brand new motorhomer - alarm advice needed

[hideyspidey]

Hi All, we have purchased a stunning 1987 fiat ducato murvi and when we collected it on satruday i insured it with Adrian Flux and said uit had an alarm. I just assumed it did but it hasnt.

What alarm can i get put in this beauty we cant afford silly money, we are based in Lincoln and just want to keep the insurers happy

 

Also, is ther MMM magazine the best one to subscribe to

Many thanks

[Guest JudgeMental]

you need to find out if requirement for Thatcham Category 1. May well have a Cat 2 immobiliser already so will have to find that out..Then all you need is a 2-1 upgrade. Thacham hav list of approved fitters all over the place...Ignore overpriced motorhome specific installers that use fear as an advertising tool

 

http://www.thatcham.org/

[Keithl]

I would phone Adrian Flux and ask if you really need an alarm and if not is there any price rise for not having one. You may be surprised at their answer as it could save you several hundred pounds and a lot of grief.

If they say you must have one then ask them what Thatcham Cat it will have to meet as if you get an inferior one fitted it may invalidate your insurance.

 

Keith.

[Keith T]

Keithl - 2013-09-23 3:01 PM

 

I would phone Adrian Flux and ask if you really need an alarm and if not is there any price rise for not having one. You may be surprised at their answer as it could save you several hundred pounds and a lot of grief.

If they say you must have one then ask them what Thatcham Cat it will have to meet as if you get an inferior one fitted it may invalidate your insurance.

 

Keith.

 

1. Not sure that there is much point in phoning the Insurance company - to me it's more a peace of mind personally, rather than a specific requirement.

2. On all the MH's we have had for the last 20years or more, we have had an alarm fitted, and with one exception, have used Vanbitz specialist MH alarms. The exception was a dealer fitted unit which was worse than useless and always going wrong, and which in the end we got taken out and the Vanbitz fitted instead.

3..I would always use a specialist MH alarm, as the requirements for MH is very different to a simple car alarm.Yes it may be expensive, but surely if you a spending several thousands on the MH,it no point in penny pinching to get a 'cheap' one, which is not up to the job.

[Guest JudgeMental]

The power of advertising eh! Thatcham accredited alarm fitters abide by same code of practice to work on insurance rated commercial vehicles, that can carry expensive merchandise *-)

 

They all fit a selection of makes from the same Thatcham approved list......save your money and shop around. Like I said earlier you may well have a factory fitted thatcham 2 immobiliser and insurance may well accept that...

 

I know a requirement by many insurance company's, but who takes any notice! Try setting one off most people totally ignore them....

[flicka]

Hi hideyspidey

With your 1987 M/H it may not have a factory fit Immobiliser & therefore the reason your insurers require an alarm.

As earlier post ask insurers what level of alarm they require.

Then ring around local M/H dealers for prices.(including habitation door )

i.e. Camper UK in Lincoln or selection in Newark & surrounds.

Also - ensure they demonstrate how to switch off internal sensors for when you are in the M/H

[Keithl]

JudgeMental - 2013-09-23 9:16 PM

...but who takes any notice! Try setting one off most people totally ignore them....

 

Unless it's in the small hours and on a campsite and then it'll be a completely different story!!!

 

Sorry but once again it's horses for courses. If having an alarm makes you feel any safer then go and get one fitted, if not then save your cash for more nights away :-)

[Guest JudgeMental]

Heavens.......Last place I would call for an alarm is a motorhome dealer! ;-)

 

[Brian Kirby]

hideyspidey - 2013-09-23 11:47 AM

 

Hi All, we have purchased a stunning 1987 fiat ducato murvi and when we collected it on satruday i insured it with Adrian Flux and said uit had an alarm. I just assumed it did but it hasnt.

What alarm can i get put in this beauty we cant afford silly money, we are based in Lincoln and just want to keep the insurers happy

 

Also, is ther MMM magazine the best one to subscribe to

Many thanks

Hope I won't appear rude, but unless there is a typo above, this is a 26 year old van. Is the insurance risk on 26 year vans, even Murvis, so great in Lincoln that insurers insist on alarms? You say you told them it had an alarm, not that they asked, or pressed for it to have one. Id's suggest as above, contact them again, apologise for your mistake, and tell them it doesn't have an alarm after all, then see what they say.

 

Personally I'd say avoid alarms whenever possible, they are prone to malfunction, they are generally ignored when triggered, and they don't do much more than make a noise AFTER someone has broken in. You can' make a motorhome totally secure, but I'd say spend your money on some good quality and obvious locks, Heosafe or similar, and if it doesn't have one, get an aftermarket immobiliser professionally fitted. That is about the best you can do to protect what is in the van, and the van itself, from theft. Then tell the insurer about that.

[Guest pelmetman]

hideyspidey - 2013-09-23 11:47 AM

 

Hi All, we have purchased a stunning 1987 fiat ducato murvi and when we collected it on satruday i insured it with Adrian Flux and said uit had an alarm. I just assumed it did but it hasnt.

What alarm can i get put in this beauty we cant afford silly money, we are based in Lincoln and just want to keep the insurers happy

 

Also, is ther MMM magazine the best one to subscribe to

Many thanks

 

Insurers happy?................(lol) (lol) (lol)

 

Well slap my thigh ;-)................

 

To put your mind at rest,...........its unlikely to get stolen as a getaway vehicle, by the local ner do wells as it would ruin their street cred *-)............so just a bog standard crooklock will do.................or disconnect the battery ;-)...............as in general your average half decent tea leaf ain't going to target your camper :->................

[Guest JudgeMental]

Brian Kirby - 2013-09-24 10:46 PM

 

hideyspidey - 2013-09-23 11:47 AM

 

Hi All, we have purchased a stunning 1987 fiat ducato murvi and when we collected it on satruday i insured it with Adrian Flux and said uit had an alarm. I just assumed it did but it hasnt.

What alarm can i get put in this beauty we cant afford silly money, we are based in Lincoln and just want to keep the insurers happy

 

Also, is ther MMM magazine the best one to subscribe to

Many thanks

Hope I won't appear rude, but unless there is a typo above, this is a 26 year old van. Is the insurance risk on 26 year vans, even Murvis, so great in Lincoln that insurers insist on alarms? You say you told them it had an alarm, not that they asked, or pressed for it to have one. Id's suggest as above, contact them again, apologise for your mistake, and tell them it doesn't have an alarm after all, then see what they say.

 

Personally I'd say avoid alarms whenever possible, they are prone to malfunction, they are generally ignored when triggered, and they don't do much more than make a noise AFTER someone has broken in. You can' make a motorhome totally secure, but I'd say spend your money on some good quality and obvious locks, Heosafe or similar, and if it doesn't have one, get an aftermarket immobiliser professionally fitted. That is about the best you can do to protect what is in the van, and the van itself, from theft. Then tell the insurer about that.

 

you may well be right! this one dates from 1989...I assumed it was a typo *-)

 

yeah save your money and dont bother! ;-)

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/murvi-multi-use-recreation-vehicle-turbo-diesel-10-months-mot-5-months-taxgreat-surfeuro-van-er/1032403083

[Mrs T]

On all the vans we've had we never bothered with an alarm. If you have anything valuable then leave it at home or don't buy it in the first place. The opportunist thief looks for a quick snatch and away so make sure there's nothing to see.

[Derek Uzzell]

Brian Kirby - 2013-09-24 10:46 PM

 

Hope I won't appear rude, but unless there is a typo above, this is a 26 year old van...

 

The vehicle is discussed on the Hints & Tips forum

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Hints-and-Tips/1987-Fiat-Ducato-MURVI-1-9l-petrol-help-needed/32636/

 

It's dealership asking-price appears to have been £4500.

 

I agree that the simplest thing to do would be to go back to Adrian Flux and say there's no alarm. I don't envisage an insurer insisting that a sophisticated alarm be retro-fitted to an inexpensive 1987 motorhome, but the only way to confirm this would be to ask the insurer.

 

Given the age and simplicity of the vehicle, if there's no immobiliser fitted, a hidden switch that would prevent the vehicle being started should be straightforward enough to install if you know what you are doing.

[yeti]

May I suggest strikeback alarm by Vanbitz http://www.vanbitz.com/ who also have a campsite by the workshops

[FoxyRoxy]

After searching the forums for sensible advise and hopefully a couple of names of fitters for an immobiliser I came across this thread....

So my answers..

1, I have also insured thro Adrian Flux as I have a new import, albeit 10 yrs old, that no one will touch as no-one will accept our 'European no claims'

2, Or will they insure my husband as he doesnt have car insurance here but is named on mine, he is English and has 2 motorbike policies but they are not deemed suitable!!

3, It is valued over £25k so this is the reason for the immobiliser, as stated by the insurers, but will still be insured but not for theft.

4, They will only accept a competent Thatcham fitter who is registered, the old register VBIS is now defunct as of 2009.

5, As for a list of registered fitters, Im still looking!