Best pipe tube carriers - how thief proof are they?

[AWheating]

Hi. At the discretion of the forum moderator, I'd like to respond in a constructive manner to concerns raised in this thread about the Rhino Pipe Tube. As an engineer from the Rhino Products Technical Team, I can offer informed advice and technical support on product issues such as these (if that would be helpful?).

The model you are describing is the first generation of Rhino Pipe Tube. This was replaced in early 2008 with the current model (although stocks of older models may have taken a few months to filter through the system). The current model has steel bulkheads behind both nose cones, and has an improved (patented) locking mechanism with hundreds of key combinations in circulation. Rhino no longer use the lock system you are describing (although other manufacturers have since adopted it).

You can tell the difference by looking at the hinges - the first generation has a moulded hinge on the top of the tube, the current model has a pressed steel bulkhead visible with a pivot at each side.

if you can engineer an exploding dye device much like thoses used in security vans to sit in the end of your tubes then i will by 2 for sure! 😉

 

[centralgas]

We use 4" diy carriers on our vans, we also try not to keep LOADS of copper in them just two lenghts of 15, 22 and maybe one length of 28 as van stock. If we need any more than that we'll buy it as we use it and we don't lock the carriers as it just looks like there's something valuable in there. In over ten years on our estate in the north east, we've had precisiely ZERO break-ins...

 

[mickie]

i use the inside of my van, its got an alarm and anti smash and grab glass, its pretty good at carring pipe

 

[centralgas]

Let's be honest if they want to pinch it they'll pinch it! might as well make it so there's as little damage to your van as possible.

 

[andyg0507]

as above, if they want to get in it they will!

 

[sweet]

if you can engineer an exploding dye device much like thoses used in security vans to sit in the end of your tubes then i will by 2 for sure! 😉

Great shout & legal...

 

[GQuigley67]

or pepper spray, or a large inflatable boxing glove lol filled with metal pellets

 

[woodsy]

As someone who was done for the second time 2nights ago on my drive, i agree that the exploding dye is a great idea as long as the dye is laced with drain cleaner. Mine had locks on but no longer will i carry any tube in it, just plastic and with no locks. God forbid i catch these scroats !

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Let's be honest if they want to pinch it they'll pinch it! might as well make it so there's as little damage to your van as possible.

i use 240v from the mains connected via car jump leads its effective but my cd player in teh van keeps catching on fire

 

[dontknowitall]

You're meant to plug it on to the tube carrier, not the cd player ... DOH!!!

:sweatdrop:

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

You're meant to plug it on to the tube carrier, not the cd player ... DOH!!!

:sweatdrop:

lol its the vans 12v system that gets upset

 

[Marco]

Latest plan: I'm looking at putting in some low bids on Flea Bay for some cheap used pipe carriers, which will be less than the materials for a DIY carrier. Lets see if its enough to get one. Similar to some of you a few 15/22 lengths in the van is enough most the time, but will be nice to have the room for more pipe now I'm getting a few boiler jobs. Most the time I'll probably leave it unlocked and just for plastic/empty. But no fun carrying pipe in and out of the house when raining at the end of each day, so will come in handy then.

 

[griffic]

I've used soil pipe on roof bars for several years with unlocked screw cap at rear. Had van broken into twice. First time they took copper and barass pipe fittings from inside van, the second time they opened glove box but took nothing. ( probably after a sat nav.) Neither time was the 'pipe carrier' opened!

 

[dontknowitall]

I wonder if that's because you smeared a Mars bar over it to make it look more authentic?

 

[emergencyman]

If you do get use soil pipe a top tip is to secure the screw on ends with washing line ( drill through the middle).
I lost loads of em over the years befor I did this.

 

[Phil]

I have the first generation Rhino tube and indeed the lock are useless.

With the filth on our streets at the moment I have to cut all my copper up and keep it in the van.

 

[Ivor Bates]

Well I'll only purchase a naff product the once, I think I paid around £250-£300 even 5 years ago for a pair. After losing, well I didn't lose it, it was stolen over £600 of copper, calling Rhino's customer service about the poor locking mechanism with little satisfaction. I personally would not buy from them again. I don't expect it to bother them as the purchase is a one off maybe every 4 or 5 years when the van gets renewed. I'm not bothered whether there's 2nd 3rd or any other kind of generation on the market now, I bought in good faith a product from them, that was marketed as being tough, secure and robust. It was not and it was sold / purchased not fit for it's purpose.

 

[Combat plumber]

I carry my copper in square gutter down pipes screwed to the inside of the van. It's secure and keeps the cost of fuel down.

 

[cr0ft]

I made my new van a MWB van so I could store them inside alongwith the ladders. All racked away and by not having the rack, ladder and pipe carriers on the roof the fuel cost is cheaper than my old SWB van.

Don't know how much of that is down to the vans being different makes/models though.

 

[WHPES]

Tube carriers will only stop an honest man.