• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Before You Buy An RV
  • Repairs & Add-Ons
  • Living In An RV
  • Things To See & Do
  • RV Driving / Towing Tips
  • More
    • Electronics & Gadgets
    • Health & Beauty
    • Hobbies & Crafts
    • Home & Garden
    • Jobs & Money
    • Outdoor Fun
    • Travel

RVing Guide

Real People. Real Experiences. Real Helpful.

a Fun Times Guide site

search

Home » Outdoor Fun » How To Prevent RV Battery Theft & Lock Your RV Batteries

RV Battery Theft Protection: How To Lock RV Batteries To Prevent Them From Being Stolen (Yes, It’s A Thing)

62 Shares
Pin58
Share4
Tweet

We write about products and services that we use. This page may contain affiliate links for which we receive a commission.


Here’s what you need to know about RV battery theft protection, based on my own experience and personal advice as a full-time RVer…

Deep-cycle lead acid batteries cost $100 — or more. So to find them missing when you’re preparing for an RV outing may be enough to cancel the whole trip!

Deep-cycle lead acid batteries cost $100 -- or more!

In today’s world of restrictive HOAs (Home Owner Associations), many communities don’t allow RV owners to keep an RV on their property for more than 24 hours.

This is designed to restrict their presence to the loading and unloading process only — and create the illusion of a clean and neat neighborhood for the majority of time.

As a result, RV storage lots are prevalent… and crowded!

Following is everything you need to know if you keep your RV at a storage facility. And even if you don’t, I’m going to show you how to lock RV batteries — so you don’t become the victim of RV battery theft. (Because an RV battery can be stolen from anywhere while you’re parked.)

 

RV Storage Lots Are Not Safe

Storage facilities are found near almost any modest-sized town or metropolitan area.

The whole idea of storage lots rubs me the wrong way for many reasons — not the least of which is theft or vandalism to the RVs stored there.

I mean, the point of paying rent to store your RV is the assumption that it will be safe. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.

RV storage lots aren't all that safe. Here's what you need to know!

TIP: Always keep comprehensive insurance on anything that you’ve placed in storage. In every storage lot contract, there’s a clause that states the storage facility owner is not responsible… for anything!

Motorhomes and 5th wheel trailers are less likely to be victims of battery theft — because the batteries are usually locked in compartments or mounted under the hood. They are easily removed in 2 minutes.

Travel trailers are the prime targets of RV battery thieves!

 

Why Travel Trailers Need RV Battery Theft Protection

In a travel trailer, the batteries are usually mounted right out in the open on the tongue of the trailer.

Often, no tools are required to disconnect and remove the 2 batteries in as little as 30 seconds!

Travel trailer batteries are usually secured with only a light-duty nylon web strap and 2 simple wingnuts that are used to make the electrical connections. (They’re often only finger tight.)

RV travel trailer batteries are very easy to remove.

RV battery theft is a crime of opportunity. If you have a couple hundred dollars of valuable property sitting out (at a storage facility, parking lot, or anywhere else), then it’s only a matter of time before you become a victim.

 

How To Lock RV Batteries

There are a number of ways you can protect your RV batteries from walking off in the middle of the night.

#1 – Mount a locking battery box on the tongue of your RV travel trailer.

RV battery lock box

This will safely and securely lock the batteries out of sight. There are a variety of locking battery boxes available. NOTE: One disadvantage is the fact that a locked box on the tongue of an RV trailer obviously contains batteries. If a battery thief comes prepared, they can likely find a way to get into the box.

 

#2 – Relocate the batteries into a storage compartment.

A look at my RV storage compartment for RV batteries.  This is the storage space underneath the RV bed.

This takes away the visual cue that keeping your RV batteries out in the open provides. It likely will also give you a larger space — allowing for more batteries and extending your off-grid RV living abilities. This is important if you’re considering installing a solar electric system. If you move lead acid batteries into a storage compartment it’s essential that you provide proper ventilation. Otherwise, poisonous gas may build up, creating an explosion or a health hazard. TIP: If you upgrade your batteries to AGM style sealed batteries, there is no need to provide ventilation — because there’s no off gassing of dangerous gases.

 

#3 – Add RV battery locks.

An RV battery shackle or locking battery bar will keep your RV batteries relatively safe.

A battery shackle, or similar locking bar system, can provide protection for batteries that are mounted in the standard tongue position. It still shows where the batteries are, but it’s obvious to potential battery thieves that it will take more than just a pair of pliers to remove them! NOTE: Anything that slows down a thief is a good way to get them to move on to an easier target. After all, yours isn’t the only trailer in the storage lot.

 

The Bottom Line

Lithium RV batteries are becoming more popular with those seeking long term off-grid capabilities. They are a serious investment — ranging in price around $1,000 per battery.

Making such a commitment to technology should also include an equally comprehensive investment in theft protection.

TIP: If you’re counting on your RV insurance to cover such items, be sure to check with your insurance agent ahead of time. Often, there are rather low limits on possessions. Also, if an upgraded solar system and expensive batteries weren’t part of the RV from the factory, they may not be covered.

Let’s face it, we aren’t in Kansas anymore.

The notion of being able to leave your expensive RV unattended in a storage lot (or your backyard for that matter) and expecting it to be in the same condition when you come back is rather naive.

Anything on the hitch of an RV travel trailer is easily accessible... by anyone!

My own RV travel trailer has been the victim of teenage vandals in the past. Their intent was to score anything of value that could be sold.

I’ve also known of friends who had RV batteries disappear after the storage lot personnel moved their trailer to just outside the fence — so they could pick it up after work. As I mentioned earlier, it often takes about 30 seconds to remove a battery from most RV travel trailers!

Here’s my video showing how RV batteries can be stolen so quickly:

 

Like this post? Save it to read again later… or share with others on Pinterest!

How to keep RV batteries from being stolen

Curtis
Curtis

I’ve been involved in RVing for over 50 years — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs and motorhomes. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller… you’ve got a good idea of who I am. To date, I’ve shared my RV knowledge in over 300 articles here at The Fun Times Guide! Many of them have over 25K shares.

RV Battery Theft Protection: How To Lock RV Batteries To Prevent Them From Being Stolen (Yes, It\'s A Thing)
62 Shares
Pin58
Share4
Tweet

Filed Under: Maintenance, Repairs & Add-Ons, Outdoor Fun Tagged With: Batteries And Electrical Systems, Fulltime RVing, Longterm RV Storage, RV Security And Safety Issues, Solar Power

Primary Sidebar

About Us

CurtisI’ve been involved in RVing for over 50 years — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs and motorhomes. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller... you’ve got a good idea of who I am. To date, I've shared my RV knowledge in over 300 articles here at The Fun Times Guide! Many of them have over 25K shares.

Curtis: View My Blog Posts

LynnetteOver the past several years, I've been involved with transporting RVs, renting RVs, and fulltime RVing (months at a time). I'm fortunate to have had a number of different RVs available to me to try out -- which has enabled me to experience the nuances of RVing firsthand. When I'm not RVing, you can find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

Lynnette: View My Blog Posts

Top Searches

5th Wheel Trailers Arizona Bathroom And Plumbing Batteries And Electrical Systems Building/Restoring RVs Camping Tips Checklists Cleaning Tips Computers And Internet Decorating Your RV Food And Cooking Free RV Parking Fulltime RVing Furniture Gas And Diesel Fuel Generators Hitches Holidays On The Road Insurance Kitchen Issues Leaks Leveling RVs Longterm RV Storage Motorhomes Predicaments And Emergencies Propane Refrigerators Roof RV-Friendly Items RV Accessories RV Campgrounds RV Prices And Costs RV Security And Safety Issues RV Videos RV Water Tanks Solar Power Space And Storage Issues Sun And Heat Issues Teardrop Trailers Tires Towing Travel Trailers TVs And Antennas Winter And Snow Work And Money

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Fun Times Guide logo
Shop Our Favorite Items

Copyright © 2004-2021 The Fun Times Guide | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | Sitemap