Summer is on its way in the UK - Motorhomes, Caravans and Trailers

It’s time to spring clean your caravan or motorhome

The popularity of caravans and motorhomes continue to increase which is why it is imperative to ensure it is secure when not in use or you are out and about.

It is also as important to protect any valuables that are left within the vehicle.

It is predicted that it will be another boom year for staycations so whether you are opening your existing vehicle or planning to buy a new one, it is critical to invest in the right security products to have peace of mind when away from the vehicle.

Theft is a constant threat and continues be on the increase, especially in the uncertain and challenging times. As fuel prices soar, there has been an increase in the theft of petrol, diesel, and heating oils. It is important to fit deterrents from opportunist thieves or a planned theft.

Best Products and Brands to Buy

Simplysafes offers a full range of security products to protect your motorhome, caravan and trailers. The range comprises of Hitch locks, Wheel clamps and security posts. We have an excellent selection of products available from Autolok, Bulldog and Sentinel.

Our Recommendations

You may have recently purchased a caravan, motorhome or trailer and are now ready to use it over the next few months. Keeping your property secure from thieves is important for your peace of mind and insurance purposes.

Hitch Lock

Our recommended Hitch Lock is the:

Bulldog AA Alko/Albe Hitch Lock

One of our most popular hitch locks from Bulldog, the AA has been designed for use with a wide variety caravans and trailers. It has been tested to the Sold Secure Gold Standard and is insurance approved. For the price it provides excellent value for money and ensures that extra level of security when securing your trailer or caravan.

Insurance approved
5 Year warranty
Supplied with Bulldog Super Lock Bolt including 2 keys
Drill and pick resistant lock
Can be used on various models
Can only be used unhitched

Wheel Clamp

Our recommended Wheel Clamp is the:

Bulldog DC400 Auto Clamp

The DC400 wheel clamp from Bulldog has been designed for use with larger sized wheels that are commonly used on vans and motorhomes. The wheel clamp is fully adjustable, lightweight and easy to fit. It comes with a 5 year warranty and ideal to keep your van or motorhome secure all year round.

5 Year warranty
Insurance approved
Supplied with a Bulldog plunge lock
Top arms are fully adjustable for tyre width and diameter
Simple to use and easy to fit
Not suitable for smaller wheels

Security Post

Our recommended security parking post is the:

Sentinel SS-4 Fold Down Security Post

The SS-4 security post from Sentinel provides that extra security when your car, motorhome or caravan is stored on the driveway. A high quality padlock is provided with 2 keys included, it automatically acts as a visual deterrent to any potential thief. It has been constructed to an good standard and comes supplied with easy to follow installation instructions.

Easy to fold down
Supplied with a high quality stainless steel padlock – 2 keys provided
Installation instructions included
Bright yellow and black vinyl fascia ensures high visibility
Fixing bolts not supplied

Securing your valuables in your motorhomes or caravan?

Now that your caravan or motorhome might be secured with a hitch lock or wheel clamp. It is important not to disregard the security of your cash or valuables. You may be out on a day trip, walk or night out. But you have also left personal belongings in the caravan.

Why not have that extra peace of mind whilst out by purchasing a small home safe to secure cash or valuables?

Please see our top 3 recommendations below -

Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1

Pros & Cons

Digital electronic lock supplied with emergency override key
Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
Anti-bump solenoid – Prevents the safe from being bumped open
Can be anchored to the base or back wall
Not fire resistant

View the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 on our website

Chubbsafes Air 10E Compact Home Safe

Pros & Cons

Beautiful design, good quality
Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
Robust keyboard
Can be anchored to floor and wall, incl. mounting hardware
Only 1 user code adjustable

View the Chubbsafes Air 10E on our website

Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe

Pros & Cons

Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
Supplied with an easy to use digital electronic lock
Concealed internal hinges
Carpeted floor
Not fire resistant

View the Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe on our website

Need advice?

If you have any questions on our Autolok, Bulldog or Sentinel range, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

UK Flooding Set to Rise - 1 in 6 Properties at Risk - Water Resistant Safes

How at risk is the UK to flooding?

Currently 1 in 6 properties in the UK are at risk of flooding and this is only set to increase due to climate change. Rising sea levels along with heavier rain fall combined doesn't make the situation any easier.

With the winter of 2021 now here, naturally the weather conditions will worsen over the next few months across the UK.

Parts of the UK are already bracing for heavy rainfall and floods such as Cumbria and Scotland.

The loss of precious and valuable items that are unable to be replaced can be devastating such as photographs, children’s favourite toys and antiques.

Flash floods, heavy rainfall and flooding can cause devastating damage to your home or business. The stress and anxiety in dealing with these issues after the flooding has occurred can be emotionally difficult for anyone to deal with.

Flooding can also occur internally in a home or a business with burst pipes or structural issues that may have happened suddenly.

How can floods affect your home or business?

Property Damage
Emotionally
Loss of Life
Local Infrastructure

Health and Safety

Electrical and structural damage
Sanitary risks
Land damage
Plus much more

How does a water resistant safe work?

Each water resistant or waterproof safe is individually tested up to a certain depth and time length during the testing validation process. The safes are submerged into water tanks with regular monitoring within the testing.

After the assessment is complete the manufacturer will then state how long the documents/contents stayed dry for during that period and under what height it was submerged.

ETL Verified Protection

ETL is an independent company that tests and grades each safe that has been provided by the supplier. After the testing has been completed they will give each product a certification mark such as below.

“ETL Verified for X hours of protection within water and up to X centimetres/millimetres of water.”

Are there many options available to purchase?

Water resistant safes are not as common as fireproof safes in the market but there is still a good selection to choose from.

Sentrysafe has been the main provider of water resistant safes over the past few years but Phoenix have now produced their own version recently.

With this is in mind, we have done a short review on the water resistant safes that are available from Phoenix and Sentrysafe.

Products in Review -

Phoenix Titan Aqua

The Titan Aqua from Phoenix is a well designed fireproof safe that offers 60 minutes fire protection along with water resistance of up to 200mm of water for 24 hours. It has been tested against water and it has a good level of protection for 24 hours to protect your cash or valuables.

One of the great features of the Aqua is that it also offers a good cash/valuables insurance rating along with 1 hour fire protection for paper and digital media.

Pros and Cons in Short

Cash Rating £2,000 / valuables rating £20,000
1 hour protection for paper and digital media
Water resistant up to 200mm of water for 24 hours
Supplied with removable shelf
Comes with internal light
Solid boltwork with 25mm diameter steel live locking bolts
Can only be anchored to the base
Not ETL verified

Phoenix Titan Aqua Model Range

In total there are 3 Phoenix Titan Aqua safes which differ in size. They are all water resistant up to 200mm of water for 24 hours.

Fashion model	Fire Resistant	External Dim. (HxWxD	Internal Dim. (HxWxD)	Weight (kg)	Volume (l)
Phoenix Titan Aqua FS1291E Data Safe	1 hour	355 x 470 x 480 mm	220 x 330 x 325 mm	36	24
Phoenix Titan Aqua FS1292E Data Safe	1 hour	460 x 470 x 480 mm	330 x 330 x 325 mm	45	35
Phoenix Titan Aqua FS1293E Data Safe	1 hour	610 x 530 x 480 mm	475 x 385 x 325 mm	62	60

SentrySafe SFW082GTC Data Safe

The SFW082GTC from Sentrysafe is an excellent all round safe that covers most areas such as fire protection, water resistance and cash/valuables insurance rating. The advantage with the Sentrysafe is that it has been verified by ETL independently for fire and water.

The 082GTC can stand in up to 5" of water for up to 24 hours, whilst the 250GPC is 9" and the 123FTC is 8" of water.

Pros and Cons in Short

ETL Verified 60 minutes fire protection for digital media and paper
Interior light included
Water resistant up to 200mm of water for 24 hours
Suitable for floor fixing
Small internal tray included
Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
ETL Verified water resistance - can stand in up to 5" of water for up to 24 hours
Batteries not included

SentrySafe Model Range

In total there are 3 Sentrysafes which are different in size, they all differ in water resistance as shown below in the table.

Fashion model	Fire Resistant	External Dim. (HxWxD	Internal Dim. (HxWxD)	Weight (kg)	Volume (l)	Water Resistant (24 Hours)
SentrySafe SFW082GTC Data Safe	1 hour	415 x 348 x 491 mm	319 x 244 x 292 mm	35.7	22.79	5 inches
SentrySafe SFW123FTC Data Safe	1 hour	415 x 453 x 491 mm	319 x 349 x 302 mm	38.9	34	8 inches
SentrySafe SFW205GPC Data Safe	1 hour	605 x 472 x 490 mm	498 x 376 x 302 mm	58	57	9 inches

Need advice?

If you have any questions on our Sentrysafes or Phoenix Aqua range, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

Planning a Holiday in the UK this Summer? – Bulldog Hitch Locks and Wheel Clamps

Since the Covid Pandemic hit in March 2020, travelling abroad has become increasingly difficult due to the continuing changes to the traffic light system.

This along with the high risk of self-isolation on return is making it unattractive to travel overseas.

In comparison, the number of people planning staycations in the UK has risen significantly.

The increased usage of motorhomes and caravans will naturally rise. But making sure that these are secure before, during and after usage is essential to your valuable caravans or motorhomes.

At Simplysafes we provide a fantastic selection of Wheel Clamps and Hitch Locks from Bulldog to match all your requirements.

Hitch Locks

A hitch lock for a caravan is just as crucial as the key for the door of the caravan in terms of security. The usage of a hitch lock prevents your caravan being hitched up and towed away by thieves.

When choosing a hitch lock it is crucial that the correct one is chosen and purchased so that it fits correctly and secures your caravan or trailer as it should. At Simplysafes we have over 20 different Bulldog Hitch Locks to choose from.

For each model we have added further documentation to each product to make it easier to identify the correct one you need.

If you are still unsure on the correct hitch lock that you require please contact one of our team and we can ensure the correct model is selected.

On the side of your tyre it should state a number for example - "225/75"

Hitch Lock Identification Chart

Hitch Lock in Review – Bulldog BRC/BK Heavy Duty Hitch Lock

The BRC/BK from Bulldog is a heavy duty and well constructed hitch lock. It is easy to fit and has been supplied with a Bulldog super lock bolt and comes with 2 keys. The hitch lock has also been tested to the standard of Sold Secure Gold and is also insurance approved.

It provides excellent value for money and offers great security to your caravan or trailer. It can be used on Bradley Autoheads with rubber grip handles. Models GA3500, GA2750 & D05050 with and without cappits.

Pros & Cons

5 Year warranty
Insurance approved
Supplied with Bulldog Super Lock Bolt including 2 keys
Easy to fit
Approved by Sold Secure
Can only be used unhitched

View the Bulldog BRC/BK Heavy Duty Hitch Lock on our website

Wheel Clamps

The usage of a wheel clamp on a car, motorhome, caravan or any other vehicle provides that physical immobilisation for your piece of mind.

With any vehicle you are provided a level of security with a physical key or electronic key fob. But having a wheel clamp secured on your vehicle provides that extra level to deter any potential thieves.

When choosing a wheel clamp it is crucial that the correct one is chosen and purchased so that it fits correctly and secures your vehicle as it should. At Simplysafes we have over 20 different Bulldog wheel clamps to choose from.

For each model we have added further documentation to each product to make it easier to identify the correct one you need.

If you are still unsure on the correct wheel clamp that you require please contact one of our team and we can ensure the correct model is selected.

Wheel Clamp in Review - Bulldog Centaur CA2000C Wheel Clamp

The Bulldog Centaur CA2000C wheel clamp has been manufactured to an excellent standard and is suitable for motorhomes, vans and 4 x 4 vehicles. The Centaur meets police approved standards and has also obtained Sold Secure Gold approval.

One big advantage of the CA2000C is that it has adjustable arms to allow fitting to a variety of wheel sizes, Please double check the sizing if you are still unsure.

The Centaur is one of our most popular wheel clamps from Bulldog, but we have a great selection of other wheel clamps to choose from here.

Pros & Cons

Insurance approved
Supplied with Bulldog Super Bolt lock
2 keys supplied
Adjustable arms
Approved by Sold Secure

View the Bulldog Centaur C2000C Wheel Clamp on our website

Securing your valuables in your motorhomes or caravan?

Now that your caravan or motorhome might be secured with a hitch lock or wheel clamp. It is important not to disregard the security of your cash or valuables. You may be out on a day trip, walk or night out. But you have also left personal belongings in the caravan.

Why not have that extra peace of mind whilst out by purchasing a small home safe to secure cash or valuables?

Please see our top 3 recommendations below -

Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1

Pros & Cons

Digital electronic lock supplied with emergency override key
Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
Anti-bump solenoid – Prevents the safe from being bumped open
Can be anchored to the base or back wall
Not fire resistant

View the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 on our website

Chubbsafes Air 10E Compact Home Safe

Pros & Cons

Beautiful design, good quality
Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
Robust keyboard
Can be anchored to floor and wall, incl. mounting hardware
Only 1 user code adjustable

View the Chubbsafes Air 10E on our website

Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe

Pros & Cons

Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
Supplied with an easy to use digital electronic lock
Concealed internal hinges
Carpeted floor
Not fire resistant

View the Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe on our website

Need advice?

If you have any questions on hitch locks and wheel clamps or any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

How are Safes Rated?

Safes are all rated to different levels. Some even feature fire protection. During the safes testing process, they are attacked with different tools that a burglar may use. This buying guide will help you understand the complex world of safe ratings that bit easier.

Buying a safe can require a great deal of research. The variety of ratings or eurograde also adds a huddle. We have put together a selection of questions which we at Simply Safes often get asked.

What is a eurograde level?

Safes in the main, are rated to a eurograde level, except for the relatively new standards of S1 and S2 which are aimed more at the domestic market. The rating is achieved by attacking a safe using burglar hand tools for a set period of time. In essence tools are categorised by different factors that include:

How effective they are
How difficult they might be to operate effectively
How tricky they might be to transport
What sort of outside factors might prevent their use such as noise or smoke

Ultimately the safe is tested to withstand a set amount of attack time, to buy you time to either raise the alarm to the Police or for the burglars to flee the scene because of fear of being caught.

How the safe is secured is also part of the stringent testing procedure and the test is always carried out fixed to a solid concrete floor. Hence why this is always the best surface to use when fixing.

The final part of the test relies on the safe having a lock fitted that meets a specific standard for the rating. Should the lock not have been tested then any rating would not be applicable.

DID YOU KNOW - All sizes within a product range from a manufacturer have to be tested.

Your insurer may ask you to purchase a £3,000 or £5,000 cash rated safe. Although these do exist, you should be cautious about purchasing one. They may be relevant for your current insurer, but should you change your policy to a new company you may not be covered. You may then have to purchase a new safe.

Where do safes get tested?

In our experience, customers will often opt for a model that has fire protection as well as a security rating. These models are a little more expensive than those without. It is not essential to have a fire resistant safe but it is worth considering as we tend to keep important documents at home more than in the past.

Our banks and solicitors used to keep our Title Deeds and Wills as standard. In most circumstances this is no longer the case. Costs to replace copies of these and documents such as passports can cost a considerable amount. We have included an example table below:

In the period of time before we were part of Europe, we used to have our British standards and testing houses. At the this current time, most safes are tested by either ECBS or VdS in Europe, however we also have two test laboratories in the UK.

As we have explained above, quite a lot of detail goes into a scientific process and requires a high standard of thorough testing. For a safe to be deemed insurance approved it must be tested by ECBS, VdS, BRE or Sold Secure. It is worth checking where the safe you choose has been tested for that extra bit of peace of mind.

Cheaper safes that have not gone through such stringent testing may advertise a cash rating and not cover you in the event of a claim. If in doubt always check with your insurer before you buy.

Does the cash rating mean that Simply Safes will cover me?

No. The cash rating is what an insurer will cover you for under your insurance policy.

If you are storing cash speak to your insurance company prior to purchasing a safe, as they may require you to have a particular rating. This can be based on many factors that include your address and other security you have in place.

Does my choice of lock mean it will be any less secure?

No, the lock you choose will not make the safe any less secure. You should always change all the default codes if your choice is an electronic lock. In the event of a claim you could find an insurer does not pay out because the code was easily available. Likewise, if your safe keys were lying around or even if they were hidden but discovered by a burglar you could equally find your claim is void.

I want both fire protection and security, is this possible?

Yes. It is more common now for customers to want a mixture of both security and fire protection. This is because of a knock on effect from banks and solicitors no longer keeping title deeds and wills. Choosing one of these models means everything is secure and fire resistant in one location. It is worth noting that there is a trade off with these types of safes, as it will compromise the internal space that you have to store items.

This is down to the type of fill that sits between the two steel skins of the safe needing to be thicker. Typically the fire protection will only protect paper documents, should you want security and to protect data such as computer back up tapes from fire, then please call us for further advice.

Does a safe need to be fitted?

Yes. For any rating to apply, your safe must be installed in accordance with manufacturers recommendations. This applies to any model that has a weight of less than 1000kg. It is recommended that you secure your safe to a solid concrete floor. There are various alternatives if this is not possible. We have a detailed installation buying guide available to help guide you through the process.

Can I wire up my safe to an alarm?

Yes. Safes with a higher rating can be wired into your alarm system. This is where a duress box is fitted inside the back pan of the safe door. This is connected to your alarm by your alarm installer. To enter a duress code, you enter a number one digit either side of your normal code. For example, if your safe code is 123456, you would add 01234560. If the code is incorrectly inputted, this will send a message to your alarm to trigger an alert. The alarm will then alert the keyholder.

Our summary

In summary, safes are rated meticulously. If you should require a model for insurance purposes, we would advocate an AiS insurance approved safe. Your insurer will advise a rating based on your insurance cover. Should they suggest a rating that is not listed above, please do not hesitate to contact us. One of our friendly sales advisors will discuss your options further.

Best Budget Safes

The Best 5 Budget Safes

No 1. Chubbsafes Air 15E

Secure locking and anchoring through the floor and wall

Advantages and disadvantages of the Chubbsafes Air 15E in brief

View the Chubbsafes Air 15E on our website

No 2. Phoenix Rhea SS0103E

15.5" laptop can be kept secure

Advantages and disadvantages of the Phoenix SS0103E in brief

View all Phoenix Safes

No 3. De Raat Domestic Safe DS 4040E

Concealed internal hinges for extra security

Advantages and disadvantages of the De Raat 4040 Domestic safe in brief

View the De Raat Domestic Safe DS 4040E on our website

No 4. Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1.

Anti-bump solenoid protection

Advantages and disadvantages of the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 in brief

View the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 on our website

No 5. BurgWachter PointSafe P2EFS

Double walled door for added protection

Advantages and disadvantages of the BurgWachter PointSafe PSEFS in brief

View the BurgWachter PointSafe PSEFS on our website

Questions or remarks about the top 5 budget safes ?