Tracker for caravan

Bruiska
Bruiska Forum Participant Posts: 12
edited August 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

Hi everyone,

Have just bought a caravan and would like to know if it is worth while to put a tracker on it and if so which type and how much cheaper it would make caravan insurance. I phoned safeguard for a quote but they would not entertain me unless there was a tracker
on my van .

Comments

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666 ✭
    500 Comments 100 Likes
    edited September 2016 #2

    The one that is usually factory fitted is from Phantom. The caravan club give a 10% (I think) discount if a tracker is fitted. However this might not cover the cost of your phantom subscription depending on the value of your van and the cost of your insurance! 

  • dwlgll20
    dwlgll20 Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited September 2016 #3

    The reduction in the insurance premium will certainly not cover the installation and subscription costs of a tracking device. If you go ahead with a tracking device just make sure it's on your insurance companies approved list.

    You may get comments that a tracking device is not worth it as thieves use blocking devices for GPS, GSM etc. Some suggest you can buy these blockers in Maplins which is totally incorrect. Home Office research would suggest that thieves store stolen high value vehicles/caravans within a short distance and wait for a day or so and if it's not recovered they can be virtually sure it's not fitted with a tracking device. Tracking devices have developed considerably over the years.

    You have to consider do you want a passive system in which the tracker only gets activated once you find it missing or a proactive system which will tell you as soon as the caravan moves. Phantom is a pro active system. With Phantom you will probably also need a solar panel fitting to ensure the battery remains charged which will add to the cost. Tracker Retrieve has its own internal battery but is a passive system.

    The recovery rate for pro active tracking devices is very good and generally very quick. There is also one point that is not very often mentioned is that fitting a tracking device is certainly helping in the fight against crime and the conviction rate of thieves.

    Ultimately the decision is your. As I began you are very unlikely to recover the cost of fitting and installation, but I believe it's not all about the financial cost there is the personal cost as well. 

  • Bruiska
    Bruiska Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited September 2016 #4

    thanks for your input guys.

  • BillandMargaret
    BillandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited September 2016 #5

    Friends of ours had the Phantom tracker fitted to his van and it worked good. The alarm would signal too the control centre when the van was even slightly moved in error. When the leisure battery was not on full strenght it would also give a warning. Slight
    down-side was that if you wish to change the leisure battery, then you would have too notify the centre what you are doing before and after changing the battery. Otherwise it worked fine. You get what you pay for!!

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