Motor Coach Security

[ken&ellen]

In an earlier post by Bill Adams on Prevost-Stuff he had commented on the ease of forced entry to the Prevost bedroom windows. Then last week Lew had mentioned the " jailer " who goes from compartment to compartment with a large set of keys. Belt fed firearms aside, Jerry, what is the consensus of the group as to security aboard the motor coach....either on the road or in a campground. Electronic security? Defensive weapons? Lighting around the coach? Guard animals?
According to a report quoted in a past issue of FMCA 65% of RV's are thought to have some type of weapon aboard; therefore the criminal element avoids this segment of the traveling population. Is this overstated?
As always your opinions or comments are valued. Thanks. Ken & Ellen

[truk4u]

I would suggest having a good security system, lock the Coach and all bays, be armed and most of all, be aware of your surroundings. I know there is a lot of controversy regarding firearms and the various state regulations, but being a former Police Officer and pro gun, I wouldn't be without one. If you are a gun owner and are concerned over the various state regs and you don't have a carry permit, one option is to carry a shotgun. Most states are shotgun friendly and if your real concerned, separate the ammo from the gun.

If none of this works for you, buy a Doberman.

[Jerry Winchester]

I am sure most of these coaches, mine included, have an alarm system. We also utilize the electric locks on the bays but we are always prepared to go on offense.

While I seriously doubt someone would try to enter the coach while we are there, our coach doesn't sit out at night without us in it. The exceptionn is when it sits in front of our house the day before we leave. But our neighborhood is patrolled and the most significant crime is door to door sales.

So our coach has the standard motion detection and pressure sensors in the floor, so someone getting in would be startled and the dead would arise.

Then there is always the 9mm Sig (and before all you 45 cal guys get cranked up, if you can put 8 rounds in the X ring, a 22 will work) and we have a Winchester 1300 Defender shotgun with 4x00 that will open a hole in the coach if need be.

[MangoMike]

No firearms in the Mothership as I would be afraid Mrs. Mango may use it on you know who.

Jerry, who installed the pressure sensitive floor and motion detectors. This is the first I've heard of this on a bus.

Mike

[Jerry Winchester]

Mike,

I don't know the answer to that. It was installed on the coach when I got it. It has switches to arm the "mikes" and "pressure mats". On my home alarm, the only time it has gone off was when we left and the girls had a helium balloon upstairs. When the AC came on, it caused it to move and the motion detector went off and the alarm company called me. I think I need a big barking dog alarm to go off inside when we are gone.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Lew pulled our chain on a post on the other forum about not locking our bays, but over the years we have come to realize that Prevost owners are not well loved. The concensus is we all got our money by taking advantage of somebody else.

For that reason we trust no one. When overnighting anywhere but in a campground everything is locked. We have alarms, but for whatever reason we have never activated the system. Maybe it is because, like Jerry, we are inside. We have a double barrel shotgun, but by the time we got it out from under the bed, found the shells, loaded the gun, and pointed it, the bad guy would have everything, including the fillings in our teeth.

Having said that we are now likely to bring a pistol with us, and illegal or not, keep it loaded and accessible to us. Our grandson was our previous factor, and now that he is a high schooler and does not spend a lot of time with us conditions will permit the use of a pistol.

[Kevin Erion]

I grew up in So California and now I have 3 beautiful girls and we lock the door and the bay doors. I am sorry but no guns and no alarms. I guess I think that I am safe because of where I choose to park. If I make a bad choice, I must be stupid, do I want to be so afraid of the area that I pick to spend the night with my family.
Time will tell,
Kevin

[MIsheeTX]

One word.......CARRY. Check local laws related to handguns, but usually even a long-gun will be work in most states.

[MIsheeTX]

In an earlier post by Bill Adams on Prevost-Stuff he had commented on the ease of forced entry to the Prevost bedroom windows. Then last week Lew had mentioned the " jailer " who goes from compartment to compartment with a large set of keys. Belt fed firearms aside, Jerry, what is the consensus of the group as to security aboard the motor coach....either on the road or in a campground. Electronic security? Defensive weapons? Lighting around the coach? Guard animals?
According to a report quoted in a past issue of FMCA 65% of RV's are thought to have some type of weapon aboard; therefore the criminal element avoids this segment of the traveling population. Is this overstated?
As always your opinions or comments are valued. Thanks. Ken & Ellen

Refreshing this thread......perhaps consider carrying the Byrna range of non-lethal fire arms. https://byrna.com/ and if the shotgun is your thing.....well, they now have a 12-guage shell that is interesting..... https://byrna.com/products/less-leth...uge-round-10ct check it out. We keep a couple onboard. One in the back bedroom, one in the salon (hidden but easy access) and then we keep something super simple yet works well since when sleeping in the back with the generator on one can not often hear what is happening up front per se.......ring camera pointed at the front area linked to a ring chime in the bedroom and driver's area that announces if something breaks the camera's plane of sight. Deterrent, yes. We also put a wireless camera in the front corner of the front windshield where one can clearly see the blue light on when passing it. Works well. Check out the YouTube videos on Byrna and you will see, it will be a game changer. Nobody gets killed and then again, no worrying about legalities of being in certain states with a loaded firearm. Being from Texas we consider this to be a right, but that isn't everywhere, so, we have the Byrna as well. Also, it doesn't hurt that when they approach the coach they see the https://nrastore.com/departments/acc...e-people-decal or the https://nrastore.com/nra-accessories...lex-3d-emblems decals posted in the corner of the glass......

[prevonubie]

Very interesting thread, I'm conceal carry but its always a good bet to carry the 12ga. I will be looking into the Byrna 12ga shells, thanks for the great info Michael.