QUESTION: Safety while sleeping in van

[Daydreamin520]

How can one sleep in van with doors locked without causing alarm to go off? 

I haven't tested this out yet but, one time, I accidently locked doors while I was inside van working on it, and the alarm went off when I barely moved.

Is there a way to temp disable it but keep doors locked? 

Could I remove a fuse or something? 

If I cant figure it out, I will buy chains and padlocks at Home Depot and run 'em all thru' the door handles...lol. 

 

Help!  Thanks all! 

[radin2son]

Why lock the doors when you are inside? Unless you install a ceiling fan and add louvered windows, you are going to have to leave your front windows open in warm weather. The "evil doer" will have access to the unlock button unless your boxers give him pause.

 

Just keep your key nearby and you can lock up as needed. Campgrounds, probably not. Boon-

docking, maybe. Stealth camping in sketchy areas, probably.

 

We have seen a lot of solitary women cycling and car tent camping the past 2 years. Just be cautious about your choices. There are a lot of campgrounds that have become semi-permanent housing for workers/families where no housing is available or affordable. Like most workers, they are too tired to do much more than eat, sleep and get up early to go to work.

 

Bottom line is, do whatever is comfortable.

[Chris_CommercialManager]

Not to state the obvious but bring a weapon if you're concerned and know how to use it.  If not, I don't know where you're traveling but bear mace may be needed anyways.  That stuff is strong enough to disable anyone on anything, immediately.  

[Daydreamin520]

So, in other words, you cant lock van with alarm off while inside it, unless you have motor running the whole dang time (not an option. I know)?  Hmm.  If I was dead asleep and with 4 doors as options for 2 or more people to open at once, I don't think dogs, guns, mace, or wasp spray would do the trick.  One guy, maybe, but I doubt it.  Maybe I will call car alarm people tomorrow.  I did find a link that had external padlock/locks for side and rear doors and that would limit entrance to only two front doors.  I just don't want to trap myself in the back, either.  Will research further.  Thanks.

[radin2son]

As I mentioned before, our dogs have never set off the alarm when we leave them in our locked van. Short or long periods. The difference may be that they are less hyper or your van is mostly empty and more sensitive to motion or whatever sets off your alarm. As you build your van, it may be less of a problem. It will be interesting to see what the alarm people say.

 

In the Hazeltons, BC I met a Swiss woman traveling alone in a 4x4 Sprinter. All the windows and door locks had slidding metal covers. If only I had anticipated your question, I could have asked her about her alarm.

 

There is a story about thieves in Europe climbing on top of "pop top" vans to force down the top onto the sleeping occupants. They then can burgle the van. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Edited April 15, 2015 by radin2son

[Chris_CommercialManager]

I don't think the alarm will go off, I've never had it go off.  I always go to a home depot and lowes and leave the side and rear door open but the front two locked (I have a steel partition installed) and I leave the van there with brochures and cards.  People crawl all over that thing and I've never had a problem.

 

As to your early warning and deterrent system it sounds to me that you are the perfect person for a proximity alarm.  You can set it to have an audible warning to the would be intruder (or animal that wandered close), have a silent vibrate to a pager in your pocket, or just about whatever you want.

 

But if that sends out a warning the would be intruder is far from ambushing you and will likely move on.  And in the event they don't you have time to respond with whatever means you have access too.  

 

Proximity Alarm + Bear Mase = Good nights sleep for you and doggies??   :)

[Daydreamin520]

UPDATE:  Pete from Jim Click Nissan very helpful.

Explained that I may have an aftermarket alarm.

But, with further convo', I realized not true.

He explained that the standard alarm installed does NOT have motion sensor.

It will only go off if:

---door is opened

---window is broken

---dome light is left on (it will alarm after a few minutes to notify you.)

 

SO.... when my alarm went off by accident, it was because I had the side door open when it was triggered.

 

Just went out and, with the van "off", did the lock and rock test.... NO ALARM triggered.  Yay!

 

I have learned, tho', that many commercial vans do install exterior locks, such as Slicklocks and Milenco, because to break into those side and rear doors all one needs to do is punch door above the lock to disable it.  Good idea if one has expensive tools/equipment in there.

 

Take care!

[Daydreamin520]

To radin2son.... the steel plate lock security system you saw is one from UK that prevents that "punched" entry from happening easily. 

[radin2son]

It was a formidable system: all it needed was gun ports. One of my first impressions of NVs was an armored truck carrying casino $.

[Tatunka]

I am 100% sure that your dome light being on will NOT set off your alarm, my kids leave them things on consantly and never had it alarm. I also have slept in the van with the doors locked with no alarm going off.

[Chris Dempsey]

DD - I had remote control deadbolt locks installed on my old van in lieu of the surface-mount padlocks. Only way to go! They were pricey, but I would never, EVER do the surface mount padlock thing again.

[Chris_CommercialManager]

DD - I had remote control deadbolt locks installed on my old van in lieu of the surface-mount padlocks. Only way to go! They were pricey, but I would never, EVER do the surface mount padlock thing again.

 

why??

[Chris Dempsey]

why??

Why what?

[Daydreamin520]

Chris Dempsey - If you check out the Slicklocks, they are not technically a surface mount. They attach under the original door lock plates so only the disc lock is seen from outside vehicle... no drilling at all.  Really not a bad option for only about $190 for both rear and side doors, locks and plates included.   Tanunka - I'll take your word for it... kid tested!  lol.

[Chris Dempsey]

Chris Dempsey - If you check out the Slicklocks, they are not technically a surface mount. They attach under the original door lock plates so only the disc lock is seen from outside vehicle... no drilling at all.  Really not a bad option for only about $190 for both rear and side doors, locks and plates included.   Tanunka - I'll take your word for it... kid tested!  lol.

Those are a cleaner install, but I had exterior locks on my old Ford work van, and had to lock and unlock multiple times throughout the day- it became a bit of a pain. Plus, I would occasionally forget, or throw the lock in back and have to rummage around for it. Definitely better than nothing, and a lot less $. I think the remote-control deadbolts w/ alarm cost $600, installed.

[RICK]

I have slick locks on both my NV & Sprinter. Both work vans. Problem is with a camper someone can screw with you and lock you in. Doesn't even require a lock, just a stick. But without a bulkhead partition, you could always escape from the front.

 

The slick locks are really a slick design. And with a little adjustment Once installed, they work flawlessly.

 

Rick.