Tracking and Alarms
Hi All
We are considering storing our caravan at home and wondered what experience anyone has of tracking and alarm devices.
Any advice gratefully received. 
Jane
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We store our 'van at home - on its own parking space.
It is a Coachman and we had significant problems with the built in tracker, and thus at renewal we did not extend the contract; too many calls at 02.00 hours saying your caravan has moved when it is sitting on its platform. So no we just use the built in alarm.
Our insurance company creates no special conditions for home storage so would recommend you contact your insurers for advice as to what they need?
Obviously hitch and wheel locks are essential and a locking post is a very good deterrent, stopping anyone driving off with the caravan.
Good luck!
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I fitted both an alarm (Haegil) and a tracker (Rewire Security) to ours and get a discount on the insurance because the alarm has a tilt sensor. One useful feature of the alarm is that I've wired it into the awning light which comes on for 30 seconds when the alarm is set / disabled - useful when going in at night.
The tracker is affordable - about £40 to buy and £7 per month subscription and it has the ability to set geozones around it and send me a warning by text and email (with an alarm sound) if it moves. So far proved to be 100% reliable. An added bonus is that, through the website, I am able to review mileages travelled, time, speed and route taken.
Yes - I know both could be defeated by determined thieves - but for what both cost - they give additional peace of mind.
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Do you need them? It all depends where you live. Do things get stolen where you live? I stored caravans at home (four widely spaced areas from Cumbria to Cornwall) for over 50 years without ever feeling I needed trackers or alarms, and I was right.
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You should check what your insurance company requires as it may be a condition that you have a such devices and/or it may give discount for having them. I'm sure having a hitch lock and/or wheel clamp will in there somewhere.
And of course piece of mind to yourself as well?
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+1 Rewire Security tracker, plus you can add the option to disable the vehicle if stolen while on the move e.g isolate fuel pump. Also allows remote monitoring of starter and leisure batteries. Great bit of kit.
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I've always stored at home, but in a locked garage, even so the Alko hitch lock and Nemesis Ultra wheel clamp are always fitted. This summer we are moving and the van will be stored on the drive. I've thought about taking the wheels off and fitting winter wheels, but was unsure if these would meet insurance requirements. As such I've bought the bigger Nemesis as it is more substantial at about 12kg, the disc covers all the wheel bolts and is a greater visual deterrent.
Colin
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No it didn't and no zeal at point scoring Bill I can assure you but I was confused about you talking about disabling a vehicle having a fuel pump leisure and starter battery when clearly the OP was referring to a caravan being stored on a drive and was really interested if a tracker could be used to somehow disable it? That would be a good idea if possible
Yes security is very relevant to both and I'm glad you've clarified why you posted and even though off topic it will be of use I'm sure. And yes it does sound a good piece of kit.
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SB, to others who have no knowledge nor experience of these things(like me) it’s all just alchemy I thought MrC’s respectful & intelligent question would be better served with a good honest answer rather than ramping up the pressure & tension with an attack. If you goofed just admit it-we all do it & we get over it by accepting it was a goof, a hole is never filled by more digging👍🏻
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Hi Jane, Seems, that like many things, that location is the biggest factor, from how you feel about the risk, to what the insurers feel.
I recently renewed my van insurance, it is in storage, and one company who have insured me before declined due to the vans location.
I have also seen a comment that someone was turned down for storage at home.
Assuming that your insurance is in place then its pretty likely that you were asked all the security questions so maybe you already have enough?
We don't bother with a tracker but have Alko axle lock and sold secure hitch lock.
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Like ET I would ask do you need them. Last summer I moved my caravan from storage to on my drive. There was no increase in insurance. I use a hitch lock and a wheel lock and in winter, when I do not use the caravan, I remove one of the wheels and use an axle stand with the wheel lock on the remaining wheel.. Many advantages; I can keep my battery charged, air the caravan regularly, do any maintenance and generally keep an eye on it: oh, and I save nearly £700 storage charge. However, my caravan is a 2009 Bailey so less attractive to steal than AD's Hobby!
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When the 5 year lifespan of our factory fitted tracker expired, we self fitted one called TruTrak. The hardware has just two wires to connect across your battery supply, ideally out of sight. It cost under £40 - But there’s a subscription fee in addition. It’ll not only tell me if the van’s moved out of its user set resident zone, it’ll warn if the battery is low and several more things that the manufacturer’s original fit didn’t. The big downside of all such mobile network connected systems is that the bad people who steal caravans know how to block mobile transmissions. Still, we can’t have everything. And the good news for GPS junkies is that we’ve also got GPS tracking on our dog’s coller. That’s called Tractive, with another low hardware cost and a much larger service subscription.
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"Hi Jane, Seems, that like many things, that location is the biggest factor, from how you feel about the risk, to what the insurers feel."
It isn't just the storage location you need to think about - it's anywhere else your van might be. Whilst security is fairly good on Club sites - not all sites and certainly most CLs / CS's don't usually have good physical security.
With the Re-Wire Tracker, I set up a geo fence soon after I arrive on site and therefore would get a warning if we were out for the day and anyone attempted to move the van.
I can also set up a vibration alert - so the slightest movement would also give me a warning and although I know that these devices can be defeated, at least this one can also send a warning if anyone attempts to block the signal.
As Seaside Bill says - a good bit of kit which gives peace of mind for not a lot of money although I recognise that these cheaper ones aren't recognised by insurance companies.
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