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Preparation Overview Trip Changes Broken Bits Vehicle Mechanical Electrical Security Protection Storage Recovery Paint Work Equipment Camping Kitchen Medical Navigation Kit List Documentation Carnet Driving Permits Shipping Handy Hints and Tips Finance Insurance Training Courses Information Embassies Country Information The Home left Behind Islam Camp Life Visa's Preparation - Security Overview With everything that we will need and everything our life depends on being in the vehicle, security is of a big concern. Now you could go to town fitting the most high tech of alarms and imobilsers to your wagon. This will at least prevent all but the most talented of criminals. However doing this provides it’s own disavantages, which far outway the benefits, the main one being the added risk of something going wrong with the kit and subsequently stranding you without the ability to move. The other being that if nothing physical items are added then there is no visual detterent, other than a flashy light, prior to the criminal smashing their way into the car. One of the greatest risks to our equipment and vehicle is from oppurtunists, not just in Africa but unfortunately throughout the world. Due to this we need to ensure that the main cargo area is secure and no items are out on display, preventing anybody seeing anything of potential benefit to them. The risk of petty theft is hightened in Africa for the simple reason that poverty is much wider spread and therefore items of relative insignificance to a european person, hold a greater wealth of Africans. You can not stop enthusiastic and well equiped thieves, but the joy riders and simple thieves should be able to be hampered with little effort. In addition to these specific security items we have added a number of lockable storage units to ensure key equipment can be even more securely stowed away. Please see the ‘Interior’ section for more information on these items. Window Tint Restricting people from being able to see into the vehicle through the use of tint is simple, easy and cheap. It also has the double benefit of improving the look of the vehicle. We opted to go for a smoke based tint from Halfords, rather than the completely black tint. We felt that this provides the benefit of restricting passers by, but at the same time allowing them to see the window guards inside. Also the aim is not to have items on show so they will not be given any clue’s as to the items within. Dog Guard This came with the vehicle when we aquired her and although a simple dog guard, works as a very good security guard. It is fitted just behind the second row seats to clearly define the front (seating and bulky, non essential items) and the main cargo area at the rear. Although no major deterrent to any one breaking in, it does mean they have to break into two sections of the vehicle to access all of it. To increase the hassle to any oppurtunists we have used lock nuts on the base to ensure it can not be removed without tools. Window Guards Preventing people from breaking in through the windows in the back of the defender is a must, they are not hard to break and are big enough to take out most items. We didn’t want to have external guards, as it was felt they can draw attention to the vehicle from passers by, or even in the distance. The other benefit of internal guards is that any potential theif can not gain access to the mountings, which are generally rivets on external guards. Therefore we opted for MobileStorageSystems guards that are internal, powder coated guards. The build quiality and ease of fitting is brilliant, simply mounting using the existing bolts that hold the rear body work to the tub. We opted for the set to fit onto the side windows and all three rear windows. One tip gained from another overland couple, is that the internal guards can also prove highly useful for hanging things against, especially using map/cargo nets. Steering Lock Nothing seems more of a deterrent than a simple mechanical lock on the steering wheel. The one that we have is a Halfords 4Tress, Thatcham approved steering lock, and works very easily and quickly, a key to continued use in my book! Whether this will make the trip I am not sure, but it will certainly be used daily until we leave. Battery Isolator A very simple use of a standard piece of kit by Britpart, bought at MM4x4 that is being used as a manual immobiliser. It has been fitted into the battery compartment and is therefore inline between the main battery and the rest of the car. This then eliminates power to the rest of the vehicle and preventing it from being started. To prevent it simply being bypassed, a padlock is used on the battery box to prevent access. Admitedly this does not stop another battery from being used or even simply being jumped from another car, but it certainly should stop those pesky joy riders that knicked my SJ413 years ago. Unfortunately this has added to issues with the battery management system so is no longer used on a daily basis. Rear Combination Lock To add to everyday security to the cargo area and the rear door we have installed a combination locking latch to the back door. The lock has been installed at the top of the door to help prevent it getting bent back and accessed gained to the normal door latch. This lock is nice and easy to use and very quick to unlock, without the hassle of needing a key. Door Padlock Latches Having had a couple of vehicles stolen, both times by the top of the doors being pried open and access to the inside of the lock gained, we have attached some Corbin Hasps for looping a padlock through. The idea of these is for more prolonged period of parking as the everyday use would be too much hassle. However within cities and if we ever leave the vehicle (whilst in Zanzibar) then we will make use of the padlocks. The section of the latches for the padlocks can be removed, just leaving the brackets secured to the vehicle, so wind resistance is not hindered! Having seen them on other vehicles I struggled to find them being sold anywhere, until I finally found them in Machine Mart.