£40k motorhome stolen - Part 2

[Dolmen]

The original thread opened up the thorny issue of what do solo travellers do with the spare key. My van self locks at the drop of a hat so until now I hid the spare key under the van as it is easy to leave the main key in the van when say checking the gas level. The original thread made it clear I would not be covered by insurance should the van be stolen with the spare key hidden about the van. Other than a bulky lanyard what do other solo vanners do?

 

[nicholsong]

The original thread opened up the thorny issue of what do solo travellers do with the spare key. My van self locks at the drop of a hat so until now I hid the spare key under the van as it is easy to leave the main key in the van when say checking the gas level. The original thread made it clear I would not be covered by insurance should the van be stolen with the spare key hidden about the van. Other than a bulky lanyard what do other solo vanners do?

Which spare key - ignition or door key?

I presume that if insurers ask for spare key they mean ignition key, or am I wrong?

If insurers only require production of spare habitation key we have about 4 of those.

 

[Gromett]

I have a separate keyring for my vehicle. This hangs in a fixed place in the van. It goes on my belt hook the second I head towards the door. Just need to train yourself to do this religiously. I am NEVER out of my van without the key in my pocket and attached to the belt hook.

 

[Speve]

There are some quite good key safes on the market but don’t buy a cheap one.
Here is a good one we used them a lot to provide carers access to clients whilst leaving a door key in a safe place.

Supra C500 Keysafe

Choose the Secure Supra C500 keysafe to allow your contacts or emergency services the ability reach you in the event of a fall. Shop now.

www.lifeconnect24.co.uk

 

[Lenny HB]

I have our 3rd hab key hidden ever since we managed to lock our self's out with both main sets of keys in the van.

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[Gromett]

I have a little advantage on key security. I did my apprenticeship at a prison/hospital and key security was drilled into you. It has stuck ever since.

 

[Brains]

I had a small 'blade' key made by a locksmith.
It only fits the drivers door.
It is hidden outside the van in a place that would only be found with some serious searching.

 

[Al n Val]

My spare key is my phone or anyone’s phone for that matter once I log into my account

Hopefully I can never lock myself out

 

[SpeedyDux]

After having been caught unawares by an auto re-locking van, my golden rule is never step outside unless I have the keys in my pocket.

As Grommett says you should make it a habit.

 

[Dolmen]

Which spare key - ignition or door key?

I presume that if insurers ask for spare key they mean ignition key, or am I wrong?

If insurers only require production of spare habitation key we have about 4 of those.

I guess I meant both, lock myself out or lose ignition key

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[Dolmen]

I have a separate keyring for my vehicle. This hangs in a fixed place in the van. It goes on my belt hook the second I head towards the door. Just need to train yourself to do this religiously. I am NEVER out of my van without the key in my pocket and attached to the belt hook.

Good habit to get into, do you worry about losing keys whilst out and about? I did once a long time ago and it still plays on my mind, hence spare hidden about van until I read insurance consequences

 

[Tonks]

Like Gromett I never leave the keys in any vehicle I own when I'm not in it.
Ever since I accidentally locked myself out of my car on Christmas Day one year, outside church after the Christmas morning service, with the engine running... Luckily I don't keep my house keys and car keys on the same key ring, so a very long-suffering friend drove me home so that I could pick up my spare keys and then drove me back to collect the car. Christmas lunch was slightly delayed...

 

[Dolmen]

There are some quite good key safes on the market but don’t buy a cheap one.
Here is a good one we used them a lot to provide carers access to clients whilst leaving a door key in a safe place.

Supra C500 Keysafe

Choose the Secure Supra C500 keysafe to allow your contacts or emergency services the ability reach you in the event of a fall. Shop now.

www.lifeconnect24.co.uk

Not sure that overcomes the insurance consequences discussed?

 

[Dolmen]

My spare key is my phone or anyone’s phone for that matter once I log into my account

Hopefully I can never lock myself out

Sounds very interesting, does that work through your alarm system?

 

[Gromett]

Good habit to get into, do you worry about losing keys whilst out and about? I did once a long time ago and it still plays on my mind, hence spare hidden about van until I read insurance consequences

No. Because I never take them out of my pocket or unclip them from my belt loop. The belt loop is because one set of keys I had used to poke a hole in my jeans pockets and once the keys fell down and tickled my leg. Since them double protection in my pocket AND clipped.

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[Gromett]

Good habit to get into, do you worry about losing keys whilst out and about? I did once a long time ago and it still plays on my mind, hence spare hidden about van until I read insurance consequences

In this picture they are pulled a little out of the pocket so you can see them. But in the pocket AND clip should be pretty safe. Never lost a set yet.

 

[St3v3]

Not sure that overcomes the insurance consequences discussed?

How do the insurance company know you never had a spare key? Or lost it years ago?

 

[nicholsong]

I scent a case arising where there is an argument with insurers as to whether the spare keys were IN or ON the MH.

Where do insurers expect one to keep spare keys when travelling? They are good at negatives but poor on positives.

 

[Dolmen]

In this picture they are pulled a little out of the pocket so you can see them. But in the pocket AND clip should be pretty safe. Never lost a set yet.

View attachment 820538

Thanks, going to follow you, even have the equipment to hand!

 

[Speve]

Not sure that overcomes the insurance consequences discussed?

It is a Secured By Design product a recognised organisation recognised and preferred by police forces around the country although I am not up to date with insurance requirements re vehicles.

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[Dolmen]

How do the insurance company know you never had a spare key? Or lost it years ago?

That was my view, however, the original thread said the insurance did not accept that argument

 

[Al n Val]

Sounds very interesting, does that work through your alarm system?

Yes

we have a Phantom alarm and tracker which has an app, the app tells me quite a bit, battery level, location, it has a service mode and atm/unarm lock/unlock facility.

They’ve even rang to say the moho was moving with no engine running and we were in the middle of the channel tunnel, now that really was impressive lol.

I quite like it tbh

 

[Gromett]

Thanks, going to follow you, even have the equipment to hand!

Need to get the habit formed. Keys always in the same 2 places. Never anywhere else. It is when you don't have a good habit or deviate from it for a even a second that keys get lost.

good luck

 

[gus-lopez]

Not sure that overcomes the insurance consequences discussed?

just get two more keys cut. when they ask you can always send them two keys.

That was my view, however, the original thread said the insurance did not accept that argument

what argument? they ask about keys you offer nothing except two keys. what you do with keeping spare keys in, around, on yourself or vehicle you do not discuss with them.

 

[Dolmen]

just get two more keys cut. when they ask you can always send them two keys.

what argument? they ask about keys you offer nothing except two keys. what you do with keeping spare keys in, around, on yourself or vehicle you do not discuss with them.

Yes, good point.

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[Aspenshaw]

I follow the practice enforced on me when I worked for a Bank. Two keys are held in separate pouches by two different people. The third 'master' key is held at home.

Insurers are not daft. They are pretty good at sniffing out negligence or fraud.

 

[Gellyneck]

I have a little advantage on key security. I did my apprenticeship at a prison/hospital and key security was drilled into you. It has stuck ever since.

Bl**dy h*ll, you even get apprenticeships nowadays to become a convict!

 

[Downsie]

I follow the practice enforced on me when I worked for a Bank. Two keys are held in separate pouches by two different people. The third 'master' key is held at home.

Insurers are not daft. They are pretty good at sniffing out negligence or fraud.

Unfortunately a solo traveller cannot do that. This is the problem. It’s even more difficult for solo ladies who often don’t have pockets. After reading the other thread I now leave the spare keys at home. At least I’m sure the van is insured, but it’s a big worry.

 

[Cobnarowl]

As a teacher,I used to have a "bungee" key ring clipped to my belt loop and the keys in my pocket.If you are worried about holes in your pocket,buy a leather key holder,an open ended pouch with a pull tag.
My routine is to take all keys out with me through the habitation door,lock the door.Open passenger door and put habitation key hidden on dashboard shelf.Lock the passenger door with ignition key and put key in pocket of trousers that has a zip.
Look at Rohan Clothing or similar.Wallet also goes in this pocket so difficult to lose or be pick -pocketed

 

[FrankNicklin]

I though auto locking only occurred if you unlocked the vehicle but didn't open any doors, the vehicle would then lock itself, but as soon as you open a door, the auto locking is disabled.