Motorhome Alarms (1 Viewer)

[Petros]

I have looked into motorhome alarms and from advice given by funsters i am settled on Strikeback or Cobra A4615 MH systems. Both are specifically designed for motorhomes. Has anyone had any experience of Cobra alarms? Seems most people recommend Strikeback but I have a Cobra fitted to our van and that has been trouble free!

 

[Bulawayo Lass]

Dont know if Eddie Vanbitz does cobra l am afraid mine is based on does Eddie do it ...if not l wont trust it. Unfair l am sure just l trust him and his reprobates

 

[movan]

Hi Petros, if you already have one and are happy with it, why change? I have a Strikeback and now I am used to it am really happy with it .... (the times I wake people up in the early hours because I didn't disable the internal alarm when I go to the toilet are lessening ) ... but if your alarm is sufficient and reliable I wouldn't change it. Motorhomes are expensive enough to run without added cost.

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[Don Quixote]

If it's not broken why fix it........................

 

[Chipster]

We've got the Cobra. Does what it needs to do. No fuss. You can isolate the interior sensors if you want to while maintaining door/locker protection. I would have liked an additional warning led mind. The standard one can't be seen with the blinds closed.

 

[Petros]

Thanks the comments help alot

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[Hymie835]

It appears that you do not always have a choice. I was going to get a Cobra from Outdoor Bitz but found out that they do not have a version to work with a 2009 Renault Master. I have not contacted VanBitz yet about the Strikeback but that may not work either!

 

[DuxDeluxe]

It appears that you do not always have a choice. I was going to get a Cobra from Outdoor Bitz but found out that they do not have a version to work with a 2009 Renault Master. I have not contacted VanBitz yet about the Strikeback but that may not work either!

Movan (Joy) has a similar vintage Renault Master, I think, and that has a strike back fitted

 

[ASLEEPER]

Don't be misled by people always saying they trust Vanbitz ,every one can have a bad day, which they most certainly had when they fitted my Strikeback alarm!Broke down" completely dead" after 70 miles,and was told by repairing garage"somebody didn't make an electrical connection properly"!!! On confronting Vanbitz ,I was told "we don't disconnect anything ,so it couldn't be our fault" Im sorry but I couldn't quite believe that?!! If you go there just hope theyre having a good day!!! Regards Nuevoman

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[eddie]

It appears that you do not always have a choice. I was going to get a Cobra from Outdoor Bitz but found out that they do not have a version to work with a 2009 Renault Master. I have not contacted VanBitz yet about the Strikeback but that may not work either!

LOL as specialists we can work on any motorcaravan.

 

[eddie]

Don't be misled by people always saying they trust Vanbitz ,every one can have a bad day, which they most certainly had when they fitted my Strikeback alarm!Broke down" completely dead" after 70 miles,and was told by repairing garage"somebody didn't make an electrical connection properly"!!! On confronting Vanbitz ,I was told "we don't disconnect anything ,so it couldn't be our fault" Im sorry but I couldn't quite believe that?!! If you go there just hope theyre having a good day!!! Regards Nuevoman

When did this happen? and what "electrical connector" Could we see a report please?

I am surprised that any of our staff would have told you that. It would have been reffered to Dave our workshop manager or myself for further investigation.

If you would care to PM me your details we will look at your notes and the subsequent telephone call

 

[davidbaldam]

Don't be misled by people always saying they trust Vanbitz ,every one can have a bad day, which they most certainly had when they fitted my Strikeback alarm!Broke down" completely dead" after 70 miles,and was told by repairing garage"somebody didn't make an electrical connection properly"!!! On confronting Vanbitz ,I was told "we don't disconnect anything ,so it couldn't be our fault" Im sorry but I couldn't quite believe that?!! If you go there just hope theyre having a good day!!! Regards Nuevoman

Eddie, this person only joined yesterday, just a bit suspect?

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[ASLEEPER]

This was a totally genuine observation by myself it really happened! I was really put out by not only having to leave my van at a garage for a week [that's how long it took to find the problem by Howards of taunton the local Peugeot dealer] but also by the way it was handled by James at vanbitz ,also I had a nasty experience of trying unsuccessfully to claim some sort of recompense from Safeguard ,who I had been insured with for 12 yrs! Regards nuevoman

 

[eddie]

I am sorry to make such a provocative statement as you have, you really need to give us more to go on that this.

When did this happen, can you email me a copy of the invoice? and why if the garage thought that Van Bitz were responsible would you try an claim "recompense" from Safeguard? What exactly does the invoice state?

I fail to understand how a loose connection would take a week to diagnose.

James is my Son, and one of my other Son's is the Business manager for Howards, Taunton and Weston-Super-Mare I am sure that if we were responsible I would be aware.

I PM'd you earlier asking for some information.

One last observation. Your opening, first ever Motorhome Fun post you said

Broke down" completely dead" after 70 miles,and was told by repairing garage"somebody didn't make an electrical connection properly"

Van Bitz are in Taunton and you claim that "Howards of Taunton" You live in Cornwall from your profile. So if you started up and left Van Bitz in Taunton, drove OK for 70 miles and then broke down, completely dead"

How did you manage to end up back in Taunton at Howards?

Without more corroboration, I remain unconvinced

 

[ASLEEPER]

Im sorry Eddie, this was not our first alarm fitted by yourselves ,the first one I would give 110% for the general overall experience a first class job! Because of that I had no qualms on booking my last alarm with you, but as you have read we had a bad experience.I will add that there is no way that anyone can say exactly where the loose connection originated ,that is the nature of M/H construction, but the circumstances surrounding the occurence pointed to the most recent activity in the vehicle.It is a long story about the mileage I was actually on your site at Cornish Farms when I was low loaded to howards, we ended up stopping overnight at a premiere inn and getting transport home to cornwall next day [the reason for the claim to Safeguard] Howards took a long time granted ,but there was talk of fitting a new ECU at one stage something Peugeot don't do lightly! Before they finally found the underlying fault.I will just add we had done approx. 3500miles without incident prior to this unfortunate occurence

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[Phill D]

seems a very tenuous link between having the alarm fitted and the unrelated loose connection. be interested who and how and why the conclusion was reached that the fault was directly related to the " most recent activity in the vehicle". which connection was actually loose?

clearly Vanbitz take their reputation very seriously so if you are genuine about your complaint i would be following up Eddies invitation and give him the details so he can properly give you feedback.

 

[Phill D]

PS; every business gets it wrong now and again thats an unfortunate fact of life.

if a person uses their first ever post to put down a business on open forum the business should be given the opportunity to know the true facts and react accordingly.

 

[Brian and Jo]

well we will certainly be giving some thought to Eddie and a strikeback system when we get our motorhome in March
Brian & Jo

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[Techno]

Mine is 6.5 years old and only had issues of the "not read the manual" kind. Telephone assistance is excellent. 10/10

 

[Cyclewalkbob]

I agree, had a problem in France, my fault, and Eddie and his team sorted me out over the phone!

 

[Drexxer]

Eddie's going to be getting a call as soon as we have our collection date, spoke to his son last week, extra helpful.

Only thing is Strike back or Growler?

Andy

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[angusboy]

hi i never had alarm fitted by vanbitz but eddie could not have been more helpfull over my satelite system regards steve

 

[mjltigger]

Eddie's going to be getting a call as soon as we have our collection date, spoke to his son last week, extra helpful.

Only thing is Strike back or Growler?

Andy

Why just growl when you can strike back...

Sorry I know nothing about this subject just ammused by the names..

 

[greygit]

Unfortunately, you do get the odd problem with alarms, we had a cobra alarm fitted via Highbridge Caravans and all was fine for weeks then we would get the odd false trip, contacted the guy that fitted the system and he drove up to us, a total of 80 miles round trip. He then replace the board and all door sensors three weeks later he had to revisit again as it was still giving problems, this time he replaced all the wiring.....that was it faulty wire ,no problems since.

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[mta]

Another vote for Eddie and the Growler, only prob so far has been operator error combined with not reading instructions fully.

 

[jhorsf]

You cannot have a go at someones business reputation and then not follow up with all the details its not fair so please enlighten us all nuevoman

 

[Techno]

You cannot have a go at someones business reputation and then not follow up with all the details its not fair so please enlighten us all nuevoman

I agree but at least on it's own it is drowned out by the overwhelming vote of confidence in Vanbitz

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[Heseinberg]

I had a Vanbitz alarm fitted however I'm not sure I would have another. An eight hour round trip, a tank of diesel, paid £550 for alarm and its barely audible. They did tell me when I arrived my transit had soundproofing and I should have more sirens fitted but that was an extra £135, taking the alarm to £700 on top of the tank of diesel and day off work to get there and back. They should have told me that on the phone if I needed more sirens but they do this annoying up-sell when u turn up trying to get more cash out of you, it's annoying because all the posts on here talk about how fab it is but in fact it's not unless u spend £1k, which for me is high for an alarm. Anyway they put the siren right up against the soundproofing in what is the worst possible place(and only place it could be so bad) and the alarm is poor to the point people commented on how loud it wasn't, u can barely hear it from inside motorhome and it turns no heads from outside. I probably wouldn't get another vanbitz alarm, I weighed up against a Cobra, next time I think I would to save hassle, drive, diesel n big cost n just get the Cobra

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

I know little about the Cobra alarm in a direct head to head with a Strikeback/Growler. I am one who initially intended to get the Strikeback fitted, but then ultimately went for the Growler. In my opinion, this wasn't really a result of any subliminal or aggressive up-selling technique, but a result of my reading the information provided, deciding what I wanted before I arrived onsite and comparing the relative price of Strikeback with a couple of options and the Growler with the FUN discount and lifetime warranty. The Vanbitz team also managed to squeeze us in around shows and a packed workshop schedule so we had the alarm before our first trip to the continent. I agree that it is a significant investment, but so is your van. This system also gives me some reassurance should SWMBO use the van on her own, but then I think any perpetrators may need protection from her!!!

 

[Jim]

They did tell me when I arrived my transit had soundproofing and I should have more sirens fitted but that was an extra £135, taking the alarm to £700 on top of the tank of diesel and day off work to get there and back. They should have told me that on the phone if I needed more sirens but they do this annoying up-sell when u turn up trying to get more cash out of you,

I've owned 4 vans with VanBitz alarms. I've not experienced the 'Up-Sell" you complain about. What I have experienced is an "interview style session" before they start work where they ask a lot of questions, such as do I tow, do we use bikes, where is it normally parked, storage/home is it on the drive or on the road, do we wild camp etc etc. Armed with this info they can offer the best security solution for you, but of course; if that involves additional items they are going to SELL them to you. You make it sound like some sleazy sales talk, as a security professional myself I found their professionalism rather refreshing.

With 20 odd years experience of using and fitting their alarms Vanbitz do know what they are doing and IMO for you ignore their advice and not pay for the additional bits they suggested was folly, especially as you had already invested so much in the travel etc.

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