Door locks

[AnthonyVJ]

Well I'm thinking alot about various aspects of security at the moment and wondered if anyone has the fiamma door safe locks on the habitation door or/and locker doors?

Have there been any issues with watertightness because of the fitting?

Also do any of you use an extra internal lock on the main door when not on a campsite?

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Anthony I have recently bought a new Bailey and locking at the primitive lock method internally - there appears very little bite on the door frame, I have been thinking along the same lines. Any answers on this topic would be very interesting. Our neighbour's van was brocken into in storage by the lock being forced. Fortunately there was very little damage caused but it was off the road for a few weeks waiting for new parts.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Anthony I have recently bought a new Bailey and locking at the primitive lock method internally - there appears very little bite on the door frame, I have been thinking along the same lines. Any answers on this topic would be very interesting. Our neighbour's van was brocken into in storage by the lock being forced. Fortunately there was very little damage caused but it was off the road for a few weeks waiting for new parts.

should be "...looking at the ...

 

[AnthonyVJ]

Hi Colin

Its difficult to attach any kind of extra lock across the door and onto the frame on the inside because of the fly screen.I can see the lever flipping across on the inside of the lock, the best thing I could come up with was to make something the correct shape to block the lever moving from the locked to unlocked position.Doesn't stop someone with a jemmy though.

 

[SteveW77]

There seems very little point spending anything on making the door more secure, as the real weak points are the windows and there is not much you can do to improve them. The catches are useless and snap at the slightest pressure.

Steve W

 

[AnthonyVJ]

Hi Steve

I am not unduly worried about the 'gassing' stories but am thinking of someone actually breaking in while we're sleeping - it obviously happens - personally I don't believe theories about using gas as a knock out,a couple of beers do the job quite well for me! Forcing the door or breaking the window would make quite a lot of noise, but someone can fiddle a simple lock quite quietly.

 

[Angela_5076436]

I wonder how often people do actually put the handle up into the internal door locking position.

We now do this all the time we are in the caravan and the door is shut

 

[Diane1]

Hiya Anthony, We have a Fammia Door arm lock fitted(i think thats what they are called) They are like a handle and close across the door about 10ins and then lock into position with a key. We don't worry about locking up to much when we are in the van as we take our dogs with us and they sleep in the van at night. Most folks are put off by the prospect of meeting a nine stone rottie and a GSD X. LOL.

P.S. We also have a gas detector.

 

[SteveW77]

Hi Anthony, you would be surprised how easy and quite it is to force a window open. As far a door protection goes get a personal rape alarm, cost about a fiver, they do one with a strobe light built in. stick it on the wall near the door, loop the cord round the door handle and voil

 

[AnthonyVJ]

Hi Guys and Gals

Thanks for the feedback

Angela - I don't think I know what you have there but it sounds better than the average door lock!

Diane - you are right! I wouldn't be as concerned if we had a canine friend - seen the fiamma arm lock but would have to remove the fridge housing to get the bolts through, so trying to avoid that one.

Steve W - In our particular set up the largest window is right by the bed - you'ld have to be pretty small to get through the rest (not imp[ossible though) the front cab is glassed. They say would be thieves tend to try the furthest area from the bed and they know the internal layouts of all these vans.

I'm not particularaly keen to 'wild camp' as it were, but things happen on the road and you never know when you might not be able to stick to the plan!