Van Locks

[EvoRed]

Which aftermarket van locks have people added on to their vans? I've got a back and side door that needs additional locks and I've not got around to it yet and, as such, I still bring most of my tools and quite a few locks back into the house after a day or job but I'm getting a bit fed up of doing that now, it's a good 5 or 6 journeys back and forth to the van each time, so the time has come to fit a couple...

I see places like http://www.vangadgets.co.uk/index.html?van_locks.htm do a pair for the back and side doors, but at £270+VAT, I'm not sure I want to spend that much on them... I could nearly buy ERA Profit and Ford Tibbe decoders for that.

Anyone got any quality ones considerably cheaper than that?

Cheers

[acl]

Evored, i see what your saying about the cost amounting to what youd have to pay for an Era decoder but that might save you from having to fork out again for a chubb pin and cam,dewalt drill etc etc!
Anyway try Aldrige they do a few different styles Limpets not bad at about £90 less disc.
Andy

[toomush2drink]

Aldridge do a variety of van type locks/security like the plates that fit over your existing locks. Duffells also do some deadlocks that work off of euros im sure they are a narrow type adamsrite deadlock and they come with the escutcheons. £300 isnt a lot to spend on securing it up as just losing my chubb pick would be more than this. I hate to say it but you sounded like a customer weighing up weather it was worth it or just to buy a pick instead. Security is a boring way to spend your money sure but dont even think about the cost just do it and you wont have any regrets. My friend came to me after his van got done 2 weeks ago to ask how much for extra locks and at £300 it worked out cheaper than the dewault 18v drill and bosch sds drill he had stolen and had to replace.
Look at it this way if your van/house is covered in extra security most thieves will look for an easier target/victim.
Even if you dont want to spend loads look on ebay for things like this. Ok not the best solution but a very cheap option if you are on a budget.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5537706511&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

[EvoRed]

I know what you're both saying but I don't leave hardly any of my tools and just a few locks in my van when I'm not out and about, and wouldn't until it was fairly well secure.

How far do you go though? I mean, do you fit a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser too for another £3/400 as, even though mine has a steel bulkhead, even with some quality locks added, what's stopping someone who knows what they're doing breaking in and driving it away, or even towing it away, etc... Do you garage it when you're not using it? I like to keep mine out, every little bit of advertising helps.

In my Aldridge catalogue there aren't that many decent van locks, the Limpet MK2 is an option yes...

My poor kids, they'll have to be happy with a stocking with an old Union in it this Xmas.

[captainsawdust]

My poor kids, they'll have to be happy with a stocking with an old Union in it this Xmas.

Get your Kids some mortice key blanks and a file for Christmas, just tell them they have to make keys for the old union

[toomush2drink]

I carry far too much stock and tools to empty it everytime i get in and i dont fancy loading it up at 2am to attend a job. My berlingo has a transponder sytem to prevent drive offs and i also have a thatcham cat 3 steering wheel lock, deadlocks all round (every door),metal bulkhead and metal plates behind the rear glass making a secure rear section and im about to install some aditional security in the back to prevent/slow down the theft of my picks if they do get in, and to top it off its parked under a security spotlight. At the end of the day its my business premises so nothing is too much to secure it. It would have to be towed away to steal it or spend ages making a lot of noise breaking into it by which time im sure i could have aquainted somebody with my boxing abilties. Even if you only fitted the locks i found on ebay you would sleep better at night knowing its harder to get into.

[captainsawdust]

Have you looked at getting a Van Vault we have 2 of these and they are very secure made by Birchwood

[Wallaby]

toomush, i suggest you post your licence plate .. they can avoid it then and save themselves lots of time and pain

[captainsawdust]

Birchwood van vaults can be got from these people

http://www.caldertrade.co.uk/birchwood.htm

[toomush2drink]

Theres a post in the secure section on these van vaults and its not too encouraging.

[captainsawdust]

You need to change the lock on it as what is supplied with it, you can get at the local BP Garage with the points for your Diesel

they change easy for a Chubb 3g114

[Chucklz]

Imagine the negative impact to your advertising if customers knew you were the locksmith whose van was stolen....

[captainsawdust]

Yes

and if they knew how to use the tools as well

what an impact it would have

[Peaky]

Im basically fitting a welded in cage for mine. Once through the van doors you are met with a steel cage door with another 2 locks on it. The rear axle can also be attached via a steel cable (1" thick) to a ground anchor and there is a big and meaty homemade security post cemented in the floor, by the time they have got through this little lot ive had a cuppa got dressed and shown them the buisness end of billy baseball bat. just dont forget to undo the rear axle or else you are left with no back wheels.

[EvoRed]

Cheers all, but I think some of you may have misunderstood me! I was going to spend a bit on van locks anyway, maybe a couple of hundred quid. I was just interested to hear what type of locks others have added to their back/side door for maybe less than £300.

I may even get the ones I mentioned in my original post yet and I wouldn't be leaving much in the van for anyone to steal anyway until I added such locks.

As you say Toomush, stock and tools build up so much that it's a right pain in the backside now to carry most of it to and from the van every day or job, which is why I'm going to be getting some van locks very soon...