Help with cab door security

Sonesta

Hi there,

Can anyone suggest some clever little ideas for securing the cab doors on the new Fiat Ducato? We have a new Auto Trail Cheyenne with the new Fiat Ducato Cab and we dont fancy fitting a Heo Lock as it means drilling 4 holes into the door and hubby doesn't fancy that idea. Plus he reckons they probably wouldn't fit properly due to the framework that houses the cab window blinds. They are fixed near to the part of the door where you would fit the lock. We had Heo security locks fitted on our last motorhome but the locks rubbed against the rubber door seals and damaged them so it has put us off using them again.

What we want is something to stop a would be thief/intruder from being able to open the door easily if they smashed any of the side cab door windows and I suggested some kind of metal cable that you could padlock. Hubby thought that sounded a good idea but it is finding one that is long enough to fit across from one door to another and that is not too big and bulky. We dont fancy a huge chain but something discreet and strong. Any ideas?????? I know you can buy a woven strap but that seems a bit pointless to me as anyone could easily slice through it with a stanley knife or something and although we know no method is foolproof and if they are determined to get in they will find a way no matter what but at least we want to make it as difficult as possible for them! We just want something that will hopefully act as a deterrent to the passing opportunist and make them think it aint worth the effort.

Everywhere else in the motorhome is properly secured and all our lockers and doors are alarmed but it is just the vulnerable cab area where we feel there is a problem so please, please give us some of your clever and ingenious ideas.

Thanks in anticipation.

Sue

tonyt

You can get some very nice looking plastic coated cable from most diy stores. Varying thicknesses. Use a couple of cable cleats to form loops, then either a padlock in the centre or some form of quick release pin if you're worried about being trapped inside.

Boff

Hi Sue,

after an (attempted) burglary via the driver's door we have purchased a device called "Knackerschreck" (German, literally translated "Thug Buster"):

The advantages over the HeoSafe locks are that you do not have to drill any holes, and that you can easily transfer it to another van.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer currently only sells it via mail-order within Germany, but maybe this would be something for Outdoorbits? I could arrange the contact.

An inexpensive DIY alternative would be to use a steel chain, cut to the needed length and secured with a padlock. (In the middle of the cab, so out of crook's reach!)

Best Regards,
Gerhard

Steph

We;ve been wondering about this ourselves for our Ducato cab and had bought the 'woven' strap but the cable chain is a much better option so we're off to buy one tomorrow.
Thanks everyone - what a great source of help, inspiration and information this forum is.

zulurita

I bought Heo Safe locks for the new style Ducto at the Malvern show. Below is a link to the German Web site but Harrison Locks had them for sale at the Malvern Show.

the fitting instructions in English can be printed from this site as well. The downside is that they are not as neat looking as the ones on previous models, due to the new chassis cab design.

gaspode · Moderator

Here's my solution, costs a fiver from B&Q and can be fitted in half a day by a competent DIYer. Very effective. This is on a Transit but it can be adapted to any door.

Zebedee

Hi Sonesta

Don't go for Boff's Knackerwhotsit without checking carefully first. It looks like it will not fit the new Fiat/Peugeot as that part of the door handle is too wide for the hooks to fit over.

It gives me an idea though. Use two short lengths of chain (or the sort of woven cable used for bike locks) instead of the hooks, plus the sort of Krooklock shown in Boff's photo. Loop the chains (or cables) round the door handles, then attach the Krooklock and use its ratchet to pull the chains tight.

This would be essentially the same as the Knackerwhotsit, but more adaptable and with plastic covered chains or cables it would be kinder to the door handles.

Cheers
Dave

seamusog

I have fixed an eyebolt onto each door and attached two chains of equal lenght,a pair of handcuffs secure the chains together.I know this works because some low life tried to break in to the van in spain,they had the quarter light window almost out when,I assume,they saw the chains and gave up,well I say gave up but they burgled a german van next to us.

spykal · Moderator