While having one of the best caravan wheel locks should deter any thief from moving your caravan, a hitchlock acts as a double deterrent. This has the benefit of meaning that not only should it make an opportunistic thief even less eager to have a go, but even if they succeed in removing the wheel lock, the hitch lock could prevent them attaching the caravan to their own tow car. To help you find the one for you, in our best caravan hitchlock guide, we’re sharing our top picks currently on the market.
A hitchlock comes with a false towball that you lock into the socket in your hitch, preventing any other towball getting in there. Most caravan hitch locks can be attached even when the caravan is still hitched to the car. You may think this is unnecessary, but it is perfectly possible that some passing thief could have a go if you have parked your outfit and stepped away for a moment – particularly when you consider how out of the way many dedicated caravan parking bays are in Britain’s motorway service stations.
In fact, some manufacturers even think you can keep the hitchlock on while you are driving, but we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this. That’s not because a caravan hitch lock could affect your towing – it shouldn’t really. But in the event of an accident emergency services sometimes like to be able to move affected vehicles off the road quickly. In such circumstances they might not look too kindly on a mangled caravan that is still attached to a car (or vice versa) with a lock that no one has the key for.
Take a look at our guide to caravan security to find out more about what you can do to protect your tourer too.
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The best caravan hitchlocks are:
Milenco Compact Hitchlock
SAS Products Fortress 2 Hitchlock
Milenco Super Heavy Duty AKS3004 Hitchlock
Milenco Heavy Duty Knott Hitchlock
Bulldog hitchlock
Stronghold 5412C hitchlock
Saracen FHL400 Hitch Lock
Al-Ko Premium Safety Hitchlock
The best caravan hitch locks:
Milenco Compact Hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- Easy to install, lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- It doesn’t cover up all bolts, so a determined thief could still get through
One to go for it you would rather not take up storage space with anything bulky, this hitchlock is designed to fit on any hitch with an AKS3004 stabiliser attached. This simply fits underneath the stabiliser in front of the tow hitch handle, and bolts on. You don’t have to slip it under anything to make sure it is secure.
SAS Products Fortress 2 Hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- Covers all bolts
Reason to avoid:
- Not for hitches without stabilisers
Designed to fit any hitch with an AK160, AK180, AK300, AKS1300, AKS2004 or AKS3004 stabiliser fitted, this lock covers all potential bolts to make it hard for anyone to drill into it. It can be fitted when the caravan is stationary but still hitched to the car, and is painted bright red to be clearly visible for would-be opportunists.
Milenco Super Heavy Duty AKS3004 Hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- Trusted name
Reason to avoid:
- Only for AKS3004 hitches
Milenco claims that this lock, made in the UK from 4mm heavy duty steel and designed to fit the most commonly used stabiliser, is the toughest on the market. It has also been designed to exceed by far the Gold Standard set by industry test house sol secure.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Milenco Heavy Duty Knott Hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- A solid, all encompassing lock
Reason to avoid:
- Only for Knott chassis, heaviest in this review
A hitchlock from Milenco for those of you who still have a caravan with a Knott chassis, which may include some older Knaus and Weinsberg models. Like the AKS3004 hitch, this has been built with 4mm thick heavy duty steel, and is designed to surpass Sold Secure’s Gold Standard.
Bulldog hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- 5-year guarantee
Reason to avoid:
- Only for AKS 1300, 2004 and 3004 stabilisers, on the heavy side
Unusually, this caravan hitchlock allows you to lower the stabiliser handle completely while the lock is in position. The lock itself also fits under the hitch handle to minimise the chances of anyone being able to lever the device off. It can be used with the caravan hitched or unhitched, and in conjunction with an associated Bulldog lock post. It comes with a five-year guarantee.
Stronghold 5412C hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- For a wide range of hitches, relatively lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- Stabiliser handle needs to stay up.
A hitchlock for hitches with AK160, AK180, AK300, AKS1300, AKS2004 or AKS 3004 stabilisers attached, this comes with its own storage case and plastic false towball. It is also rated gold standard by Sold Secure.
Saracen FHL400 Hitch Lock
Reason to buy:
- Fits plenty of stabilisers
Reason to avoid:
- Stabiliser handle needs to be up.
Another hitchlock designed to fit a wide range of stabilisers that comes with its own carry bag. There is a similarly coloured and designed wheel lock to go with it.
Al-Ko Premium Safety Hitchlock
Reason to buy:
- Al-Ko’s own hitchlock
Reason to avoid:
- Pricey
A hitchlock made by the same company that has almost certainly made your chassis sounds like a wise choice. This lock (if you can get hold of it) fits over both the hitch handle and the stabiliser. Al-Ko says you can even leave it on while towing, although we wouldn’t necessarily recommend that. This is, however, by far the most expensive hitchlock in our review.
Find at Al-Ko.
- If you’re looking for more ideas for what to take on tour, take a look at our guide to the essential caravan accessories to take away with you
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