Billbob Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 My 5yr tracker retrieve is finished next March.Can anyone tell me how I go on about getting another 5yrs or should I go in for an alarm.Im not sure which would be best.Any ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don636 Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 An alarm is supposed to scare thieves and prevent theft in the first place whereas a tracker allows the vehicle to be located and recovered after the theft so you would think that an alarm would be better. Not sure an alarm is actually much of a deterrent as who pays any attention anyway and who is going to intervene other than possibly you. I'm sure an experienced thief could override the alarm before anyone took notice. I guess a tracker might be better all round. How much of an insurance discount can you get with either option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgnbuk Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 Does your insurance require one or the other ? Mine specified that a Thatcham Approved tracker was a requirement when I changed vans (probably as the value had gone over some arbitrary threshold) with no requirement (or extra discount) for an alarm, so it got a Global Telemetrics tracker & no alarm. IIRC it was £400 for the hardware installation & £400 for "lifetime" monitoring. Nigel B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkshireGlobecar Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 mgnbuk - 2018-11-05 7:57 AM Does your insurance require one or the other ? Mine specified that a Thatcham Approved tracker was a requirement when I changed vans (probably as the value had gone over some arbitrary threshold) with no requirement (or extra discount) for an alarm, so it got a Global Telemetrics tracker & no alarm. IIRC it was £400 for the hardware installation & £400 for "lifetime" monitoring. Nigel B Have the same Tracker. Worked without fault for the last 5 years. Would recommend without hesitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddies104 Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Hi Cannot answer which is best but an odd thing happened earlier in the year with our Phantom tracker.. Had a text message from the company to say they were about to ring me as our Van was moving but not the engine?? Had to tell them we were on a Dover to Calais Ferry! Good to know they were efficient though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Bill, When I changed my van the insurer insisted on a Cat 1 alarm, plus either a Cat 5 or Cat 6 tracker. I have the same tracker from Global Telemetrics as Nigel, and I am very pleased with it. Like him I have the lifetime price, but this is only for me as long as I own the van - a new owner would have to pay for a contract. I had a similar incident to Derek & Pauline, getting vehicle alerts going across the Bay of Biscay on the way to Santander, but now I ring them in advance and they turn it off for a few hours. It all works very easily. Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboyprowler Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 I sold our van recently, and the tracker (HAL) went with it. It was no problem for the new owner to take out a contract with the company, and just pay for the tracking. Surely, your current company will renew for you at less of a cost for a new system. The new van has the "Outsmart the thief" alarm and tracker, and I am very pleased with the system and the service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deneb Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Caddies104 - 2018-11-06 4:05 PM Hi Cannot answer which is best but an odd thing happened earlier in the year with our Phantom tracker.. Had a text message from the company to say they were about to ring me as our Van was moving but not the engine?? Had to tell them we were on a Dover to Calais Ferry! Good to know they were efficient though. Presumably it is linked to the ignition. Mine does the same, but I can set it to Transport mode via a phone app before sailing or being put on a recovery vehicle to prevent alarms. I can also set it to Maintenance mode during servicing, since disconnecting the vehicle battery also sends a tracker alert and activates the alarm system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpyman Posted November 10, 2022 Share Posted November 10, 2022 On 11/6/2018 at 4:05 PM, Caddies104 said: Hi Cannot answer which is best but an odd thing happened earlier in the year with our Phantom tracker.. Had a text message from the company to say they were about to ring me as our Van was moving but not the engine?? Had to tell them we were on a Dover to Calais Ferry! Good to know they were efficient though. Had the same experience crossing from Rosslare to Pembroke Dock a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilly Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 Hi, I’m hoping to take delivery of a new van in January and for piece of mind and promises of insurance discounts I’m currently researching GPS/ GSM Tracker devices S7/S6/S5. I see there are many alternatives offered on the market and I’m trying to strike the balance between features / price. I see many claim to be motorhome specific but I’m really interested to hear from other MH owners what you would recommend please? Hilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 Hi Hilly and welcome, First a question, have you got any insurance quotes for your new van yet and if so have they made any requirements for an alarm or tracker to be fitted? If you haven't got any quotes yet then I suggest doing so now as if an insurance company makes fitment a requirement then they will have a list of approved devices and will rarely accept fitment of any other device. And having a 'non-approved' device fitted will likely then make fitting of an approved device even more costly! Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilly Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 Hi Keith, thanks and in reply yes I’ve had a couple and one referred to a ‘Thatcham’ approved tracker device. The list of models seemed endless. I’ll try speaking to some insurance companies direct. Regards Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Whitford Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 Hi Hilly i have owned both caravan and Motorhome, my caravan, which was six months old, was stolen despite hitch lock, wheel clamps, tracker all rated high security by insurer. Unfortunately if professional thieves want your vehicle the best you could do is to make it as difficult as you can. In my case the wheel lock was made inactive by putting a skate board under the wheel and tracker removed and left on side of road — apparently according to the Police there are devises for sale on the web which will locate these devices With hindsight, as indeed I have now done, I would install a collapsible pole in the drive, concreting it in at the maximum depth you can. This is accepted by most insurance companies as a desirable deterrent hope this is of help and hopefully you will enjoy your purchase for many years to come Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 2 hours ago, Brian Whitford said: With hindsight, as indeed I have now done, I would install a collapsible pole in the drive, concreting it in at the maximum depth you can. This is accepted by most insurance companies as a desirable deterrent Before You undertake this check with your insurance as I dug a 3 ft hole filled with concrete with a metal pipe in the centre of my drive with the capability to lock a HD 4" pipe into it. My insurance company wouldn't accept it needing it to be one of their approved designs. So least ways I now know anyone will have a difficult job getting the car off the drive when we are away with the Van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpyman Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 I have had a Phantom tracker system on my last three vans. Once it's armed any movement and I get a text message to say the vehicle has moved this usually comes through within minutes. very happy wit this system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyder Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 We have both alarm and a tracker. If it gets stolen at least we’ve complied and although we’d be sad at least we’d get the money for a replacement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinM50 Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 Why do you write it as either or? I have both on my m/h and so far no issues. The alarm was dealer fitted before purchase, the tracker is from Rewire Security and I've fitted TWO, on the basis that thieves might search for one but are unlikely to search for a second and for the £25 cost it's worth it. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224752021699?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338723872&toolid=20006&customid=XUj1b7ATAAAAqMTKg81UonWgBpIZAAAAAA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissmaxie Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 I have both a tracker and two alarms. The alarm that came with the motorhome (Cobra) is dated but operates the central locking so I have left it in, but fitted an up to date alarm/camera to run alongside. Also means that we can check on the dog if we have to leave him for a short while. The tracker is hidden ***** the ******* and is simple to connect with a prepaid Giffgaff sim. Both are linked to apps on the phone and cost less than £120 for both systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkshireGlobecar Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 We have an Autowatch CANBUS alarm and Smarttrack Protector Pro tracker, The tracker sends text alerts for whatever you set it to (ignition, battery charge, movement etc). Phone app is really useful too. Both systems reduce insurance premium significantly with Caravanguard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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