Safety

dougsarm

I'm surprised no one has asked this question, what about parking your TAB and unhitching and going sightseeing and someone pulls up in a truck and just tows your unit off?  I see in the brochure for the new TABs shows a wheel lock (like a boot) on their front page. The dealer said they have a hitch lock. So how vulnerable are these campers or for that matter anyone camping? Obviously we have not done a lot of camping for a long time.
Dougsarm

Cyclonic

They do get stolen, just like a lot of other campers, for various reasons.

I lock the hitch with a hitch lock and padlock it as well.  I also put the stabilizers down, just to slow someone that wants it down.  All in all, anything you do will keep the honest people honest, but if someone really wants it, and has a cordless angle grinder, they can be off with it in minutes.

Nomad

dougsarm - If you search, there's several threads on securing your T@B. Basically, a hitch locks and a wheel lock are the general ways they're secured. I have both but don't use the wheel lock while in campgrounds as people tend to notice strangers coming in.  And, in 10 months full time I've only met one person that made me wonder and that was deep boondocking. I might get some pepper or bear spray.
All said, if someone really wants to steal your T@B they will find a way - the hitch and wheel locks will slow them down though.

jkjenn

Do people unhitch in parking lots and go sightseeing at places like National Parks or before venturing down a road to look for a boondocking site?

Verna

jkjenn said:

Do people unhitch in parking lots and go sightseeing at places like National Parks or before venturing down a road to look for a boondocking site?

Nope.  I find a campsite and then site see, or just leave it hitched up.  At National Parks there are normally parking spots for RV's and travel trailers. 

Nomad

There were several campers unhitched in the lower parking lot at Devil's Tower as there's very little room up at the visitor's center for campers. I've unhitched to go exploring for a spot when boondocking. Glad I did in a couple areas as what looked like a decent road ended up with 15ft deep gullies that my Jeep could get through but a car would have had trouble and there was no room to turn around, especially if the T@B would have been behind me. Would have made for a very ugly back out.

Playc

Is there a reasonably priced and small GPS device that can run on 9v battery for days and brodcast the location to a website?  And magetically stick to TAB.

So you turn it on when leave, if stolen it can be easily traced.

Photomom

I know that there are gps devices you can attack to your dog's collar so it is feasible. BUT you need to subscribe to a tracking service with a monthly fee. 

Nomad

Yep - Backcountry hikers use them but monthly fees also.

Nomad

I think I'd be more worried about my car being stolen - It's worth more and with different plates would be hardly noticed. the T@Bs are so unique they're hard to hid and there's no chop shop market for the parts.

jkjenn

Playc said:

Is there a reasonably priced and small GPS device that can run on 9v battery for days and brodcast the location to a website?  And magetically stick to TAB.

So you turn it on when leave, if stolen it can be easily traced.

There is a service from SPOT. Not sure what you consider reasonable, though.

Dalehelman

I have a gps tracking device cost $34. Plus $10 for a 90 day pre paid phone card. Hooks to battery. I call my tabs phone number and it shows me where it is on Google maps.

Nomad

Pennies a day - Cool, far cheaper than the GPS trackers. Screwed if you don't have cell service though.

Playc

dalehelman said:

I have a gps tracking device cost $34. Plus $10 for a 90 day pre paid phone card. Hooks to battery. I call my tabs phone number and it shows me where it is on Google maps.

Hi dalehelman - would you please send the link where I can purchase the device?  TIA

ChanW

Dale, tell us more about it.

Nomad

It's just a pre-paid cell phone isn't? Use the find my phone function type thingy. That was my presumption.

Dalehelman

Just do a search gps trackers on Amazon and take your pick.
i bought a Smart China vehicle auto car gps tracker TK103B they are now $36 free shipping. Enter TK103B in the Amazon search line.

Nomad

One could probably use their old smartphone and that extra line wouldn't cost much on a family type plan - then just use the find my phone function.

lazulibunting

http://www.dewaltmobilelock.com/
I just heard about this from a friend. He was able to track a stolen box trailer with all his concert equipment inside, and the police were able to recover everything.

ChanW

I thought about this family plan idea. Both Verizon and AT&T have a charge per device of $15 per month (actually $25, but they each give a 'discount'). I don't know if there's any way to reduce that.

PXLated said:

One could probably use their old smartphone and that extra line wouldn't cost much on a family type plan - then just use the find my phone function.

Kristy

Hide your iPhone in the trailer when you leave…