Anyone can ruin you engine

[luter82]

Hi there,
just a quick heads up and wanted to know if you had problems in the past with this.
The rear flap you open to top up the oil is unlocked and free for anyone to open an pour whatever they wanted in your engine.
I never thought about this before but I started being wary of not showing my neighbours that flap is unlocked. I have no enemies, but you never know.
Of course not many people know about that flap, but is it visible that it's not part of the rest of the body.
Another option would be to fit a padlock, but it would be ugly as f and also visible and that's when you attract attention.
Right...I leave it with you now

Ricky

[R0B]

Just because you are paranoid etc etc..

[TONYT25T25]

When I bought mine, I was conscious of this if not paranoid and drilled a hole from inside the rear hatch.  I then threaded a flat headed bolt through it which extends down and prevents the flap being opened.  It is fixed in place with a wing nut if needed.  Covered the exposed bolt with a bit of tubing and all good.  When rear hatch is closed the bolt cannot be removed. Next job is to tackle the rust I have just noticed again.

[Aidan]

ze germans thought of that, there was a flap lock option



to stop american gas stations putting petrol in the oil, allegedly

[davidoft1]

ze germans thought of that, there was a flap lock option



to stop american gas stations putting petrol in the oil, allegedly

My Westy has one and it’s German , I think it’s just a security measure

[maxstu]

Yet to know of any T25 owner mentioning this unwarranted concern. Go and have a cold beer. Your unfounded worry will soon ease.

[Ant-t]

Seem to remember this being discussed a while back, someone had fitted a bar to the bottom of the tailgate to prevent opening. I'm not really concerned about.

[maxstu]

Seem to remember this being discussed a while back, someone had fitted a bar to the bottom of the tailgate to prevent opening. I'm not really concerned about.

Weimarbus did it l think
Me neither. Where will it end. Superglued wipers and padlocked valve caps...in case someone steals the air out of your tyres.

[oilrag]

Yet to know of any T25 owner mentioning this unwarranted concern. Go and have a cold beer. Your unfounded worry will soon ease.

This +1 

[TONYT25T25]

And we were having so much fun

[Mr Bean]

I tumbled this one way back in 2006 when I got my van.

The solution is simple and cheap:
I have a small right angled bracket secured under one of the fixings of the rear door lock such that it projects down and stops the flap from opening without opening the rear door. The fixing is of course inaccessible when the door is closed.

Pros: No locking or faffing apart from normal locking of rear door - nothing to remember. 
Cons: Having to open rear door to access oil and water - we sometimes roll the made up bedding against the rear door when touring.

I believe I have photos of it on file or actually in a post. One way or another I will post them tomorrow. Too comfortable at the moment.

[Dazco]

Seem to remember this being discussed a while back, someone had fitted a bar to the bottom of the tailgate to prevent opening. I'm not really concerned about.

Weimarbus did it l think
Me neither. Where will it end. Superglued wipers and padlocked valve caps...in case someone steals the air out of your tyres.
Do you mean to tell me you DONT have them super glued and pad locked??
You must be crazy.

[luter82]

I think I'm gonna go with something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cam-Lock-for-Door-Cabinet-Mailbox-Drawer-Cupboard-16mm-20mm-or-25mm-2Keys-New/252325313444?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225114%26meid%3Dfc68ebf496dc48548064513b14d3a07a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D201617156700%26itm%3D252325313444%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV1Filter&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

I traveled all North and Central America and didn't have problems with this, but I also traveled without better door locking systems and they broke in in Mexico and stole everything with all the problems and consequences that it carried (broken window, replacing stolen stuff, etc).
I prefer to avoid problems for peace of mind, it's not being paranoid.

[Mr Bean]

Operating on the KISS principle (Keep it simple stupid):


No key  to loose and all you need is a strip of metal, a vise and an 8 mm drill. plus no mod to your van.

[maxstu]

I think I'm gonna go with something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cam-Lock-for-Door-Cabinet-Mailbox-Drawer-Cupboard-16mm-20mm-or-25mm-2Keys-New/252325313444?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225114%26meid%3Dfc68ebf496dc48548064513b14d3a07a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D201617156700%26itm%3D252325313444%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV1Filter&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

I traveled all North and Central America and didn't have problems with this, but I also traveled without better door locking systems and they broke in in Mexico and stole everything with all the problems and consequences that it carried (broken window, replacing stolen stuff, etc).
I prefer to avoid problems for peace of mind, it's not being paranoid.

Hold on a mo! Your location is not listed in your profile. Are you in US or UK?
As you have mentioned, Mexico is, let's say, a different kettle of fish! I spent three weeks touring on a motorbike in 1989. Done that, got the t-shirt etc. And that was stolen too Outside of the usual resorts such as Cancun, they are a bunch of thieving toerags.
If l were touring Mexico again, in a T25, l would have bulletproof glass, run flat tyres, teargas canister tubes mounted on each wing and a M50 mounted on the roof, and superglued mirrors and wipers with padlocks on valve stems!!
Over here? Nah. No one's that bothered about ruining an engine. Most don't even know its in the back (ask any AA man )! Unless you've been caught doing the milf dilf combo. Then beware!!!