[Martin24]

If nothing else you have proved that someone out there reads the whole book. Don't think I have ever done more than look up the sites we want.

 

[Raywood]

I have used the book for some technical matters but apart from that the sites are what interests me.

 

[Dustydog]

Must be a statement made by the same team who thought up new club logo and name :S

 

[DaveA1]

Think the OP is referring to the statement on page 281. This is the storage of MH/ caravan on a CL., to go away for one or two days could be taken that the van is being stored, which, apparently needs planning permission, nothing to do with security more the do's and don'ts on a CL.

 

[Jaydug]

we were disappointed to read that they suggest that you never leave your caravan unattended whilst on site. .

Yes - it does say "Do not leave your caravan unoccupied." But then it goes on to say "Not even for one day." What it means is that if you do then the caravan is being stored and the CL licence doesn't allow storage. It doesn't mean that you can't go out for the day.

 

[mealsonwheels]

Equipment has been known to be stolen from some sites, mostly commercial ones, but it rarely happens. As somebody already mentioned, caravanners generally look out for each other, especially so on CL's (5-van sites), which by their smaller nature, tend to be more friendly, with caravanners chatting with one another, probably much more than they would on a big site.
But, you can never be too careful and it is a good idea to mark things such as Aquarolls, waste containers, hook-up leads, etc., using a marker pen, with something that is unique to you, which you can identify (but do not use your address or postcode!). Someone did once report that they had their new electric hook-up lead unplugged on site and replaced with an old one, so there are scumbags out there and it pays to do a simple thing like this, which may deter someone and would make it easier to spot if someone was using your equipment on site.

 

[JTQ]

We have known one van on a 5 van site [in the C&CC] to be broken into whilst they and we were out for the day. Food was the target but breaking in did a lot of damage to the prised doorway.
We are very conscious of the location of the site with respect to public access; one way up a farm drive past the farmhouse etc is okay for us. One abutting a quiet lane half a mile from any residence, as was the case above, is now a no-no.
All this can be seen on Google aerial view etc.

Despite this we don't let it get out of proportion and spoil life; should the worse happen thats why there is insurance in place. Clearly, we comply with our insurers requirements we committed to, re Alko Secure wheel lock.

Had an Aquaroll handle lifted on a proper site.
Bemused why anyone would actually want to, let alone being such a sad case to do so?
Again, I did not let it change our lives, there can't be many that low out there.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Had an Aquaroll handle lifted on a proper site.

You see so many handles left propped against the van, which in my opinion is asking for them to walk. I place mine under the van out of sight which I hope is a bit more of a deterrent compared to those left in sight. hmy: