Is a tracker worthwhile.

[VXman]

Was once with comfort at that price but last time they wanted over 1k so ditched.
You miss my point that on expensive motorhomes most insurers require a tracker. So you are limited to who you can use. If I had to use comfort because of having no tracker it would cost me over a grand and I'd have little other choice

I understand that - I'm just interestied in the reasons why Comfort would insure some with a tracker and some not. I'm not convinced it's based on the value of the van (maybe if you were getting into the £150 - 200K mark) as mine must be worth £80K. And (as said before) mine is only £300 with no tracker so it must be down to the personal details of the driver (age, no claims, convictions) or the area someone lives/parks.

 

[VXman]

What is your actual experience of the numbers of vans stolen, tracked, recovered or not recovered? Not trying to upset you or wind you up but I think the only probable person on MHFun who could have a handle on the figures was Eddievanbitz and now Ash.
Some Trackers( Vanbitz) have a mapping app so you the owner of the van can see it’s location real-time, so you are tracking it and can call the police and guide them in or you coukd follow it until the police arrive.
As an illustration that Trackers do work, my ex co-worker will testify when his 6 month old BMW was stolen, it was tracked and found to have been parked up on a street 20 miles away, the police spoke to a local who called them when the thieves returned 2 days later thinking it was clear to carry on with the theft. They were caught and 6 other motors were found in a lockup.
I just don’t understand some peoples aversion to trying to protect what is probably their 2nd biggest value item

I protect it. It has a Thatcham cat 1 alarm on all doors inc. garage. Its parked at home on a private drive with wheel lock, sterring lock, brake lock. We have security lighting. It's insured for brand new replacement in case of write off or stolen and not recovered.

I just choose not to have a tracker as the insurance co do not require it and I don't feel the need. I have similar approach to house insurance. I haven't had a incident or claim in 35 years so I only pay for minimum cover and don't have a house alarm.

Some people like to spend on stuff with bells and whistles others don't. That's fine.

My view on vans stolen is it cannot be that bad as relative to cars motorhome insurance is cheap!!! I only occasionally hear of stolen vans on a wide range of motorhome/van/camper sites I frequent.

Re: Vanbitz - I have no beef with him/them and have purchased from them in the past. However they are not entirely neutral in this discussion.

 

[68c]

Is it possible to use a tracker to record your journeys? Although we do try to keep a Catains Log, it would be handy to be able to look up where you have been.

 

[Guigsy]

Is it possible to use a tracker to record your journeys? Although we do try to keep a Catains Log, it would be handy to be able to look up where you have been.

Yes. Although it depends on the app. Some make it really easy to export your track. Others not.

I have done it. I used it to make this. But subsequent ones I've done, I just grabbed the data from Google on my phone as I location continuously on.

 

[68c]

Thanks, may be able to use an old phone as a tracker.

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[Otter Spotter]

I protect it. It has a Thatcham cat 1 alarm on all doors inc. garage. Its parked at home on a private drive with wheel lock, sterring lock, brake lock. We have security lighting. It's insured for brand new replacement in case of write off or stolen and not recovered.

I just choose not to have a tracker as the insurance co do not require it and I don't feel the need. I have similar approach to house insurance. I haven't had a incident or claim in 35 years so I only pay for minimum cover and don't have a house alarm.

Some people like to spend on stuff with bells and whistles others don't. That's fine.

My view on vans stolen is it cannot be that bad as relative to cars motorhome insurance is cheap!!! I only occasionally hear of stolen vans on a wide range of motorhome/van/camper sites I frequent.

Re: Vanbitz - I have no beef with him/them and have purchased from them in the past. However they are not entirely neutral in this discussion.

(My view on vans stolen is it cannot be that bad as relative to cars motorhome insurance is cheap!!! I only occasionally hear of stolen vans on a wide range of motorhome/van/camper sites I frequent.)

Is that because most vans have trackers ?

 

[stewartwebr]

I have just fitted a TruTrack FMT 100. At under £35 plus subscription it’s a steal and works a treat with lots of information. It’s nice to know I have some comeback and can see what and when things happen at the garage. Not to say if I ever have to go through the pain of RAC recovery again.

The issue there would be the TruTrack is not Thatcham approved. Many of us only fit trackers to meet the requirements of the underwriters who refuse to insure without one and they are very prescriptive on the Thatcham requirements. To ensure I was covered it HAD to be Thatcham S5 and had to have a Thatcham immobiliser. Most vehicles have immobilisers as standard these days and my Mercedes based Motorhome does have one. However, my vehicle is above 7.5T which Thatcham categories as HGV and no longer give approval. Hence the reason me opting for Meta Trac which is an S5 tracker and dead lock immobiliser. I also had to provide a copy of the fitters Thatcham training certificate to prove the installer was trained to instal to Thatcham standards.
If it were not for the insurer I would not bother with one.

 

[iandsm]

The issue there would be the TruTrack is not Thatcham approved. Many of us only fit trackers to meet the requirements of the underwriters who refuse to insure without one and they are very prescriptive on the Thatcham requirements. To ensure I was covered it HAD to be Thatcham S5 and had to have a Thatcham immobiliser. Most vehicles have immobilisers as standard these days and my Mercedes based Motorhome does have one. However, my vehicle is above 7.5T which Thatcham categories as HGV and no longer give approval. Hence the reason me opting for Meta Trac which is an S5 tracker and dead lock immobiliser. I also had to provide a copy of the fitters Thatcham training certificate to prove the installer was trained to instal to Thatcham standards.
If it were not for the insurer I would not bother with one.

I am 3.5 and don’t give a monkeys about insurers approval so I’m happy. I do understand though the onerous hoops some like yourself have to jump through.

 

[eddie]

Re: Vanbitz - I have no beef with him/them and have purchased from them in the past. However they are not entirely neutral in this discussion.

Actually Van Bitz aren’t in the discussion per se, and I’m retired, but, am on record on MHF saying I wouldn’t bother with a standard tracking system unless it’s a condition of Insurance

Too easy to turn off

Non Starter Tracking, is a different thing as your shutting the stable door BEFORE the horse bolts

 

[Sus3v]

Yes - worth it.
when faced with a traffic violation letter from police in the north of England I could prove we were not there because the tracker recorded our movements on and around the date of The offence, and I could send a printout of The map.
we woz cloned.

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[VXman]

Is that because most vans have trackers ?

I don't know the statistics do you? Trackers on their own don't stop a van being stolen. I would guess that trackers are used at the more expensive end of the market where money is less of an object. I'm not convinced the majority of motorhomes/campervans have trackers but I don't have any proof.

 

[VXman]

Actually Van Bitz aren’t in the discussion per se, and I’m retired, but, am on record on MHF saying I wouldn’t bother with a standard tracking system unless it’s a condition of Insurance

Too easy to turn off

Non Starter Tracking, is a different thing as your shutting the stable door BEFORE the horse bolts

Yes, sorry - it was someone else who brought you into it!

Yes - worth it.
when faced with a traffic violation letter from police in the north of England I could prove we were not there because the tracker recorded our movements on and around the date of The offence, and I could send a printout of The map.
we woz cloned.

I wouldn't fit one for that purpose alone. I'm sure I could find many cheaper ways of proving I wasn't somewhere at a particular time. It is a useful side product though.

 

[Otter Spotter]

I don't know the statistics do you? Trackers on their own don't stop a van being stolen. I would guess that trackers are used at the more expensive end of the market where money is less of an object. I'm not convinced the majority of motorhomes/campervans have trackers but I don't have any proof.

I haven’t a clue either

 

[Sandie]

Comfort would not insure our new motorhome 18 months unless we had a tracker fitted.
(It was insured for £75K)

I'm considering changing my m/h. Likely value c. £75-£80k. Phoned Caravan Guard today to ask about insurance cost/ requirements and they said a tracker would be required. Also, an extra £250 p.a., taking it to almost £600. I said it might be an A-class, so I think that had an impact on the insurance cost.

 

[kmacdon]

We pick up our first motorhome on 1st Sept.New Bailey. It comes with the factory fitted Ford immobiliser. The dealer suggested that we have a tracker and alarm fitted to meet insurance requirements. Caravan guard have quoted £428 insurance and require a tracker and either alarm or mobiliser fitted. We are selling the car which is insured with LV. They have quoted £45 to change over. (Including the £15 admin fee). They don’t require a tracker or alarm to be fitted. The car policy was renewed last month for £240.

I am contemplating whether a tracker and alarm is worthwhile, or whether to go for physical security measures. I have been quoted £700 to have a tracker and alarm plus the cost of airtime.

We have a tracker fitted requirement for insurance , this one works even if the motorhome was put in a container.

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[Mikeyv60]

Get the alarm and tracker
Too many people having vans stolen and crying afterwards, wishing they had fitted them

Depends what condition they come back in?

 

[dulvil]

Depends what condition they come back in?

Whatever the van’s condition is like, hopefully the thieves will be caught

 

[Mikeyv60]

Whatever the van’s condition is like, hopefully the thieves will be caught

I agree you would like to think so, but realistically we all know that they dont send anyone out.
Didnt even send anyone out to see my friend when his car was stolen, just gave him a crime reference.

 

[Sandie]

I agree you would like to think so, but realistically we all know that they dont send anyone out.
Didnt even send anyone out to see my friend when his car was stolen, just gave him a crime reference.

Par for the course. I know someone whose work van was stolen. They located it by searching for similar for sale. Went to where it was, confirmed it was theirs. Informed the police- "here's my stolen van so thieves are nearby" police not interested. Contents were lost, of course.