Vanbitz Strikeback Alarm or Upgrade to Growler?

[BritAussie]

We are booked into Vanbitz in early March to have an alarm and the non-starter fitted to our new Boxstar 540. I can’t decide whether the normal Strikeback will be sufficient or if we should upgrade to the Growler. The extra ££ is one issue, the other is that I’m worried if we keep setting the alarm off it will really annoy us and neighbours being so much louder - assuming it is?? On the other hand the lifetime warranty vs 2 years makes sense if you need to have regular services, etc? I’ve emailed Vanbitz but would appreciate thoughts from those of you that have either Alarm?

We aren’t intending to have the Shadow VTS fitted but should we consider that? It seems to be paying double for the same thing though I know you get the external monitoring. TIA

 

[TinaLes]

Very strangely, my Growler alarm has only gone off at Fun Rallies like The Lincoln Show, we were told on our way back from the Funster Marquee by our friendly neighbours. It transpired it was because I had left the mobile phone in the front cab on charge, it had probably received a text or rang & vibrated, so I dont leave it in the van with the alarm set anymore.

Having thought about it, It was also a great advert for Vanbitz, you always notice the vans with a Growler system on sites, mainly because the night air is Blue with flashing LED's, however they can be tamed down by using the dimmer switch on the dash, but not until you have annoyed your neighbours sufficiently for the first few weeks.
LES

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Strikeback / Growler gets a switch mounted on dashboard to turn off the internal sensors so you can sleep at night / move around with the alarm set. That's great as I'm often on large open sites such as New Forest where all sorts can be passing by, and it means the bike on the accessory loop on the back is alarmed and I can stop worrying about it (accessory loop to the tow bar area can be separately switched on/off from another dashboard switch).

Non starter system is great as the app system does also act as a self tracker device so you can see where your van has been, and you can also arm / disarm the immobiliser remotely. You'll get warnings if your alarm does go off, but in many respects it operates separate to the Strikeback/Growler as the alarm fob only does the alarm, and immobiliser is the phone app, so the two different sets of controls provide two separate levels of protection. Metatrak does have an annual subscription, but that is a lot less than standard trackers.

Problem with numpty me is getting up in morning, forgetting I've got the alarm on (despite the flashing LED on dashboard above the speedo area), opening the door and all hell breaks loose. If I had the Growler sounders I think by now I would have permanent hearing loss. I've taken to hooking my keys over the internal whoosh bang door handle as a warning to myself.

Yes, I got a big red “remove before flight” aircraft tag that I hang on the door, but people are welcome to try a bravely face our vicious dog

 

[DuxDeluxe]

mainly because the night air is Blue

I thought that was people singing about “Alice”

 

[eddie]

Thanks - i guess the really loud internal siren is one of my worries - strangely, considering I have a hearing problem, loud noises really bother me. But I guess the secret is not to set it off accidentally!! And yes it’s the non starter that Im really keen on - I’ve seen that photo and what a mess! We were considering OTT but I wasn’t so sure how secure their fitting would be, given that it could be done by mobile fitters. And the fact they are all different depending on area you are in so may not fit many units at all - whereas Vanbitz is done on their premises (which luckily is fairly close to us) so obviously their engineers are fitting lots more.

At the end of the I’ve always thought you get what you pay for, so should probably take my own advice!

When you put the Growler into "Sleep or Pet" mode the internal sirens are automatically disabled.

Our staff only work on motorhomes and only fit our alarm products

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[OldAgeTravellers]

BritAussie I think you will always regret it if you don't have the Growler. The price difference is only four tanks of diesel after all and don't forget the MH Fun discount. There is nothing wrong with the standard Strikeback and the first one we had was the standard because the Growler didn't exist then. But the Growler is in a class of its own, yes you will set it off occasionally and it is VERY loud but whenever I have done it, usually when working on the van with the keys in my pocket and accidentally pushing the panic button or absent-mindedly opening the door without deactivating it (we hang a piece of wood on a string to cover the handle so we don't open the door without disabling the alarm). But you've got the keys so can stop it quickly. I think you still get one night free on Eddie's fantastic campsite, it is worth booking the night after as well so you can ask any more questions that come to you after using it.
The best tip I was given for remembering how to set the night mode was ABBA. Press button A then B twice to set it then A to un-set it in the morning. That's if it is still the same.
Steve

 

[ThinkingAbout]

What’s the rough prices for all these security systems? Just stating out in hopefully buying a new 6m MH and wondering what security we need or will be required by the insurance

 

[Revolvor]

What’s the rough prices for all these security systems? Just stating out in hopefully buying a new 6m MH and wondering what security we need or will be required by the insurance

This is the Price of Strike Back and Growler. From memory, the NonStarter is an additional £300 ish

 

[PaulC70]

I paid just over a grand for the growler and battery master with the funster 10% discount.

 

[SmithsInFrance]

Setting off the alarm system is more likely to annoy the neighbours. That's the outside sirens that will wake them up. I could hear my very clearly when I'd parked on the far side of Fleet M3 services, and was entering the main building. When my alarm has gone off it has been operator error that I've mis set it somehow.

If you set off your alarm inside, even with just outside sirens you will know about it, but, would still be able to concentrate. I expect with internal sensors (I only had the Strikeback), your ears would be ringing for hours afterwards.

The Vanbitz systems can be customised. The Growler is belt and braces. The Strikeback can have additions like extra warning LEDs. I went with a Strikeback + with my PVC being only 5.4m. I'd probably go straight to the Growler if I was fitting today.

Even if you don't have the tracker, get the metatrak non starter. That's the thing that really is going to give you peace of mind. Even if the scroats were to get your keys and the key fob to turn off the alarm (thinking if they were to break into my house first with the van parked out front on the drive), the non starter will prevent them driving off as unless they have your phone for the app, and know how to get past your phone's login, they can't reset the non starter. Unlike some immobilisers there is a photo elsewhere on this forum of the lengths someone went to, unsuccessfully, to get past the non starter's wiring.

Yes my son was so lucky not to have his MH stolen (from storage) because he had the metatrak non starter. The thieves tried really hard, probably on more than one occasion, to get it going, including taking a battery from another vehicle etc etc. this is how they left the wiring - but they never managed to steal the MH

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[GAVLAD]

For the difference in cost, I’d suggest the Growler. I have no regrets since I bought mine.
I would recommend the battery master to be fit at the same time.

 

[Jenka]

Toured all over Europe full time and always felt safe in the knowledge the Growler was protecting us .if only vanbitz made Beer !

 

[Parahaki]

I did have an issue initially with the microwave sensor being a little too sensitive and had the alarm going off a few times, I have the moho parked in the visitor layby on our cul de sac. I tracked it down to the bin lorry and one or two neighbours who have "rumbly" engined cars going by. A quick email to vanbitz and they explained how to slightly desensitise the sensor, after that no more issues but internal growler still works