Steering locks - are they any good?

[edina]

A steering wheel lock or pedal.lock would be a really nasty thing to be struck by if you were in a crash.
Either of these would be a daily chore.

It takes less than a minute to remove our disklok, put it in its bag, and store it securely.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

A removable steering wheel would be OK if it fitted in your pocket, but the reality is that you'd leave it in the van.
A steering wheel lock or pedal.lock would be a really nasty thing to be struck by if you were in a crash.
Either of these would be a daily chore.
A tracker is worth having, and maybe an aftermarket immobiliser if the factory-fitted one is easily bypassed.
More that that, perhaps the pain outweighs the gain.

Just put it down your trousers, it'll drive you nuts til you get back to the van though.

 

[wildebus]

Just put it down your trousers, it'll drive you nuts til you get back to the van though.

As Mrs Bear said ...
Is that a disclock in your pants or just happy to see me?

 

[Molly 3]

Has anyone considered the cost of a new steering wheel after it has been butcherd

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Butchered how?

 

[Geek]

Butchered how?

Bolt croppers usually

 

[mistericeman]

Bolt croppers usually

Or hack saw.... Literally seconds to cut... Then spin the clublock and use it as extra leverage to snap the column lock.

 

[trevskoda]

Iv seen baonet removable gear sticks, that well fools them.
Sad thing is they sh-t all over the inside of veh, happened to wifes uncles dla car.

 

[Trigger]

My insurance Co asked if I had a steering wheel lock and offered just 5% discount (around £15).
I've always believed that locks only keep honest people out anyway and such devices will not deter scrotes for long if at all.
Can anyone honestly recommend a make of lock that would be worth fitting?
K

I think ANY VISIBLE deterrent is well worth having

 

[Vanterrier]

On balance I think I'll leave it... thanks for the suggestions.
K

 

[mistericeman]

With a foot in both the Transit van and Land rover communities...

I have to say the Disklok is THE most popular option...

Visible and difficult to remove... Even more so IF you add a little extra metal.



At the end of the day it's all about layers
Disklok
Pedal lock
Obd port protection/relocate (especially on transits)
Tracker
Alarm/immobiliser
Etc etc

and making YOUR vehicle more effort than the next one along

 

[TJBi]

I think ANY VISIBLE deterrent is well worth having

Perhaps, but some are easily overcome with resultant damage to the vehicle.

 

[Geek]

I think ANY VISIBLE deterrent is well worth having

Almost any...

The exception is those handles that fold over the hab door. They are a sign that the owner thinks there is something worth stealing inside, and that the vehicle is unoccupied.

They are visible, but not a deterrent. They don't stop break-ins: they just make the damage more expensive to repair.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'm not sure I can agree to that. Once upon a time they were on everything as they were good for helping old or infirm into the van, can you still buy them?

 

[Geek]

I'm not sure I can agree to that. Once upon a time they were on everything as they were good for helping old or infirm into the van, can you still buy them?

Of course, there is an argument for having one and never closing it over the door.
That way it's a sign that nothing valuable is inside, or the van is occupied.

 

[wildebus]

I'm not sure I can agree to that. Once upon a time they were on everything as they were good for helping old or infirm into the van, can you still buy them?

you can still buy them. Want one? I have one brand new one for sale

 

[Geek]

and making YOUR vehicle more effort than the next one along

More effort or less attractive.
I used to live near a row of shops with a takeaway.
Parking nearby was unavoidable.
Teenagers used to use parked cars as seats as they ate. Not something I wanted.
Then I discovered the way to prevent it: don't wash the car. They preferred to sit on clean cars.

 

[Vanterrier]

Just a thought... if the police investigated who is buying motorhome steering wheels in big numbers they might find out who's nicking vans...
K

 

[Geek]

Just a thought... if the police investigated who is buying motorhome steering wheels in big numbers they might find out who's nicking vans...
K

Well, getting the police to even issue a crime number is a struggle. Getting them to investigate the theft of a motorhome is unlikely to happen, unless you give them the precise coordinates from the tracker. And maybe not even then.
Thieves wouldn't buy new steering wheels. They'd either use gaffer tape to mend them or get one from a scrapyard. Plenty of old van steering wheels there.

 

[andromeda]

Other than joyriding would any tealeaf bother with a 20 year old van that is parked next to a brand new shiny one that says it is expensive?