What safety measures should be installed on a motorhome?

Motorhomes are a great way to enjoy low-cost holidays for many years, but they’re not the cheapest of things to buy. No matter how much you’ve spent on one of the vehicles (and it can be many thousands of pounds), I’m sure you’re going to want to do all you can to protect your investment.
You probably don’t need me to tell you this, but having a motorhome damaged or stolen can be very distressing, not to mention costly to have fixed or replaced. There are, however, a range of products and practices you can put into place to significantly reduce the chances of this happening to you. Although you can’t say for certain that your motorhome will never be stolen, it is important to do everything you can to keep it safe. Here’s a guide to some of the steps that are worth taking.
Fit an alarm

Perhaps the most obvious way to protect your motorhome from vandals is to purchase a specialist alarm. While you may be tempted to buy a standard car alarm (these are likely to be cheaper and more widely available) instead, doing so can be a false economy and leave you exposed to unnecessary risk.
The simple fact that motorhomes are larger than cars means there is a greater surface area that requires protecting – from the vehicle section where you sit behind the wheel to external baggage compartments – something that only a purpose-built motorhome alarm is capable of doing.
Unfortunately, many thieves are using increasingly advanced techniques in their efforts to steal motorhomes, so it’s worth seeking sophisticated alarms that use the latest technology to combat crooks. One way criminals often try to steal possessions is by using sedatives that will leave owners incapacitated why they help themselves to your valuables. Install an alarm that rings when a certain proportion of narcotic gas is detected and you should be able to recognise when danger is imminent.
Use a tracking device

Install a tracking device in your motorhome and you should find that, in the unlikely event a thief has driven it away, it won’t be in their possession for long.
Once these systems are activated, a signal will be emitted that enables police and security officials to trace the vehicle’s exact movements until the moment that the criminals are apprehended.
You can buy self-monitoring devices – which, unsurprisingly, allow you to follow your motorhome yourself – but it’s best to get one that sends a signal to a professional monitoring company. That way, expert staff can follow your vehicle’s precise movements 24/7. It’s also worth remembering that many self-monitoring trackers aren’t approved by insurance companies.
Other steps

Trackers and alarms are certainly two good ways to make your motorhome more secure, but there are several other steps you can take to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Keeping your vehicle in a locked garage when it’s not in use can help, while fitting an immobiliser and CCTV network can also be beneficial.
Take some, if not all, of the above measures onboard and you should find that your vehicle soon becomes more secure. Of course, installing an alarm and tracking device will require some initial outlay, but the return on investment they provide in the form of lower motorhome insurance quotes, as well as the added peace of mind, should more than pay off. Although buyers should make sure their insurance company approve the security products they are considering fitting.
What steps have you taken to improve your motorhome’s security? Leave a comment and let us know.