The best motorhome wheel clamp will give ‘van owners a valuable bit of peace of mind when they’re away from their vehicle, coming in particularly useful if you’re putting your ‘van into long-term storage or getting it ready for the off-season. Securely fitting into place, a wheel lock acts as a bright visual deterrent to potential thieves, helping to keep your vehicle safe and secure.
These important pieces of motorhome security are going to do exactly what it says on the tin, locking securely into place on one of your vehicle’s wheels to help prevent someone from driving off with it. The better options on the market come in bright, eye-catching colours, such as orange or yellow, to make them extra visible to opportunistic thieves. A good wheel clamp for a motorhome should also be straightforward to get into position, and once locked in, should offer a secure fit.
Something else we’d advise you to factor in is the weight – after all, you’re going to need to be comfortable getting it in and out of wherever you store it, as well as fitting it. Don’t forget to ensure it will be suitable for your ‘van’s base vehicle and tyres too. We’d also suggest combining your wheel lock with similar products, such as a motorhome tracker and a steering wheel lock, to increase your vehicle’s security.
In this guide, we’re sharing our pick for the best motorhome wheel clamp on the market, including options from Milenco, Bulldog, Nemesis and more, to help you find the right one for you.
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What is the best wheel clamp for a motorhome?
Milenco 2745 Compact Wheel Clamp
SAS New Defender Wheel Clamp
Full Stop Purpleline Nemesis PLUS Motorhome & Camper Van Wheel Clamp
Bulldog EuroClamp Sold Secure 4 x 4
Maypole SH5452 STRONGHOLD Apex Wheelclamp B2
Bulldog DC400 Auto Clamp
Milenco Wraith 2 Motorhome Wheel Lock
The best motorhome wheel clamp:
Milenco 2745 Compact Wheel Clamp
- Weight: 3.9kg
- Lock type: Key
Reason to buy:
- Simple to use, high-visibility colour
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly pricey
Milenco is perhaps the biggest name in the world of motorhome security, and as a result, it’s unsurprising that its products are very popular with ‘van owners – it offers a range of wheel locks and clamps suitable for a variety of situations.
The Practical Motorhome team has been using one of these wheel clamps as part of our motorhome security set-up for a couple of years, and over that time, we have been impressed with its performance. We like how easy it is to use: after unlocking it, simply move the arms apart before refitting them around the wheel, locating the larger arm over one of the wheel nuts. Then, turn the locking handle to bring the arms together until the wheel is safely clamped.
We’re also fans of the unit’s bright-yellow colour, making it very visible, which will always be an important trait of the best options on the market. We also noted its weight – it comes in at around 3.9kg, which makes it relatively easy to transport and store, something that will help when it comes to manoeuvring it into position.
SAS New Defender Wheel Clamp
- Weight: 12.7kg
- Lock type: keys
Reason to buy:
- Sold Secure Gold Approved, has an anti-drill and anti-pick lock
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly weighty
Coming in an eye-catching red colour to ensure it acts as a highly visual deterrent, this wheel clamp from SAS covers all of the wheel nuts, giving a security accessory that, in our opinion, should provide some beefy protection.
It’s suitable for wheels with either alloy or steel rims with a diameter of 12-18 inches and a width of 170-275mm – as always, don’t forget to check before you buy. We’re pleased to see it offers further reassurance in the form of being Sold Secure Gold Approved, and should be straightforward to fit, securing in a matter of seconds.
We also like how it has an anti-drill and anti-pick lock, ensuring it should provide you with some peace of mind when you’re away from your motorhome.
There’s also what the manufacturer describes as a “tough plastic carry case” to store it in when you don’t need it. One thing we will highlight is its weight – it comes to 12.7kg, making this the heaviest motorhome wheel clamp to feature in our guide. As a result, you’ll not only need to be comfortable moving such a weight around but will also need to have somewhere suitable to store it too.
However, if that’s not going to be an issue, we reckon this should provide some solid and reliable security for your motorhome.
Full Stop Purpleline Nemesis PLUS Motorhome & Camper Van Wheel Clamp
- Weight: 6.5kg
- Lock type: Key
Reason to buy:
- Bright in colour for good visual deterrence
Reason to avoid:
- Expensive
Anyone on the hunt for the best motorhome wheel clamp will no doubt be aware of the importance of choosing one which is brightly coloured. That’s certainly something which the Full Stop Purpleline Nemesis PLUS provides, thanks to its vivid orange colour.
The unit itself comes with a bespoke wheelbolt receiver, with which you need to replace two of your existing wheelbolts (M14 bolts are included, while M14 nuts and M16 bolts are available separately).
To secure the tear-drop-shaped wheel lock, you simply need to pass the toughened steel bar through the wheel, before securing it to the fitted wheelbolt – what we like about this is that it doesn’t require much in the way of fiddly alignment, which should make fitting a quick and stress-free process, always a plus in our books. It comes to 6.5kg, and if that’s too much, there are lighter options available – however, it is still over 6kg lighter than the heaviest option in our guide, the SAS New Defender Wheel Clamp.
Bulldog EuroClamp Sold Secure 4 x 4
- Weight: 3.18kg
- Lock type: Key
Reason to buy:
- Light in weight, easy to fit
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly pricey
Suitable for motorhomes with a tyre width of up to 280mm and a tyre profile distance of up to 230mm, the Bulldog Euroclamp Sold Secure 4 x 4 wheel clamp claims to be suitable for “most 4x4s, vans, and motorhomes”.
We like the simplicity of using it – fitting this motorhome wheel lock is easy. The pair of steel arms simply need to be placed around the wheel, before being fitted together, then secured by pushing the lock inwards; no key is required to lock. Another feature we’re fans of is its light weight – at only 3.18kg, it should prove to be fairly easy to move around and position as required.
We also like how reinforcing strips have been positioned on the inside of the lock for additional security and strength, while the ends of the arms are fitted with plastic sleeves to help prevent your wheels and tyres from suffering any damage. It also comes with a five-year Bulldog guarantee.
Maypole SH5452 STRONGHOLD Apex Wheelclamp B2
- Weight: 6.55kg
- Lock type: Key
Reason to buy:
- Triangular design protects all part of wheel
Reason to avoid:
- May be trickier to fit than other locks here
The steel-constructed Maypole SH5452 STRONGHOLD Apex Wheelclamp B2 is another 6kg+ wheel clamp, coming in at around 6.55kg. However, it’s also one that we think looks like it should be very secure. We also reckon its bright yellow colouring will help alert potential thieves to its presence.
The triangular design helps to cover not only the wheel nuts but the trims and alloys themselves, helping to further increase the security of your motorhome; it’s suitable for wheel sizes of 504-704 x 195. The back of the main panel features a rubber coating, to help prevent your wheels from suffering any damage; the manufacturers claim that the unit is water- and corrosion-resistant as well. Usefully, a trio of keys are supplied too, always useful should you find you’ve misplaced one.
Bulldog DC400 Auto Clamp
- Weight: 9kg
- Lock type: Key
Reason to buy:
- A great visual deterrent, insurance approved (although you should check your policy to confirm)
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly weighty, quite pricey
Motorhome protection is as much about visual deterrents as it is about security products, and this large Auto Clamp from the popular brand Bulldog certainly ticks all the boxes.
Its bright-yellow colour scheme makes it highly visible on your vehicle, while its high-security drill- and pick-resistant lock promises to help keep thieves at bay, giving you extra reassurance when you’re away from your ‘van. It’s not the lightest of units – it weighs in at 9kg, making it one of the heaviest options in our guide, so make sure you’ll be comfortable moving such a weight around. However, it should be easy to fit to your motorhome’s wheels.
The rubber-back steel disk can help prevent damage to the ‘van’s wheel nuts, too. Note that this wheel clamp is suitable for a motorhome with a wheel diameter of 580 – 740mm.
Milenco Wraith 2 Motorhome Wheel Lock
- Weight: TBC
- Lock type: Key
Reason to buy:
- High level of security
Reason to avoid:
- Pricey, only suitable for Fiat Ducato/Peugeot Boxer/Citroën Relay-based motorhomes
The Sold Secure rating is a guide to the effectiveness of leisure vehicle security products, and the sturdy Milenco Wraith 2 Wheel Lock has, according to its manufacturer, been “designed and engineered to far exceed the Sold Secure Gold Standard”.
It’s a chunky, well-manufactured unit which is suitable for steel and alloy wheels. However, one thing we should point out is that it’s only for Fiat Ducato/Peugeot Boxer/Citroën Relay-based motorhomes, so if your ‘van comes on a different base vehicle, this is not the one for you. Another thing we’ll highlight is that you need to replace one of your motorhome’s wheel nuts with the (supplied) Wraith Low Mass Security Wheel Bolt Receiver.
Once you’ve done that, fitting it should be a simple process, as all you’ll have to do is position the lock around the wheel, before securing it with one of the three supplied keys. We also think it’s useful that it comes with a foam back as this will help to protect your wheels.
The motorhome wheel lock comes with a five-year guarantee, and we like how a carry case is also supplied for easier transportation and more straightforward storage.
How to choose the best motorhome wheel clamp
When you’re looking for a good motorhome wheel clamp, there are a few considerations that can help you pick the best one for you.
Firstly, just how good a visual deterrent is it? Having a brightly coloured accessory could be enough to catch the eye of a potential thief and make them decide to move on from your ‘van. The next thing to look for is whether or not it is Sold Secure rated – this can give you an idea of its performance.
The ease of fitting it will be another important consideration, particularly if you regularly use your motorhome. A wheel clamp which takes a lot of time to apply could quickly become a hassle if it needs to be taken off and put back on frequently.
Don’t forget to consider its weight and size too. After all, you’ll need somewhere to store it when it’s not in use and will also need to be able to put it on and off without too much hassle, which could be enough to deter you from a heavier option.
We spoke to Practical Motorhome’s expert Peter Rosenthal, who, speaking from experience, said: “I’ve used several different types over the years and, while they are very effective, they’re large, heavy lumps of metal to lug around and are not necessarily going to be tremendously easy to use if you have any mobility problems or a bad back.”
“They also generally comprise several components and can sometimes be quite cumbersome to fit. This used to put me off using my motorhome for short trips, as I didn’t like having to wrestle with heavy bits of metal for half an hour. However, for long-term storage or winter lay-up, they really are well worth considering.”
Lastly, before purchasing it, we’d advise making sure it’s suitable for your ‘van and the width of your motorhome tyres too.
Are wheel clamps effective?
After spending tens of thousands of pounds on your motorhome, it’s understandable that you’re going to want to do everything you can to keep your vehicle as safe as you can. While it’s important to remember that no security gadget is going to make your ‘van untouchable to the most determined of thieves, they can still serve a valuable purpose in preventing the theft of your motorhome. A wheel clamp can be effective here, thanks to two very useful benefits.
Firstly, the mere sight of the best motorhome wheel clamp could be enough to make a thief move on from your home on wheels. This is why they come in such eye-catching colours – to increase the chances of the thief seeing them and, hopefully, make them decide it’s more trouble than it’s worth to try and steal.
However, sometimes a thief will be determined to try to steal your ‘van, regardless of the security measures in place. This is where another useful feature of a wheel clamp comes in – having to remove it will slow them down, making it more likely that they could be disturbed or caught in the act as they try to make off with your ‘van.
When you think of it like that, it’s easy to see how effective a wheel clamp can be, especially when combined with other security accessories such as a steering wheel lock.
Written with contributions from Peter Rosenthal.
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