Do you lock the compartment that contains your batteries?

[Sanford Fl camper]

Going to spend a substantial amount of money to upgrade the batteries in my Class A Precept motorhome. Concerned about someone stealing my batteries. Do you lock your battery compartment?

If you do how did you secure it.

[JFlightRisk]

If your battery compartment door doesn't have a lock, this site may offer a solution.

https://ch751.com/

[hoppers4]

I don't bother locking any of my compartments. I would rather they steal the goods than damage the motor home.

[Murff]

Originally Posted by hoppers4

I don't bother locking any of my compartments. I would rather they steal the goods than damage the motor home.

Same advice that is good for convertible car owners. Better to steal stuff than cut the top.

Murff

[hawkmaster]

Hi,
When i first bought my MH i asked my dealer why
the one compartment had no lock. I was told if you
were parked at a campground or pretty much anywhere
and you went out for the day or the unit was unoccupied.
If someone smelled gas the proper authorities could be
notified to shut off the gas and prevent a possible explosion.
Pete

[Dbrown]

That would be the easy way to access the shut off but you could just reach up under and shut it off. The bottom must be open.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by hawkmaster

Hi,
When i first bought my MH i asked my dealer why
the one compartment had no lock. I was told if you
were parked at a campground or pretty much anywhere
and you went out for the day or the unit was unoccupied.
If someone smelled gas the proper authorities could be
notified to shut off the gas and prevent a possible explosion.
Pete

Originally Posted by Dbrown

That would be the easy way to access the shut off but you could just reach up under and shut it off. The bottom must be open.

That's why there's no lock on the propane compartment door. OP is talking about battery compartment.

Someone stealing the on-board propane tank is FAR less likely than someone absconding with batteries. Though I think battery theft in a MH is FAR less likely than that on a TT.

[hawkmaster]

Hi,
On my 27A The battery compartment and electrical compartment
are both located just above the propane in the same bay. This same
bay also has the solar prep wiring for battery connections.
The generator is located in the next bay and wiring from that also
enter into the electrical compartment.
Pete

[Kevin Cooper]

He said he has a Precept. Most likely the same as out Alante. Batteries, leveling Jack power unit and propane tank are all in the same bay.
The reason there is no lock is because DOT (Department Of Transportation) says that propane must be readily accessible. That means it can not be locked, and could be big fine if you add one and there is a problem. In short, “It’s the Law”

[Camper_bob]

Placing propane and batteries in the same bay doesn't sound like a good plan IMO.

But since they are, that explains why there's no lock on that bay.

Has anyone who owns a motorhome ever had their battery stolen out of its compartment? Anyone heard of it happening?

Like I said, it happens on TTs quite frequently where the battery is sitting on the tongue out in plain sight, but I've never heard of it on a MH?

ETA: Compartment locks will only keep honest thieves honest, if someone wants in, they're very easy to defeat. The fact that its behind a compartment door at all is likely enough in most cases. If not, they're getting your catalytic converter, and anything of value on the inside as well.

[Bernheimer]

Before we upgraded to Lithium, we put a chain & lock on the battery slide-out tray that prevented the tray from sliding out - would be hard to take the batteries if you can't slide the tray out. You can't lock that compartment because it's the access to the propane. Once we upgraded to Lithium, we moved the batteries to the compartment next to the batteries since the cables all simply fit between those 2 compartments. We also added a SimpliSafe Security system and all bay doors have sensors.

[Mica]

Originally Posted by Sanford Fl camper

Going to spend a substantial amount of money to upgrade the batteries in my Class A Precept motorhome. Concerned about someone stealing my batteries. Do you lock your battery compartment?

If you do how did you secure it.

My old trailer has a metal band on the battery box with a hasp. I ordered lockable ties for the new trailer battery boxes.
People will steal anything nowadays.
I parked in a state campground and left for the day. When I came back to my trailer one of the propane tanks was hanging halfway off.

[bgelyhome]

Yes, I lock mine

[Ann-Marie]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

If your battery compartment door doesn't have a lock, this site may offer a solution.

https://ch751.com/

Or this site https://www.yandina.tech

[TaftCoach]

For folks finding this later. Propane gas sinks so the design has worked safely for a very long time.

[RossG]

https://youtu.be/4bl_j3rmABQ?si=KvT4io2OQeMgSCP0
I used this person's method