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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What is the best caravan hitch lock?
Milenco Compact Hitchlock
Al-Ko Premium Safety Hitchlock
Stronghold 5412C hitchlock
SAS Products Fortress 2 Hitchlock
Bulldog hitchlock
Saracen FHL400 Hitch Lock
Milenco Super Heavy Duty AKS3004 Hitchlock
Milenco Heavy Duty Knott 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 if 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.
It’s quick and simple to set up, and for added ease, comes with a lightweight design too.
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) is designed for AKS3004 hitches and works by fitting 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. While it may not be as brightly coloured as some of the others in our guide, it’s a solid option that should give you some valuable peace of mind. This is, however, the most expensive caravan hitch lock in our guide.
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 Stronghold product comes with its own storage case and plastic false towball. It is also rated gold standard by Sold Secure.
Thanks to its 3kg weight, it’s light and easy to move, while it’s also fairly compact. It comes with a yellow hardened steel casing which ensures it makes a great visual deterrent, while it also covers the fixing bolts of the hitch. Plus it’s both water- and corrosion-proof.
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 make a visible deterrent to would-be opportunists. At 3.3kg, it’s also a lightweight option to consider.
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. Its bright red colour should give you a good visual deterrent as well.
Saracen FHL400 Hitch Lock
Reason to buy:
- Fits plenty of stabilisers
Reason to avoid:
- Stabiliser handle needs to be up.
This Saracen is another caravan hitchlock designed to fit a wide range of stabilisers that comes with its own carry bag. Its bright orange colour will make it stand out as a deterrent to potential thieves, and it combines being quick to fit with simplicity. There is a similarly coloured and designed wheel lock that can be bought to go alongside it if you want a matching set.
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 sold 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.
What is a hitch lock on a caravan?
A hitchlock should be a compact, lightweight item which will clamp and securely lock around the hitch-head. This means a towball cannot be inserted into the hitch by a would-be thief. As well as this, they act as a good visual deterrent too. Relatively quick and simple to fit, they can then be stored in a front locker so it’s ready for you when you next need it.
Do you need a hitch lock and a wheel clamp for a caravan?
These are two useful pieces of security kit for your caravan, but more importantly, these two are normally considered the bare minimum provision by the majority of insurance companies. Failing to have both this and a wheel clamp fitted at all times when you’ve left your caravan unhitched could result in your insurance being invalidated too.
Are hitch locks worth it?
While professional thieves have been known to remove caravan hitchlocks with an angle-grinder or an oxy-acetylene torch, they are a security product that is definitely worth investing in. At the bare minimum, a hitch lock will make your caravan harder to steal, but many would-be thieves would rather focus on a tourer with no security at all.
- 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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