Should I upgrade my security?

[Wicked Welsh Lady]

If you're going to use claymore mines, it's essential you point them in the right direction, instructions are printed on the mine.

What are claymore mines please? I had excellent service and help from KitsnBits in Barry Nr Cardiff who installed a Ghost system. I would highly recommend them for their professionalism and courtesy.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

What are claymore mines please? I had excellent service and help from KitsnBits in Barry Nr Cardiff who installed a Ghost system. I would highly recommend them for their professionalism and courtesy.

Claymore mine - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Marauder]

We went to VanBitz and had the lot fitted, including tracker.

How much cash for that little lot ?

Another option to consider - keep the van on an insurance approved storage facility (also brings your insurance premiums down )

 

[Brains]

How much cash for that little lot ?

Another option to consider - keep the van on an insurance approved storage facility (also brings your insurance premiums down )

Gaslow, solar, battery master, WiFi, tracker, alarm, immobiliser, came to the wrong side of £3k, but money well spent in my opinion, as it makes my van secure and also self sustaining for days if not weeks at a time.

My van is stored a secure compound, the insurance company (Comfort) insisted on Thatcham alarm and tracker before they would cover it.
(The compounds are usually fairly secure, it's when the vans are out and about that the thefts are more likely to happen)

 

[Brains]

Have you got the dimmer on ? Re the blue lights. I have mine on all the time unless leaving it somewhere in the daylight away from my drive. Brilliant reassuring growler I have plus the tracker Van bitz fit with the app etc , it’s really good.

The blue lights have a bright or dim setting.
It's one of your switches on the dash (probably with a blue LED)

I tend to leave mine on dim in storage and campsites and on bright when parked in the street/car parks

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[SteveK21]

Hi, I am super new to motorhoming. I picked up my new purchase yesterday. Was very nervous about driving a large vehicle for the first time, but it was fine. I have been researching the forums and other places to prep for motorhome life and was concerned about theft and security. More research and I decided to get Vanbitz to install the growler and non starter systems. However, when I picked the Motorhome up yesterday, I discovered it already has an extra alarm fitted, that I wasn’t aware of previously. It is a Cobra.

Essentially, my questions is, although I know this won’t have as many features as the growler, is it good enough? It seems silly to replace the alarm if there is a perfectly acceptable one in it (I will still get the non starter), but as I have already budgeted for the growler, if the cobra isn’t very good, more than happy to upgrade. I just can’t stand needless waste of resources for the sake of terms of both my pocket, and the environment and not wanting to be part of the throw away culture.

I'd give Vanbitz a call, super helpful and will talk you through the pros and cons. Consider getting a tracker installed at the same time,

 

[Stans Van]

Hi, I am super new to motorhoming. I picked up my new purchase yesterday. Was very nervous about driving a large vehicle for the first time, but it was fine. I have been researching the forums and other places to prep for motorhome life and was concerned about theft and security. More research and I decided to get Vanbitz to install the growler and non starter systems. However, when I picked the Motorhome up yesterday, I discovered it already has an extra alarm fitted, that I wasn’t aware of previously. It is a Cobra.

Essentially, my questions is, although I know this won’t have as many features as the growler, is it good enough? It seems silly to replace the alarm if there is a perfectly acceptable one in it (I will still get the non starter), but as I have already budgeted for the growler, if the cobra isn’t very good, more than happy to upgrade. I just can’t stand needless waste of resources for the sake of terms of both my pocket, and the environment and not wanting to be part of the throw away culture.

My advice, get it checked over… I’ve recently taken delivery of a New Hymer, had Scorpion Sigma fitted, recommended by our insurance brokers, ha! As I type it’s Currently being replaced. Unable to explain further for potential legal reasons.

 

[Louis P]

with the Vanbitz growler would you get an immobiliser with it or just have the alarm?

 

[Brains]

with the Vanbitz growler would you get an immobiliser with it or just have the alarm?

"Don't sink the ship for a pennyworth of tar!"

For the sake of a few more quid, whilst it's up on the VanBitz ramps and the electricians are all over it you may as well get the job done properly.

• Alarm
• Tracker
• Engine blocker

I'd also get them to fit:

• Battery master (A £60 bit of kit to balance your load between the batteries which means you never have a dead starter battery)
• Solar Panels if you don't already have one, as MoHo's spend weeks at a time laid up doing nothing, alarms, wifi and other bits of kit are a slow but steady drain on the batteries, a solar panel will keep the batteries topped up at all times, even in the winter.

 

[Van Weasel]

These are quite effective but quite high maintenance. On my third now and each one has been without fault!

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[Louis P]

"Don't sink the ship for a pennyworth of tar!"

For the sake of a few more quid, whilst it's up on the VanBitz ramps and the electricians are all over it you may as well get the job done properly.

• Alarm
• Tracker
• Engine blocker

I'd also get them to fit:

• Battery master (A £60 bit of kit to balance your load between the batteries which means you never have a dead starter battery)
• Solar Panels if you don't already have one, as MoHo's spend weeks at a time laid up doing nothing, alarms, wifi and other bits of kit are a slow but steady drain on the batteries, a solar panel will keep the batteries topped up at all times, even in the winter.

The prevention of someone removing the van is my main aim but I definitely want to have the immobiliser installed but I believe it has a remote option as well. I've a solar panel and I need to check on the batteries but I believe that the draw for the van will only be from the leisure battery and the car battery is left alone.

 

[Brains]

The prevention of someone removing the van is my main aim but I definitely want to have the immobiliser installed but I believe it has a remote option as well. I've a solar panel and I need to check on the batteries but I believe that the draw for the van will only be from the leisure battery and the car battery is left alone.

Yes, the VanBitz fitted Metatrac immobiliser and alarm can be remotely controlled by your smartphone.
You also get alerts on your smartphone if the alarm goes off or if the van is moved.

With an immobiliser fitted the only way your van is going to be stolen is on the back of a flatbed lorry.

The battery master load balances your batteries, so instead of just charging the leisure batty, it changes both batteries. Given the small cost I'd suggest it's well worth getting fitted at the same time.

 

[Louis P]

Yes, the VanBitz fitted Metatrac immobiliser and alarm can be remotely controlled by your smartphone.
You also get alerts on your smartphone if the alarm goes off or if the van is moved.

With an immobiliser fitted the only way your van is going to be stolen is on the back of a flatbed lorry.

The battery master load balances your batteries, so instead of just charging the leisure batty, it changes both batteries. Given the small cost I'd suggest it's well worth getting fitted at the same time.

Good idea. I need to review the electrical setup and this seems a good plan. Any other ideas? The metatrac has an annual subscription of £70 I believe as well. Is that right?

 

[Sapper520]

If your van is a PVC I would strongly recommend Deadlocks.

We have the Growler fitted, which frightened the would be thieves off, but it took them under 2 minutes to overcome the Fiat door lock.

 

[Louis P]

If your van is a PVC I would strongly recommend Deadlocks.

We have the Growler fitted, which frightened the would be thieves off, but it took them under 2 minutes to overcome the Fiat door lock.

I have seen others install hook locks and door plates (to prevent spiking) but not dead locks. The doors are the original ducato ones and not Coach built pvc.

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[Sapper520]

I have seen others install hook locks and door plates (to prevent spiking) but not dead locks. The doors are the original ducato ones and not Coach built pvc.

These are highly recommended locks for commercial vans, and they fit neatly on our PVC.

 

[Aji]

Good idea. I need to review the electrical setup and this seems a good plan. Any other ideas? The metatrac has an annual subscription of £70 I believe as well. Is that right?

I have just renewed the Metatrac subscription for 3 years, cost was £199.

 

[Louis P]

I have just renewed the Metatrac subscription for 3 years, cost was £199.

thanks, good to know for the remote immobilisation

 

[Louis P]

These are highly recommended locks for commercial vans, and they fit neatly on our PVC.

View attachment 660138

looks tidy, and I got the wrong idea about PVC, missed that it was a panel van conversion !!!
are these in addition to the standard door locks on each door and sliding door of the van?

 

[Sapper520]

looks tidy, and I got the wrong idea about PVC, missed that it was a panel van conversion !!!
are these in addition to the standard door locks on each door and sliding door of the van?

Yes. After an attempt on our van, which does have the Growler stickers on the windows and doors, along with the blue neon lights, glass window markings etc they still forced the drivers lock.…..very easily (I have it on my CCTV). The alarm frightened them off.

I decided to have deadlocks fitted to both cab doors, sliding door and rear barn doors. £540 fitted and he came to our house to do it.

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[Brains]

Good idea. I need to review the electrical setup and this seems a good plan. Any other ideas? The metatrac has an annual subscription of £70 I believe as well. Is that right?

Metatrac do have a subscription, at the time I fitted mine I got (3?) years free subscription, however like all deals, that may not now apply, you will need to contact Metatrac to get the latest cost/deal

As for other things to fit to your van, it depends on the age of the vehicle, how long you intend on keeping it and where your expect to be travelling.

Whilst you are at VanBitz they can also fit a Gaslow system, which if you intend to travel outside the UK for over two weeks, or intend on using your M/H for over 90 nights a year then becomes cost effective to fit.
(The cost of LPG on the forecourt is about 90p per litre as opposed to £3-4 per litre for Calor gas) Calor gas bottles with UK fittings are not available outside the UK.

You could also look at fitting WiFi, MotorhomeWifi is the company with all the info.

Extra sockets - no van is ever built with enough!
With the rise in EBikes, (even if you don't have one .....yet) a socket or two in your garage is now essential

External lighting - Strips of LED's attached to the awning are now simple to fit, as long as you have the power socket wire.

Like all extras, the only limitation is budget and imagination (and possibly payload and ampage)