Tracking and other security devices

PeterT7
PeterT7 Forum Participant Posts: 28
edited October 2016 in Parts & Accessories #1

I am about to buy a posh new-ish caravan and expect to leave it unattended. Aside from a hitch-lock and wheel clamp, I think some sort of tracking device would be a good investment. Can anybody please advise?

Also, are there other security measures that I should consider?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #2

    Well it's like this Pete,  If it gets nicked as mine was by travellers, would you want it back? I got mine back but had I not had a tracker and it had gone I would have got a brand spanker ! Now, is it best to pay the extra few quid on the insurance and not have a tracker ? I think maybe so! That alarm system didn't work but the tracker did as they didn't find it!  My advice would be either don't fit one or if you do, put it where the scumbags can find it so you don't get your van back!! 

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited October 2016 #3

    Pete,

    I very much agree with Merve on this.We lost a near new t/a van in 2010 from storage and it was never recovered.I was annoyed at first but i soon came to the conclusion there was no point in loseing any sleep over it.As said would you really want the van back after a few weeks when god knows who,s been in it Sad i certainly would,nt.I use gold standard storage as i,m fortunate to have some near me and fit the usual hitch lock and wheel locks.Trackers are expencive and anything electronic can be defeated these days.At the end of the days its all personnal choice but take it from me the thief proof van has yet to be built FACT. Keep a list of everything thats in the van because if you do have to claim then you know whats gone.I was still remembering things from our van 12months after it disappeared.

    peter.

     

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #4

     .....  My advice would be either don't fit one or if you do, put it where the scumbags can find it so you don't get your van back!! 

    I found mine without looking for it .... wouldn't have taken long even if I had been Innocent

  • Richard12
    Richard12 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    100 Comments
    edited October 2016 #5

    I often wonder these days with the lack of police resources will our boys in blue have the time to track a stolen caravan?

    I don't think I will be re-newing my Phantom subscription.

  • PeterT7
    PeterT7 Forum Participant Posts: 28
    edited October 2016 #6

    Interesting and slightly scary comments. Thank you, gents. I've updated my caravan as I have decided to use it instead of bed and breakfast while I work away. It will be paid for after a few years, by which time I shall have something to show for my expenditure.

    I now need to think of caravan insurance. Any recommendations? I may have to start another couple of blogs; one for insurance and another for safe caravan sites.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #7

    Trackers can be bought for under £20 that work on the cellphone system and have no recurring fee. They will report vis SMS if moved and you can also ask it via an SMS message where it is for additional reassurance.

    If you are going to fit a tracker because you want your 'van back, then fit two.  One that can be found easily and another well hidden.

  • PeterT7
    PeterT7 Forum Participant Posts: 28
    edited October 2016 #8

    Thanks Navigateur, but that comes back to my original question about advice on them. I need to know which are recommended and which are to be avoided.

  • Richard12
    Richard12 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    100 Comments
    edited October 2016 #9

    Peter, Any way you can slow the scumbags down. Steady Locks, Heavy duty chain around the wheels. Some people park their vans nose up and the lock the steadies which will slow them down from being driven off. 

  • dwlgll20
    dwlgll20 Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited October 2016 #10

    Peter, I hope this helps you.

    With a tracking device you have to consider do you want a passive system in which the tracker only gets activated once you find the caravan 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 when the caravan is not in use which will add to the cost. Tracker Retrieve has its own internal battery but is a passive system. Phantom also has an app for you to monitor your caravan. Yes there are much cheaper options available from certain auction websites but how reliable will they be?

    The recovery rate for pro active tracking devices is very good and generally very quick. Phantom are quoting their record of recovery being within 13 minutes for a caravan and an average recovery time of 70 minutes. As mentioned I do take the point that others make about not wanting a caravan back that somebody else has stayed in. 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 yours with tracking device. 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. The comment about police resources having the time to track is not as clear cut as it appears. The police do not always have to spend time tracking it themselves they are generally directed to the location by the tracking company. With the police still subject to a performance culture it should be an easy win for them to recover the property and make an arrest(s) thus appearing to improve their performance data. Plus it would fall into the category of a Grade 1 Response requiring attendance in 10 minutes.

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #11

    I have a Phantom pro active at the moment and it seems to be OK but I had one when it was stolen too so I haven't got a lot of  confidence that anything would be different if it did get stolen again (God forbid). Not sure whether I'll continue with it when
    the 5 yrs are up.  Like Peter, I also shifted to Gold storage and I have peace of mind now. Its not the van- you can always get that back through the insurance - its the personal things that go. Even a drawing from one of our children in our case was taken
    and it really hurt us as it brought back such wonderful memories of a holiday in Cornwall. Irreplaceable ! And Peter is absolutely right when he says you are still discovering things 12 months later! Binoculars in our case!!

  • PeterT7
    PeterT7 Forum Participant Posts: 28
    edited October 2016 #12

    I was sure I had already replied to these kind comments. Thank you to both dwlgll20 and Merve for their advice. Now that I find that I am going to struggle with insurance
    (see other post) I think it is essential to have a device like this fitted,

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #13

    Peter, I hope this helps you.

    With a tracking device you have to consider do you want a passive system in which the tracker only gets activated once you find the caravan 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 when the caravan is not in use which will add to the cost. Tracker Retrieve has its own internal battery but is a passive system. Phantom also has an app for you
    to monitor your caravan. Yes there are much cheaper options available from certain auction websites but how reliable will they be?

    The recovery rate for pro active tracking devices is very good and generally very quick. Phantom are quoting their record of recovery being within 13 minutes for a caravan and an average recovery time of 70 minutes. As mentioned I do take the point that
    others make about not wanting a caravan back that somebody else has stayed in. 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 yours with tracking device. 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. The comment about police resources
    having the time to track is not as clear cut as it appears. The police do not always have to spend time tracking it themselves they are generally directed to the location by the tracking company. With the police still subject to a performance culture it should
    be an easy win for them to recover the property and make an arrest(s) thus appearing to improve their performance data. Plus it would fall into the category of a Grade 1 Response requiring attendance in 10 minutes.

    Write your comments here... but then again Pete, if you have a tracker and an SP to fuel it, you may discover as I did the joys and possibiliies of non EHU caravanning!! Thats how I discovered it...........

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2016 #14

    I think Pete is using the van day to day in the week so that battery drain from a tracker should not be a problem

  • PeterT7
    PeterT7 Forum Participant Posts: 28
    edited October 2016 #15

    You are correct, EasyT Smile

  • PeterT7
    PeterT7 Forum Participant Posts: 28
    edited October 2016 #16

    I've had a busy day and so not been able to respond to any messages. I really do have to say thank you for all the helpful comments. I took delivery of my new (2014) caravan and have been slowly learning about it. I'll probably wait until closer to
    Spring before selling my old caravan. In the meantime, thanks again and I expect I shall go for the
    Phantom Pro 3 Tracking System.

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