Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:35:58 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Increasing security in Vanagon, Cabinet locks
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Eugene--
I've gotta agree with Wilcox. No valuables allowed. They will most likely be
stolen, and if they are not you will spend all your time away from the bus
wondering if it's been stolen.
Seems to me your idea to lock the back seat is good one, except as you said
the lock would draw attention to it. But I'll bet you could install a lock box
inside the seat compartment that was not visible until the compartment was
open. With a little steel and ingenuity you could make the entire under seat
compartment a lock box with it's own door not visible until the seat is lifted. Of
course you'd have to reinforce the particle board--but on the insdie where it
wasn't noticable of course.
You could also use the second battery compartment behind the drivers seat for
hidden storage if you don't have a second battery. Seems you could fit a lock
maybe with the existing door or one you fashion on that compartment and it
would be hidden by the carpet.
If you do travel with a few valuables like a lap top, camera, and the like, I
think you will feel a lot better knowing they will be in a secure locked box
in the bus. But as for any other valuables I definitely says leave them locked
up in a bank vault or whatever until the trip is over.
I think like you said locks, especially visible locks on the particle board
doors are more enticing than a deterrent. If some ne'er-do-well has already
broken into your bus that particle board isn't gonna slow them down at all even
if locked.
A big item like a guitar can be stored under the back bed cushion and be out
of site. It's probably a little hot in that spot so maybe not great for a
musical instrument. But the trick here is to buy a cheap guitar for the road. We
found my sister a cheap acoustic called Jasmine by Takamine. It retails for
about $150 with a hard case. Surprisingly good sound and if you're not gigging on
the way it's fine for the road. I'm planning to get one before I hit the road
because traveling with an instrument you love isn't the best idea. Why risk
losing your Hummingbird?
I saw an episode of Road Rules on MTV (gimme a break, like you all've never
watched it!!!) and the RV they were traveling in was broken into and a guy lost
3 sweet guitars--some with sentimental value. One could argue it made for
good TV, (I wouldn't argue that) but no one wants to be the guy who's making for
good TV.
I think your idea to close the curtains is a good one, out of site, out of
mind maybe.
And to make sure they don't get the whole bus, yes on the alarm, yes on the
club, why not also the "wedge" which is like the club but locks the brake
pedal. And if you think 2 club type devices are excessive--well, I'd say two
deterrents are better than one. And the truth is YES a pro can beat those things
with freon, hacksawing the wheel etc. But what you are deterring isn't a pro its
a kid commiting a crime of opportunity.
If a pro targets your bus it's his. Tow truck and bye-bye or what have you.
But when five 16 year olds are looking for a joy ride and come up and look in
your bus and see a club, wedge, red blinking light for the alarm--and all they
have is one screw driver and a half a brain between all of them--you've just
won that round.
A friend of mine came out to find her Cabriolet with an alarm had been busted
into and the windshield was broken when the kids tried to kick the club off
the steering wheel shoving it through the windshield glass. Seems they gave up
once the windsheild broke. Even needing a new windsheild, you gotta be happy
the car was still there. She never heard the alarm-so who knows what happened
there.
And so we come to a kill switch. Install one to stop thieves and give
yourself piece of mine. It can deactivate the fuel pump or whatever and be in a
hidden spot only you know about and you know the deal.
Wilcox brings up the personal safety issue. I don't know from travel in
Mexico. But my advice is travel with pepper spray and bear spray. Why? Why not.
Have it where you can get it in a hurry and then forget about it for the most
part. I'm not suggesting you live in fear, but be prepared in the unlikely
situation that you which you had something. And have it where you can get it. And in
fact travel with a small container on your person at all times when abroad.
In some places tourists are a target. The Bear spray you keep in the bus for
the big jobs.
I hear all the arguments that you can't live your life in fear and so on.
Agreed. Pepper spray is about the size of a pen.
Sorry that's a little long-winded, but I've been off the list for a while so
I've been saving up my word count.
All in all, I'd say with a few steps in the direction you're thinking now the
trip will be a breeze.
Oh, and if you're still gonna travel with valuables please post your
itinerary ;)
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA
In a message dated 7/12/2006 8:01:41 PM Pacific Standard Time,
eugene@AMANDA.COM writes:
I'm very psyched for the trip, but my one paranoia is security in the car as
we'll be moving lots of valuables. So I've been trying to think of ways to
maximize the security of the Vanagon.
