Safes for rvs and motorhomes - security on the road

Recreational Vehicles (RVs) and motorhomes have developed greatly in recent years to become much more luxurious and sophisticated, so much so that we can use them for various different needs and they fit an increasing number of aspects of our lives. Traditionally these have been enjoyed for holidaying and travelling, but increasingly we can adopt the RV or motorhome for work purposes or for temporary living. As a result of this, we need to think more about security and how we can ensure we keep valuable items secure when on the road, and that means fitting a safe.

What security needs do we have on the road?

When we are taking to the road we might not think too much about security, but as we use RVs and motorhomes for a wider range of activities we can apply more elements of our everyday lives to how we manage on the road. So for:

• Travelling – On holiday we might need a safe for our house keys, which we won’t need while we’re away, but need to keep safe for our return. The same applies to passports if we have driven abroad. We usually have more cash on us when travelling and we also keep credit and debit cards safe when travelling. There may also be important travel documents and booking info that we need to protect, and we may also take electronic equipment such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.
• Working – Using an RV or motorhome for work could be for any type of purpose or project, but it is highly likely that you will need to take some kind of work equipment with you. This could be specialist equipment designed for your job, maybe as an artist, a musician or as a mobile maintenance engineer. Therefore this equipment is not easy to replace, particularly when out on the road, so keeping it safe is very important. Your job may just require the use of a laptop, but it is essential you keep this safe and secure at all times.
• Living – If you find yourself temporarily without a permanent home – maybe you are waiting for a house move to go through, or your house is being extensively refurbished, or for any temporary living circumstances – then you may have most of your possessions in storage, or still at home, but you will need important items with you, maybe passports, important legal documents, cash, credit/debit cards and jewellery.

How to keep items safe and secure in an RV or motorhome

The biggest issue when considering security in an RV or motorhome is space. While these types of vehicle have become bigger and more practical and innovative in terms of how they use space, you still need to think about how best to use space, particularly if you are travelling with other people. Unfortunately, RVs and motorhomes can be quite vulnerable to theft, purely because they are exposed, often left empty and not always the most robust construction. You therefore need to conceal a safe as best you can, or think about how you can store or move a safe to ensure maximum security at all times.

Here we have suggested some different types of safe you could consider, depending on the space available, the amount of items you need to store, and how secure you need the safe to be:

• Cupboard safe – Fitting a safe in an integral cupboard is a very common solution. You can fit a good-sized safe in a cupboard so that it is hidden away and can’t easily be removed from the vehicle. These types of safe are strong and robust and can be a fireproof safe You can opt for the insurance rating that suits your needs, and the safe can be fitted with the type of locking mechanism that suits you, ie. a keypad with a unique code, a key fob or card scanner, or a biometric scanner.
• Floor safe – A standard floor safe could be hidden under a bed in an RV or motorhome, and could also be secured to the floor if the floor structure is strong enough to accommodate the right bolts.
• Cashbox - A small, portable cashbox may be sufficient for your needs, and can be hidden away in a cupboard or under a bed. However, most people like to lock it away in a set of drawers so that it can’t be removed from the vehicle.
• Portable safe – A portable safe is roughly the size of a large glasses case and can be used for various small items. You can take this with you whenever you leave the vehicle so you know it is not vulnerable to theft.

Owning an RV or motorhome is an increasingly common luxury for many people and perfectly suits their lifestyle, and there is no reason this can’t also include the peace of mind of taking valuables with you and knowing they are perfectly safe. So check out our range of safes at MB Direct and order online when you find the safe that suits the needs of your life on the road.