Tracking Systems for Caravans

[Alexander_374295091]

I was very annoyed when watching the Road Wars programme when it showed a family that had nipped into a motorway services only to return to there outfit and find the caravan stolen, I was amazed by the lack of things the police could do to help the family. They probably haven't seen their van since.

This has prompted me to go and see about getting a tracking device fitted to our van. What is the general feel about these devices, I was told to forget the standard tracker system fitted to most cars because of its higher power consumption on a leisure battery. How do people rate the RAC Trackstar or the Phantom system?

The wife thinks we suit just fit a good alarm system with movement sensors, but how many times have we all walked past a vehicle with its alarm blazing and did nothing about it. Would I be right in saying that the Phantom is better that the RAC Tracker.

 

[CarolineSimon]

Hi Alexander,

I have been comparing the RAC Trackstar and The Phantom and it does appear that the Phantom is better for Caravans. It has been designed specifically for them and draws very low power so a fully charged battery will last 6 mths with a Phantom using it in storage etc.

As we have just bought a new van our insurance company insist on a tracker & recommend the Phantom as well as the usual CRIS, wheelclamp, hitchlock etc.

At the end of the day if it's going to be nicked it will be whatever you may do but at least with Phantom, A: They call you to tell you its been stolen & they are after it ! B: You might well catch the cheeky buggers who nicked it!!

I think we are going to get the Phantom fitted out of the various trackers unless anyone on this forum can suggest a better one.

Caroline

 

[Essexeddie]

I use an old mobile phone hidden in the van, wired up to a charger. If you register the phone to a tracking company you can track the phone on the internet.

I use Followus.co.uk, it only costs 50p a track, and have been useing this idea for about four years now. Works for me and better that nothing.

Edd

 

[Damian]

This subject raises a couple of points.

Firstly, having spoken to a friend who had their van stolen, and was fitted with a tracker, when it was recovered and returned to them, they wished they had never fitted the tracker. The van was wrecked, and their dream van became a nightmare. They then had problems disposing of the wreck, so,,,if your van is stolen and wrecked in the process, or after, do you REALLY want to see it again?

Secondly, how many more times will we hear of the van being stolen from motorway services because everyone had gone off to the services?

I do not understand why people leave anything up to

 

[Essexeddie]

Surely if the van is insured its up to the insurance company to dispose of the van in event of a claim?

 

[NGuvplimuf]

Another method is the GPS/GSM combined units available such as EasyTrac which joins a GPS antenna to a mobile phone and can phone home once a week indicating battery state and position, If movement detected it will text you regularly. All this without a monitoring station fee. Don't HAVE to post the existence of the device to supposedly deter thief.

Another argument is - that's what insurance is for would you want back a van which has been stolen in any case?

 

[bobdanby@aol.com]

I have a proactive Phantom tracker fitted to my van. I'm very impressed with it. My caravan is in indoor storage and on trying to pick it up one day, another van had been parked so close I copuldn't get inside mine to switch the tracker off. I pulled my van orwards less than five metres so I could opan the door and switch the Phantom off. 30 seconds after I did so I received a phone call from the Phantom control centre ! Excellent service.

I would recommed it

 

[Brum1]

I recently purchased a new van with a Phantom Tracker fitted. I paid a full subscription but forgot to turn it off before my first journey and received NO call in spite of travelling from Birmingham to Bridlinton (160ish miles). Next journey was from Brid to Norfolk again with the system armed, this time to test the efficiency of my investment and guess what...NO call.

While in Norfolk, I called the company who confirmed the system was in operation by telling me my exact position.

The following Sunday, when returning home to Birmingham from Norfolk I had a call from the company after it had been moving for 45 minutes, during which I had travelled about 30 miles.

Not inpressed

Brum

 

[Rich]

We are looking at a system which is GPS based and is not at the hands of a call centre or what ever they want to call it. So, once armed, as soon as you move it sends you a text message and it can be armed or dis-armed via your phone. It can also be transfered from van to car or anything else at any time. The thing I like is you can track it yourself via a GPRS phone or computer live online. So if you let someone use your car or Van you will know where they are exactly and in the event of a breakdown or accident the recovery services will find you even if you are not sure exactly where you are!

There is a company in Canada who have said they have just sorted out the phone agreement for the unit in Europe so it will be here in the UK soon.

 

[CarolineSimon]

Well we bit the bullet & had a Phantom pre active tracker fitted a fortnight ago.

My Husband kindly tested it today when the caravan had to go back to the dealer for some work. He forgot to turn off the tracker & within 10 mins I had a call at work asking me if I knew my van was on the move!

At least we know that our

 

[RiaandJames_374303418]

OnTrak offer a GPS based mobile phone PAYG sim option or tracking that will tell you exactly where your caravan is.

At present they are working on a geo-caching update, when updated the unit will call you if its vehicle home is moved from its home base.

www.on-trak.onspec.co.uk

Call or email them if you have any questions.

James

 

[Paul_5077620]

I removed my leisure battery on Saturday and within 2 minutes Phantom rang and told me I had a power loss on the tracker.

I can't fault the service, and most caravans are recovered within an hour of being stolen.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Richard_5040072]

We had a Phantom Proactive fitted just over a year ago.

We have had several instances when we have forgotten to switch it off and each time have had a phone call within minutes.

Before we ordered the unit I rang them for technical information and found the service to be first class.

 

[Icemaker]

We have looked at these devices so many times and each time we come to the conclusion that they are just not worth it.

We have a large investment in the van and would love to have the luxury of knowing the van will probably be returned if stolen, But i would only want the van back if it had not been entered and with todays police giving caravan theft such a low priority then i doubt very much it would be returned having not been entered.

On top of this the units are just too expensive to purchase and far too costly for the yearly monitoring, The caravan club offered me a discount of

 

[Mikey1]

We have looked at these devices so many times and each time we come to the conclusion that they are just not worth it.

We have a large investment in the van and would love to have the luxury of knowing the van will probably be returned if stolen, But i would only want the van back if it had not been entered and with todays police giving caravan theft such a low priority then i doubt very much it would be returned having not been entered.

On top of this the units are just too expensive to purchase and far too costly for the yearly monitoring, The caravan club offered me a discount of

 

[Guest]

I am assuming you have a Proactive with motion sensor Ask Phantom to send an engineer to check the motion & maybe up it's sensitivity

 

[DeliDave]

Rang CIS to swap over isurance ready to collect new Indiana and asked if I would get a discount next renewal as Tracker fitted.Operator didnt know what a Tracker was there was no discount after checking and no requirement for one as far as they were concerened.I'll have to look for new insurer or not renew the subsciption and hope any thieves think Series 6 give it a miss

 

[Lancer]

Hi, Had TrackStar fitted on our van recently special offer

 

[Lancer]

Hi, Had TrackStar fitted on our van recently special offer

 

[Hugh_374319267]

I am looking for an alarm system that I can put into my caravan, when in storage. That operates off the leisure battery and will dial home or a mobile if moved or entered. I would be pleased to hear from anybody that has used and proved a system.

Thanks

Hugh

 

[Essexeddie]

Look at

www.brandingplus.com

At less than

 

[Hugh_374319267]

Many thanks for that, reading their advert it appears to require a telephone line to operate. I have e-mailed them and am waiting a reply

Hugh

 

[nick_374224697]

Edd/Hugh, don't wait for a response from this company. I have just called the phone number to be told that the phone number has been sold to another company and that the alarms are not being sold anymore.You can have a callback if there is a problem with a unit sold previously to you.

Sounds pretty dodgy to me.

 

[Rich]

I am looking at this device...

http://blacklinegps.com/gpssnitchdefining.html
It has online tracking and keeps you informed of movement as well as battery condition. It can be swapped without needing a specialist to fit or refit it to another van. I have spoken to them about it in the UK and have been told it will be here by next year and possibly in time for us to get one for a late Christmas present. It does all the geo-cacheing stuff and keeps a full log of all of the notifications and positions when those notifications happen. It will even tell you the speed you are traveling, what direction and show you the road or actual location on a map if it send a message while on the move. I have done my home work and I will be waiting for this to arrive. I saw it a few months ago and I really want this unit.

 

[Essexeddie]

Rich.

This seems to work on the same principle that I use but a bit more refined.

I just use an old mobile phone left in the van on charge. The number is registered with a tracking company.

It cost nothing. I just pay 50p for each track if I need to.

I may still look at it when it comes our way.

Edd