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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / March 2007Securing your Popup?
Has anyone done any modifications to better secure your popup when your away? Im just concerned that anyone that wanted to could pull the velcro back and unlock the door. Has anyone figured out a good way to keep someone from doing this? In reality if someone wants to get in all they would have to do is take a pocketknife to the canvas. But I'm looking for a way to better secure the door area to keep someone from pulling back the velcro. Any Idea's Thanks Flan > Has anyone done any modifications to better secure your popup when your > away? Im just concerned that anyone that wanted to could pull the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > a pocketknife to the canvas. But I'm looking for a way to better secure > the door area to keep someone from pulling back the velcro. The only way I know of to make a pop-up more secure is to replace it with a hardside. The tenting is only loosely attached at a number of places, and that is because it must be removable for setup/fold-down. One thing you can do is simply not leave valuables in the pop-up. I seem to remember someone who built a lockbox into their pop-up while doing other modifications. Other than that, I've never heard of anything that makes a difference. I have never had anything stolen from a campsite in 8 years of pop-up camping or in more than 25 years of tent camping before that (which does not mean it does not happen). Austin > Has anyone done any modifications to better secure your popup when your > away? Im just concerned that anyone that wanted to could pull the > velcro back and unlock the door. Do what we did: DON'T lock the door. That way, if someone does enter your camper to steal stuff, you won't have a bunch of DAMAGE to repair later. I don't lock the hatch on my travel trailer for the same reason. There's NOTHING inside of a value exceeding the likely cost of repairing/replacing the door. Locking a "canvas"-sided camper door is akin to locking the doors of a car - with the windows rolled down.  Signature:) JR 2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 >> Has anyone done any modifications to better secure your popup when your >> away? Im just concerned that anyone that wanted to could pull the [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > car - > with the windows rolled down. What Jim and Austin say is right. There is a certain amount of implied trust when camping. I also have never had anything stolen in 40 years of camping (including back in the Boy Scouts). Trying to secure a popup would be like trying to secure a Jeep with a soft top. All they need to do is zip out the windows and they would likely use a knife instead. I _never_ lock that and I never worry about it. What we _do_ do is keep anything really valuable locked up in the tow vehicle. I often camp at music festivals where it can be wall to wall campers/tents; a real city for a few days. Keeping our valuable stuff in the Sienna and the regular camping stuff in the popup (or even just lying around for things like chairs and all) has just worked for many years. Tomes > What Jim and Austin say is right. [...] All they need to > do is zip out the windows and they would likely use a knife instead. I > _never_ lock that and I never worry about it. > > What we _do_ do is keep anything really valuable locked up in the tow > vehicle. [...] Let me add a "ditto" to these comments. You can't really secure it. If you try, you are calling attention to the pop-up "There are valuable inside!" When traveling, I never put a little lock on my luggage. My theory there was the same, it would call attention to the suitcase. I figure thiefs aren't going to open the suitcase on site, they are going to steal the whole thing. You could put a lock on one of the cupboards and put your valuables there. > When traveling, I never put a little lock on my luggage. My theory > there was the same, it would call attention to the suitcase. I figure > thiefs aren't going to open the suitcase on site, they are going to > steal the whole thing. Ah, someone who does not regularly deal with the TSA (Trained to Steal Anything). SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance > > When traveling, I never put a little lock on my luggage. My theory > > there was the same, it would call attention to the suitcase. I figure [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Ah, someone who does not regularly deal with the TSA (Trained to Steal > Anything). But they will pop the lock. I did have my checked-in suitcase randomly selected by TSA. They left a little note explaining they had been there. IRC, it was a form note that said if the suitcase had been locked, sorry that we had to break your lock. >> > When traveling, I never put a little lock on my luggage. My theory >> > there was the same, it would call attention to the suitcase. I figure [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > IRC, it was a form note that said if the suitcase had been locked, > sorry that we had to break your lock. Trust me, I have had enough of those little love notes to wall paper a good sized room. They will only are supposed to break the lock if it a non-TSA approved lock, but the last time I used a non-approved lock, instead of snipping a $3 lock, they destroyed the zipper, costing $50 to repair. The TSA lock will greatly reduce the chance that others, (i.e. station reps, baggage handlers) that have access to your luggage when it is out of your sight, will go through it and help themselves to what they find. That said, NEVER put anything in your checked bags that is going to be difficult to replace, or cause a large concern that it/they are in the hands of a thief; Passports, prescription medications, car/house keys, etc. There is also little randomness to whom gets searched, BTW. I have found ways to greatly reduce, or even completely eliminate the "chance" I will be "randomly chosen". SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance > Trust me, I have had enough of those little love notes to wall paper a > good [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > ways to greatly reduce, or even completely eliminate the "chance" I will > be "randomly chosen". What are these TSA approved locks and how does one get them? Also, what are these ways? Thanks, Tomes > What are these TSA approved locks and how does one get them? Pretty much any place you can get luggage locks will have them, and they should be clearly marked. That said, it does not mean that they will be recognized as such at every airport, and still might be clipped off. Just like some airports make you take off your shoes and others do not. > Also, what > are these ways? Oh no, passing on that type of information in such a public forum might be construed as aiding and abetting bad guys, can't afford that charge over my head. The methods I use are all hard won through trial and error and the sheer amount of traveling by air I do. Anyone who flies a variety of airlines to the tune of 1/4 million miles a year and pays attention already knows what at least some of them are. http://www.ks13.com/myspace/tsa1.wmv > Thanks, > Tomes SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance >> What are these TSA approved locks and how does one get them? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Just > like some airports make you take off your shoes and others do not. But what _are_ they? Locks that the TSA has the key to? >> Also, what >> are these ways? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > already > knows what at least some of them are. OK, taunt and run. Fine. It will be good to keep all those terrorists that vigilantly monitor the popup newsgroup in the dark. [wry grin] Tomes > OK, taunt and run. Fine. It will be good to keep all those terrorists > that vigilantly monitor the popup newsgroup in the dark. [wry grin] I wouldn't be worried about terrorists. I would be more concerned that the NSA, DOD, TSA, LMNOP, yadda, yadda has computers set-up to troll for pilots disseminating otherwise confidential/secret information. Again, just for fun, when he's not camping in his spacious popup, Karl flies for a living. Karl's "workspace": <http://farm1.static.flickr.com/111/305676813_21d8d9315c.jpg> Where ARE you, flyboy? Signature:) JR >> OK, taunt and run. Fine. It will be good to keep all those terrorists >> that vigilantly monitor the popup newsgroup in the dark. [wry grin] [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Where ARE you, flyboy? Being warehoused in ANC until Tuesday. SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance > OK, taunt and run. Fine. It will be good to keep all those terrorists > that vigilantly monitor the popup newsgroup in the dark. [wry grin] > Tomes You must be under the VERY mistaken impression that the DHS/TSA has a sense of humor about this type of thing. Not even in the slightest! SignatureKarl & Angela `02 Durango `05 Fleetwood Allegiance > > OK, taunt and run. Fine. It will be good to keep all those terrorists > > that vigilantly monitor the popup newsgroup in the dark. [wry grin] > > Tomes > > You must be under the VERY mistaken impression that the DHS/TSA has a sense > of humor about this type of thing. Not even in the slightest! Actually, I think the TSA has a tremendous sense of humor about it, and they know the joke is on you (and me). Austin > There is also little randomness to whom gets searched, BTW. I have found > ways to greatly reduce, or even completely eliminate the "chance" I will > be "randomly chosen". A story about being selected. My fiancee (she's now my wife) and I were traveling to Florida. I think we were heading out of St. Pete. Gave my ticket and ID to the security person. He seemed to carefully check the ID and ticket. Chris did the same. We based a second verification. I think there I was told I was "randomly selected" for a search. I went over to another area, was taking off my shoes, and the TSA person was looking again looking at my ticket and ID. He seemed a little concerned. Turned out we had inadvertently swapped tickets. I went through two checkpoints with an ID in my name and a ticket made out to Christina. Completely different last names. Ditto for Chris. >A story about being selected. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >checkpoints with an ID in my name and a ticket made out to Christina. >Completely different last names. Ditto for Chris. One of the worst times I ever had getting through security was in DC. I was there for a reserve weekend. I usually changed out of uniform before flying, but I was running late. So of course I set off the metal detector with all the metal on the uniform. So here I am, in the uniform of a United States Naval Officer, and they are treating me, well let's say they weren't treating me nicely. I wanted to say, hey guys, I'm on our side. But I wisely kept my mouth shut and managed to get through to make my flight... barely. And this was even before 9/11. Go figure. D.Williams We never lock the pop-up, for the same reason, the only "burglers" we had were the kids friends who came by and had some Mt. Dew's. while were clam digging, that's okay, their parents had to put up with them bouncing off the walls :-) > We never lock the pop-up, for the same reason, the only "burglers" we had > were the kids friends who came by and had some Mt. Dew's. while were clam > digging, that's okay, their parents had to put up with them bouncing off > the walls :-) HA! That's funny! :) Otherwise innocent "kid intrusion" would be the only reason I'd lock the door. On the other hand, it would be those little ruggies that would damage the camper getting in. Any "real" thief would simply open it at the Velcro. Be sure to leave plenty of Mountain Dew. Jolt cola would be better. Hehehe! Signature:) JR > > We never lock the pop-up, for the same reason, the only "burglers" we had > > were the kids friends who came by and had some Mt. Dew's. while were clam [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Be sure to leave plenty of Mountain Dew. > Jolt cola would be better. Hehehe! Knowing my luck, my 16 YO son would find the jolt...and would drink it...not a pretty sight. OTOH, a dish with cocolate ex-lax comes to mind... BTW, we do lock our pop-up, but not to keep the stuff safe. It's to reduce the likelihood of a child getting hurt at our insurance company's expense (and my hassle). Austin Thanks for the reply's. I guess it really doesnt make sense to go over and above just locking the door and making sure your valuables are in the tow vehicle. Flan Darth, let the force be with you! Camping is about getting free, cut yourself loose and put a little faith in mankind. The worst that can happen is that you will be robbed and possibly bludgeoned to death, but you can't worry about that. The odds of it happening to you are very small. Scout > Has anyone done any modifications to better secure your popup when your > away? Im just concerned that anyone that wanted to could pull the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks > Flan > Darth, > let the force be with you! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > happening to you are very small. > Scout Since we're taking the positive approach here ;) , those are all things that can happen while walking to your car, or even in your own home, so no big deal while camping. Austin >> Darth, >> let the force be with you! [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > that can happen while walking to your car, or even in your own home, so > no big deal while camping. True, it's sort of like getting hit by lightning. If it's going to worry a body, it takes all the fun out of the experience. On the other hand, if one is prone to such worries, camping can be good therapy! :) Scout > Camping is about getting free, cut yourself loose and put a little faith in > mankind. The worst that can happen is that you will be robbed and possibly > bludgeoned to death, but you can't worry about that. The odds of it > happening to you are very small. > Scout what!?!?! THAT can happen camping? that's it. i'm done... This thread reminds me a something I experienced a few years ago. I was boondock camping in Northern Minnesota with some people I met on the internet. We brought our ATVs and had some good times. Being the only Canadian I was a bit of a novelty (I brought a few bags of ketchup potato chips to some people's amusement and others horror). Just after arriving my host wanted to go for a ride. I was all for it and started tucking away some of the items in my campsite such as the Coleman stove and lantern. The host asked what I was doing and I told him I didn't want any of my camping gear walking away so I was trying to make it less obvious. He simply replied that "we have guns, everyone knows we have guns and nobody is going to risk their life for your camping stove." Well, I couldn't argue with that and despite the culture shock had a great ride and weekend. > Darth, > let the force be with you! [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> Thanks >> Flan (I brought a few bags of ketchup > potato chips to some people's amusement and others horror). What are ketchup potato chips? John Adkins Quixtar-Affiliated Independent Business Owner www.jadkins.qhealthbeauty.com > (I brought a few bags of ketchup >> potato chips to some people's amusement and others horror). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Quixtar-Affiliated Independent Business Owner > www.jadkins.qhealthbeauty.com Heh. Just normal chips with ketchup flavouring. The chip is very bright red and tastes delicious. All brands sold in Canada offer ketchup flavour. I've never seen them in the US. Hi, Just observed them at Wallmart in Watertown Wisconsin - looked but did not buy... John b - Wisconsin Cheesehead - '83 GL1100a - '06 Aspen Classic >> (I brought a few bags of ketchup >>> potato chips to some people's amusement and others horror). [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > red and tastes delicious. All brands sold in Canada offer ketchup flavour. > I've never seen them in the US. |
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