Newbie questions....storage and security

[Tiger Bear]

We are looking at buying our first motorhome and, all being well, that may be within the next few weeks. So, I am trying to get ahead of myself and looking at things like insurance, storage and security.


I have been quoted £345 per year for storage, and I wondered if that was a reasonable price. It's in East Yorkshire and it is literally three minutes drive from us. Like so many places, it's a farmer diversifying. The operator has stated that, although not CaSSOA accredited, it has high electric fencing, CCTV, a guard dog, and a strict 'no tailgating' policy. Also, I can leave our car there while we are away; handy as I wouldn't have to rely on the kids to take me back and forth.
Any comments?


I certainly intend to use a steering wheel lock, so pretty much know what I'm looking for there. I am also seriously thinking about a wheel boot; any suggestions on the latter?


Thanks in advance.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

I thoroughly recommend a Vanbitz Growler alarm with a non starter. I have had them on my vans for many years. Not cheap at about £1,000 possibly a bit more now but with generous Funster discount which must be asked for when you order. But have had absolutely no problems in more than 20 years. And we park up wherever we want including motorway services abroad. The four very bright blue flashing LED’s probably help. We always activate it even when in the van just for a snooze. The inside sensors can be easily deactivated. See Member Discounts Here for their details.

 

[Brains]

You'd be paying three times that for storage down south.

Insurance companies are not 'stuck' on CASSOA approved sites, it just tells them about the level of security.
Many sites would have CASSOA levels of security, but have never applied, as it costs them money.
It just means you may have to fill in a security on site form, fencing, berm, gates, CCTV, lighting, guards etc. for the insurance company

My insurance company turned down one storage site I looked at.
It had it all, gates, fencing, CCTV, millions of quids worth of vehicles all lined up.
However the main business was equestrian, the vehicles were mostly Motorhome/horse transport vehicles as well as trailers and horse lorries.
They declined as the main business was not Motorhome and caravan storage!

Most (all ??) storage sites would expect you to arrive in a car, dump the car, pick up the van.
It's your spot, you are paying for it, so whether there is a car or a van sitting there makes no difference.

Van security.
Simple. Get the van to VanBitz in Taunton
Fit an alarm, tracker and immobiliser.
They specialise in doing motorhomes and as a member here you get a discount.

Additional security, (Turning the seat, steering locks, wheel boots, clutch claws, etc.) are all good, and I'd suggest for simplicity a simple 'baseball bat' steering lock, and maybe turning the driving seat and locking with a motorbike wheel lock.
Wheel boots are a pain to fit and a pain to store, and as they are external, fairly easy to remove with a battery grinder.

 

[Nirvanauk]

We are looking at buying our first motorhome and, all being well, that may be within the next few weeks. So, I am trying to get ahead of myself and looking at things like insurance, storage and security.


I have been quoted £345 per year for storage, and I wondered if that was a reasonable price. It's in East Yorkshire and it is literally three minutes drive from us. Like so many places, it's a farmer diversifying. The operator has stated that, although not CaSSOA accredited, it has high electric fencing, CCTV, a guard dog, and a strict 'no tailgating' policy. Also, I can leave our car there while we are away; handy as I wouldn't have to rely on the kids to take me back and forth.
Any comments?


I certainly intend to use a steering wheel lock, so pretty much know what I'm looking for there. I am also seriously thinking about a wheel boot; any suggestions on the latter?


Thanks in advance.

I’m paying about £450 a year just outside Malton. So not too far away. It is secure with cctv.

 

[brynric]

We pay about £575 on the edge of the Cotswolds. Our previous store was a Cassoa site but as it is in the same post code insurance was no more. It’s close enough for me to cycle to and then bring the bike back on the rack.
We have VanBitz Strikeback and Nonstarter (and a cycle lock). I worry more about the van when we’re on the road and call into a supermarket or service station.

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[Dave and Jen]

Not a bad price and as its near I would jump at if they have any spaces.
Dave

 

[Nirvanauk]

Not a bad price and as its near I would jump at if they have any spaces.
Dave

But we’re are you?

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

We’re on a CASSOA site in the midlands..£450… also have wheel lock , turn seats and lock together with a storage container lock also use dog harness fixings to secure doors to seatbelt clips so doors can’t be opened, alarm and tracker. More is best!

 

[Dave and Jen]

I'm at Warton near Lytham
Dave

But we’re are you?

 

[PP Bear]

Come down south, I pay £85 a month, £1020 a year.

Moving to East Yorkshire very soon and about to pay £380, I’m a very happy bear

Add as many security features as possible, limitless as to the number required.

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[Juandeatatime]

I pay £530 per year on a site (not CASSOA) in Essex. Electric gates, CCTV - been there for over 10 years. Price went up a couple of years ago when the owner had to start charging VAT.

 

[FEC]

Some consensus here on the price -sounds good value. I'm in the Peak District and pay £500 a year -about 20 minutes away from me. It has good security and that together with your security on the vehicle will be important for your insurance quote/decision. It might be worth finding out if Van has Tracker/Immobiliser fitted and even more importantly, see if you can get cover from Insurance Company for the location you want to store it...might be worth a phone call rather than on line route to get a human to advise you. They can be a bit picky for obvious reasons.
I only looked into this last year and was surprised how few decent storage options were available. So if there is space available and you can get insurance cover for it I'd snap it up at that price. Good luck with the purchase.

 

[3crispies]

We pay about the £350 a year mark, concrete hard standing which I have chem fixed a bollard too (with permission). Ours doesnt come up on google search or maps which is a bonus. Will you have access 24/7, ours does which was a deciding factor.
Local motorhome dealer when we looked originally a few years ago was more expensive, van would be off the visitor car park and to top it off wanted a spare set of keys incase of emergency. When we asked what an emergency would be, the answer was in case of flooding which amazed us both as we live in the fens and never seen 500mm in flood water !!!.

 

[Jev88]

Reserve that storage Now!

 

[Tiger Bear]

Thanks for the great advice, guys.

If you all thought £345 was a decent price, I won't tell you that another place just 12 miles away is charging £180 per year! Similar security set up, but they don't have any vacancies. It's cheap up north, eh!


I'm fairly certain the van has an alarm (which would probably be ignored anyway) and an immobiliser; those questions are included in a long list I've sent the seller. I will though utilise a lot more security initiatives. I like the idea of spinning the seat and locking it. When we were a lot younger, and skint, and relied on my late father-in-law to get us cars (generally sheds), he would always fit an immobiliser. Our son-in-law is handy in that respect, so that's also an option.

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[Andacami]

Great price as noted, do it. As for security, your best bet is probably physical security on the steering wheel, doors, pedals, and external doors. A tracker is a must as is a form of immobiliser. Any siren-based alarm, if it goes off, is only going to piss off the farmer.

 

[Jo-jo]

I like the idea of spinning the seat

There's a whole thread on here about securing the seats using bike disc locks etc. If Iwas a bit more savvy, I'd post it

We're paying £600 PA here in the West Mids. We haven't even got our van yet, but had to start paying from April to secure the space. Your potential site seems very cheap, I'd say go for it.

 

[Shrimp]

Be wary of an alarm that’s already on the van.
Our van had an alarm and small sensors to detect internal movement.
Unfortunately whilst on a campsite in UK the van was broken into and stuff taken, the alarm turned out to be useless!
Got Strikeback now and there’s no way I would wan to be in the van when it goes off!

 

[headlight]

Thanks for the great advice, guys.

If you all thought £345 was a decent price, I won't tell you that another place just 12 miles away is charging £180 per year! Similar security set up, but they don't have any vacancies. It's cheap up north, eh!


I'm fairly certain the van has an alarm (which would probably be ignored anyway) and an immobiliser; those questions are included in a long list I've sent the seller. I will though utilise a lot more security initiatives. I like the idea of spinning the seat and locking it. When we were a lot younger, and skint, and relied on my late father-in-law to get us cars (generally sheds), he would always fit an immobiliser. Our son-in-law is handy in that respect, so that's also an option.

Just check that your insurance is OK with you using the storage facility.
I pay £580 a year for a Cassoa platinum rated storage site in Cardiff.
I had to change insurers as my previous insurers who insured me with the van on my drive wouldn't cover me on the CaSSOA site.

 

[Tiger Bear]

Just check that your insurance is OK with you using the storage facility.
I pay £580 a year for a Cassoa platinum rated storage site in Cardiff.
I had to change insurers as my previous insurers who insured me with the van on my drive wouldn't cover me on the CaSSOA site.

Thanks; I intend to get a few quotes when we've got our van.

I find it odd that insurers will cover you for a vehicle being on a drive but, if it has the same security features plus whatever they have on a compound site, they won't. Well, I've got that messing about to come; soon I hope!

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[headlight]

Thanks; I intend to get a few quotes when we've got our van.

I find it odd that insurers will cover you for a vehicle being on a drive but, if it has the same security features plus whatever they have on a compound site, they won't. Well, I've got that messing about to come; soon I hope!

My previous insurers said that the post code of the CaSSOA site was to high risk to give me cover.
It is a platinum site because the security is so high, the highest you can get.
My van is certainly safer on the CaSSOA site than it was on my drive.

 

[Donkster]

vanbitz 100% plus you should get a discount on your insurance for having such a great alarm system