The Complete Guide To Big Lap Safety & Security Gear

Your caravan is your home on the road. It holds everything you own for the duration of the Big Lap: your gear, your memories, and the people you love most. Protecting it, and protecting yourself, requires three things: security systems to stop your van being stolen or broken into, safety gear to handle fires, gas leaks, and medical emergencies, and an emergency kit to keep you self-sufficient when you’re hundreds of kilometres from help.

Most Big Lappers sort their solar, their fridge, and their awning before they sort their safety and security gear. That’s understandable but backwards. A $150 hitch lock and a $350 GPS tracker protect a $100,000 van. A $50 carbon monoxide detector protects your life while you sleep. A $250 PLB gets you rescued when your phone has zero signal and the nearest town is a 6-hour drive away.

This guide covers all three areas at a high level and links to our detailed guides for each.

Caravan Security Systems

Thousands of caravans are stolen in Australia every year. The recovery rate is low, and even when a van is found, it’s often been stripped or damaged beyond repair. The good news: most caravan theft is opportunistic. A thief looking for an easy target will skip the van with a visible hitch lock and move on to the unprotected one parked next to it.

Effective security works in layers. Each layer adds time and complexity for a thief, and time is the one thing they don’t want to spend.

Layer 1: Physical locks. A coupling lock prevents the van being hitched and towed away. A wheel clamp adds a second barrier. Door deadlocks stop entry through the main door or hatches. Brands like Purpleline (Fullstop, Nemesis), Milenco, and Kovix dominate this category. A basic coupling lock starts from ~$150; a comprehensive Purpleline kit runs $400-600.

Layer 2: Alarms. Modern caravan alarm systems from RVsecure and WiTi detect motion, tilt, and intrusion, then sound a loud siren and send an instant alert to your phone via 4G. Expandable with additional sensors, panic buttons, and remote controls. Starting from ~$300-500 for a base kit.

Layer 3: GPS tracking. If a thief gets past your locks and alarms, a GPS tracker tells you and the police exactly where your van is. Dedicated trackers like CoreGPS and Solid GPS use 4G networks for real-time positioning. Location tags (Apple AirTags, MagTag) provide cheap, hidden backup tracking via Bluetooth. The ideal setup uses both: a dedicated tracker as primary, plus hidden tags as last resort.

A basic two-layer setup (coupling lock + GPS tracker) costs under $500 and covers most situations. A comprehensive setup covering all three layers costs $1,000-1,500.

Caravan Safety Gear

Safety gear handles the threats that come from inside and around your van: fire, gas leaks, carbon monoxide, electrical faults, and medical emergencies. Unlike security (which is about deterring other people), safety is about protecting yourself from your own environment.

Fire Safety

Carry two fire extinguishers: one in the tow vehicle, one in the caravan, both in accessible locations (not buried in a cupboard). A 1kg ABE dry chemical powder extinguisher handles most vehicle and electrical fires. A fire blanket near the kitchen handles stovetop flare-ups. Total cost: roughly $50-100 for both extinguishers plus a blanket.

Detectors

You need three different types of detector, because each detects a different threat:

A carbon monoxide detector (like the Quell Q7DCO, ~$50-70) mounts at head height near the sleeping area. CO is colourless and odourless; it kills you in your sleep if undetected.

An LPG gas detector (like the Safe-T-Alert 12V, ~$80-120) mounts near the floor because LPG is heavier than air and sinks. 12V wired models are best for full-time living.

A smoke detector (like the Quell QC1500, ~$30-50) mounts on the ceiling. Choose photoelectric over ionisation for fewer cooking false alarms.

Total for all three detectors: roughly $160-240.

Emergency Kit Essentials

When you’re 400km from the nearest town on a dirt road in 38°C heat, the gear you packed “just in case” becomes the gear that saves your trip. An emergency kit covers the things you need to be self-sufficient when help is hours away: vehicle recovery gear, survival supplies, tools, and spare parts.

Recovery Gear

A rated snatch strap ($50-120), two bow shackles ($30-50), a recovery damper ($20-40), and recovery boards like MaxTrax ($250-400) handle most bogging situations. A portable 12V air compressor ($100-450) is essential for reinflating tyres after airing down. A tyre repair plug kit ($30-60) handles roadside punctures.

Survival Essentials

Carry a minimum of 10 litres of emergency drinking water in the tow vehicle (not the caravan, which might not be accessible if you break down). A few days’ worth of non-perishable food. Sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and some form of shade. In outback Australia, heat is the primary danger if you’re stranded.

Emergency Communication

Mobile coverage ends quickly outside Australian cities. For remote travel, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) sends a distress signal directly to search and rescue via satellite (~$250-450, no subscription). A satellite messenger like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 (~$600 plus subscription) adds two-way text messaging. A UHF radio (~$80-800) handles day-to-day communication with other vehicles and truckies.

First Aid

A comprehensive first aid kit designed for remote travel (~$40-120), snake bite bandages, personal medications (carry at least two weeks’ extra supply), and insect repellent. St John Ambulance and Trafalgar make kits specifically designed for remote Australian travel.

Tools & Spares

A basic tool kit, spare fuses for both vehicle and caravan, a spare serpentine belt, radiator hoses, coolant, engine oil, and caravan-specific spares (jockey wheel clamp, wheel bearings, light globes, water pump). A blown fuse is the most common electrical fault and takes 30 seconds to fix if you have the right replacement.

What To Prioritise First

If budget is tight (and it always is when you’re fitting out for the Big Lap), here’s the order to buy safety and security gear in.

Buy first (under $500 total): fire extinguishers (x2), fire blanket, CO detector, smoke detector, LPG gas detector, comprehensive first aid kit, tyre repair kit, and a coupling/hitch lock. These cover the most common and most dangerous scenarios at the lowest cost.

Buy second (~$500-1,000): a PLB or satellite messenger, a UHF radio, a snatch strap and shackles, a recovery damper, and a GPS tracker for the van. This covers remote communication and basic recovery.

Buy third (~$500-1,500): a portable air compressor, recovery boards, an alarm system for the van, wheel clamp, and a comprehensive tool and spares kit. This rounds out your setup for extended travel.

Total investment for a comprehensive safety and security setup: roughly $1,500-3,000. Spread across a trip that costs $50,000-$100,000+ over 12-24 months, it’s some of the best money you’ll spend.