Is my expensive bicycle safer under a tonneau or a camper shell?

A lot of hotels refuse to allow bicycles inside. I also plan to get a small RV this summer.

Long story short I have a $5000 bike and need the best option to secure it overnight in my truck.

Yes, I know people are going to say it is going to get stolen regardless, but that isn't helpful.

Generally speaking, does a tonneau or a camper shell provide greater security?

If in a camper, the bike would be covered with a bike bag inside the shell so it isn't obviously inside there. I would also set up some curtains over the shell windows. Though I have read that campers are easily picked open, so maybe a tonnau is safer?

I am basically deciding between a high rise shell or a tonneau. Bike security is main purpose. What is my best bet?

 

Do turd gens have d rings in the bed? Chain it down

 

Break it down and put in the rear seat?

 

Put it in a hi rise shell like a 180 leer with a blanket over it, then back the rear door in close to a solid wall if possible. That is what I do at home. Out and about I know this may not be possible all the time.

 

For me, if security is the main purpose, I would go with tonneau cover. No windows for anybody to peak into. And if you are really worried, I would remove both wheels and take them to the room with you. If somebody decides to break into it and see a bike frame with no wheels, more than likely they would just leave it unless they knew what the frame is worth.

if you have a alarm installed you can also get a switch installed for the tonneau cover also.

 

Nine times out of ten I'll recommend a cap over a tonneau cover. There just isn't that much difference in price and a cap gives you a lot more room and options. But this might be one of those cases where the cover is a better choice. Only because the bike can't be seen.

Personally, I'd still go with a cap and lock the bike down with a sturdy cable. If they won't let me bring in the bike, I'd take the front wheel off and bring it in. Not as many people will bother stealing it if they have to carry it and then buy a wheel.

I see guys traveling and staying in hotels with expensive Harley's on trailers in hotel parking lots. I've spent quite a few nights with 2 ATV's on a trailer in hotel parking lots. Combined value would be over $12,000. I run a steel cable through them and lock it to the trailer and if possible back the ramp up to a wall or pole so it can't be lowered.

 

No is the short answer
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/they-got-me-broken-into.676327/

 

Tonneau. Outa sight, outa mind.

 

>A lot of hotels refuse to allow bicycles inside.
just stay at the hotels/motels that do allow bikes.
call ahead and ask before making reservations

 

Just sneak the bike into the room, I have done it multiple times. Just use a side door into the hotel, no one has ever said a word to me about having a bike in the room. If it's not a muddy MTB you shouldn't have a problem.
My uncle who travels all over with his $6000 MTB uses one of these and has never had an issue at any hotel.

https://www.evocsports.com/products/bags/bike-travel-bag

 

Sorry, my $5K bike goes in the room. I have yet to have a hotel not let me take my mtn bike to my room. Several hotels in Vegas, all the major chains like Mariott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, etc all let me take my bike to the room. You need to find another reason to justify your purchase lol.
For my money, Tonnau cover is more secure as nobody can see into and random robberies are very uncommon, unless somebody knows.

 

I’ve never had a hotel not let me take something inside. As long as you don’t leave a trail of mud all the way there, no one really cares.

 

I think OP made a wrong assumption to justify his choice of covers. Maybe Motel6 or some cheap ass motels don't, but if you ride a $5K bike you can afford the.extra $20 a night to stay in a real hotel.

 

I only stay in IHG or Marriott chains. I enjoy being able to sleep and not getting bed bugs

 

This, I doubt the one person on the night crew really cares, even if you have to wait a couple hours. My buddies and I hog hunt every summer, if we roll in the lobby with totes of gear, rifle cases, and coolers full of fresh meat, I can't imagine how the hell they won't let a bicycle in. But, if they refused us, we'd be cancelling. Of course we're not hunting in Manhattan, so maybe that's the difference.


Also good suggestions, cover will do most by hiding, and heavy cable locks to bed rings will slow most. Of course stickers for high end things are a dead giveaway.

 

With the right cap you get the best of both worlds, not visible and plenty of room. Just get aluminum inserts instead of windows.

 

Its a full suspension mountain bike and yes it gets fucking filthy because I ride it like its meant to be ridden.

I have a portable water sprayer, and good cleaning products, but its never really free of mud. I'm not taking the time to do a full detailing after a day of riding.

By "hotels" I am mainly talking about little B&Bs found around new england. There arent always mariott hotels convenient to biking trails. Good luck bringing a dirty bike up three flights of stairs with no elevator when a little old lady is freaking out about getting mud on her bew carpet. And thats fair enough. So sometimes it needs to go in the truck overnight.

Likewise, when I get my RV, I need to leave it in the truck so it doesn't get stolen while I sleep.

I think I would get a lot more use out of a shell than a tonneau.

With a tonneau, the main advantage of the tonneau is that is completely out of sight. However, I would have to lay the bike flat, and I have a short bed so there goes most of my bed space. With a high rise shell, I could still have a lot of bed space left for other shit.

I would take the front wheel off to put it under the shell. Wouldn't fit otherwise. I would also get a strong ass cable from mcmaster carr and run it through my D rings. I would also lock the rear wheel to the frame under the truck.

Those locks, plus a bike bag over the bike, plus curtains on the inside of the shell should keep it decently out of sight and locked from a smash and grab theft under the shell.

However, I really don't know much about how secure shells (or tonneau covers) really are. I am sure somebody could smash my glass on the shell, but would they also have monster bolt cutters to get through the cable locks, in the dark? Or would they be able to pry open a tonneau cover easily?

I just don't know

 

Two words... Car Wash. My Trek Fuel EX gets ridden hard too. If I am at a place that has hotels, it has a car wash. Sorry OP, keep justifying it.

 

Your spraying concentrated water at your headset and shocks? Probably a bad idea. Can't imagine Fox would be happy about that.

Regardless, my bike is electric so car washes are out of the question.

 

Pretty secure. I guess they could still break in, but it'd be a fight and the only glass is the front slider and you aren't dragging a bike out that.