Motorguard (1 Viewer)

Jul 7, 2016
40
30
Manchester
Funster No
43,977
MH
Just Looking
Exp
Newbie
Hi all,

We have started negotiating for a new motorhome and we wanted to see if anyone knows anything about a security company called Motorguard. The dealer is offering to fit one of their alarms, it is an Autowatch alarm and it is Thatcham Cat 1.

Does anyone have any good or bad experiences with this bit of kit and company.

Thanks
 

Jim

Ringleader
Jul 19, 2007
36,191
128,628
Sutton on Sea, UK
Funster No
1
MH
Adria Panel Van.
Exp
Since 1988
Not heard of them. But that does not mean anything. Before you commit.. Satisfy yourself that it is an alarm designed for motorhomes rather than a car alarm shoe-horned into your van.

Here are a few tips on buying an alarm for your motorhome.

Don’t choose an overly complicated alarm.
Ask for a demonstration of the alarm, you want to know that it is easy to arm and disarm, some are fiddly, especially to get into sleep mode.

Remote Notification

If your budget runs to it; look for an alarm that will communicate with your phone and let you know when it is triggered. Preferably with a map showing precisely where it is and better still if you can have it alert more than one phone.

No really loud chirps.
Choose a motorhome alarm system that flashes to indicate it is working, rather than one which loudly beeps or buzzes as this noise can make you pretty unpopular on a campsite.

Insist on interior sirens.
These are so much more important than external, (though you will want external as well) A loud internal siren is incapacitating and burglars will not stay long in a van with these screaming; leaving well hidden items undisturbed. Internal sirens need to be very loud to be effective which means it's important that the internal sirens can be isolated for times when we leave pets in the van.

Choose an alarm that lets people know it is alarmed.
The biggest value that an alarm gives is one of deterrent. Warning stickers are good but in-your-face warning LED’s are better. So many alarms designed for cars which are sold to motorhomers; are not equipped with external warning LEDS, Of course internal ‘warning-I-am-alarmed’ are great in a car, flashing away on the dashboard, but in a motorhome, as soon as curtains and screens are in place burglars cannot see the vehicle is alarmed. You cannot have too many external lights. These should leave a burglar in no doubt that your vehicle is alarmed. This will push crooks toward softer targets. However you should ask for the ability to turn bright LED's off or down so when on site or at home you are not annoying near neighbours.

Lockers need to be secured.
Lockers are an easy way into many motorhomes and should always be secured and alarmed. The best alarms also have alarm extension loops so you can easily secure exterior items such as bikes or trailers, bringing them under the protection of your alarm system. These loops are handy on site too as you can quickly loop all exterior items such as bikes chairs and BBQs and have them alarmed over night.

Sleep mode.
You need to specify a sleep mode. This should be easily and positively activated; if it is not then you will not use it. You should always sleep with this sleep mode activated, whether on site or not. We get used to noise from outside, especially when parked up on motorway service areas or busy sites, this makes us sleep pretty soundly and this is one of the reasons we are more vulnerable to theft when we are asleep that we might imagine. The sleep mode should activate your perimeter to include doors and lockers.

Panic Button
Good alarms have a panic button mode. Activate it and all the sirens sound. There are a number of scenarios where a panic button is a good idea. Especially when incorporated with a pager/phone system that lets others know you’re in trouble.

Last but not least.
Alarms have mechanical as well as electrical components and they involve a lot wire runs all over your motorhome. While a good alarm should last as long as a motorhome, it may well require servicing from time to time. So satisfy yourself, as much as you can, that the dealer you buy from is going to be around for a while and is professional enough to make detailed notes and photographs of your particular installation so should something go wrong in even years from now, they know exactly where to go to put it right.

If you can tick all those boxes you'll have a good alarm and in my experience it will probably be a Strikeback. (y)
 
OP
OP
tap6699
Jul 7, 2016
40
30
Manchester
Funster No
43,977
MH
Just Looking
Exp
Newbie
Thanks Jim

I'll put the questions to the guy from Motorguard.

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Aug 6, 2013
11,941
16,533
Kendal, Cumbria
Funster No
27,352
MH
Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
Exp
since 1999
Not heard of them. But that does not mean anything. Before you commit.. Satisfy yourself that it is an alarm designed for motorhomes rather than a car alarm shoe-horned into your van.

Here are a few tips on buying an alarm for your motorhome.

Don’t choose an overly complicated alarm.
Ask for a demonstration of the alarm, you want to know that it is easy to arm and disarm, some are fiddly, especially to get into sleep mode.

Remote Notification

If your budget runs to it; look for an alarm that will communicate with your phone and let you know when it is triggered. Preferably with a map showing precisely where it is and better still if you can have it alert more than one phone.

No really loud chirps.
Choose a motorhome alarm system that flashes to indicate it is working, rather than one which loudly beeps or buzzes as this noise can make you pretty unpopular on a campsite.

Insist on interior sirens.
These are so much more important than external, (though you will want external as well) A loud internal siren is incapacitating and burglars will not stay long in a van with these screaming; leaving well hidden items undisturbed. Internal sirens need to be very loud to be effective which means it's important that the internal sirens can be isolated for times when we leave pets in the van.

Choose an alarm that lets people know it is alarmed.
The biggest value that an alarm gives is one of deterrent. Warning stickers are good but in-your-face warning LED’s are better. So many alarms designed for cars which are sold to motorhomers; are not equipped with external warning LEDS, Of course internal ‘warning-I-am-alarmed’ are great in a car, flashing away on the dashboard, but in a motorhome, as soon as curtains and screens are in place burglars cannot see the vehicle is alarmed. You cannot have too many external lights. These should leave a burglar in no doubt that your vehicle is alarmed. This will push crooks toward softer targets. However you should ask for the ability to turn bright LED's off or down so when on site or at home you are not annoying near neighbours.

Lockers need to be secured.
Lockers are an easy way into many motorhomes and should always be secured and alarmed. The best alarms also have alarm extension loops so you can easily secure exterior items such as bikes or trailers, bringing them under the protection of your alarm system. These loops are handy on site too as you can quickly loop all exterior items such as bikes chairs and BBQs and have them alarmed over night.

Sleep mode.
You need to specify a sleep mode. This should be easily and positively activated; if it is not then you will not use it. You should always sleep with this sleep mode activated, whether on site or not. We get used to noise from outside, especially when parked up on motorway service areas or busy sites, this makes us sleep pretty soundly and this is one of the reasons we are more vulnerable to theft when we are asleep that we might imagine. The sleep mode should activate your perimeter to include doors and lockers.

Panic Button
Good alarms have a panic button mode. Activate it and all the sirens sound. There are a number of scenarios where a panic button is a good idea. Especially when incorporated with a pager/phone system that lets others know you’re in trouble.

Last but not least.
Alarms have mechanical as well as electrical components and they involve a lot wire runs all over your motorhome. While a good alarm should last as long as a motorhome, it may well require servicing from time to time. So satisfy yourself, as much as you can, that the dealer you buy from is going to be around for a while and is professional enough to make detailed notes and photographs of your particular installation so should something go wrong in even years from now, they know exactly where to go to put it right.

If you can tick all those boxes you'll have a good alarm and in my experience it will probably be a Strikeback. (y)
Another one (important to some) is to make certain that internal movement sensors can be easily turned off if you intend to leave pets in the van. Mine requires a code to be entered every time I set the alarm and is a PITA.
 

dave newell

Free Member
Oct 31, 2008
3,262
4,369
Telford, Shropshire
Funster No
4,733
MH
Home converted PVC
Exp
26yrs
Just to clarify a point, Motorguard are a company that sells and installs alarms along with a number of other products. Autowatch is a company that makes and sells alarm systems. your dealer is simply using Motorguard as a 3rd party to supply and fit an Autowatch alarm system. I know of both companies but have no personal experience of either, you do have the option to take the vehicle from the dealer without an alarm and have someone else fit one that meets your needs, possibly better than using a company that your dealer uses to install someone else's alarm system.

D.
 
R

Robert Clark

Deleted User
Thanks Jim

I'll put the questions to the guy from Motorguard.
Being a MH dealer he may not give you a full, unbiased or truthful answer.

@eddievanbitz is a Motorhome security expert - and it's widely acknowledged that Growler is by far the best MH security system on the market.
Plus - if you become a paid up member of MH Fun, you get 10% discount too.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Xabia

Free Member
Jan 20, 2011
1,186
821
Rural Nottinghamshire and Spain
Funster No
15,031
MH
A Class
Exp
Since 1996
You spend a considerable amount of money on a motorhome - don't skimp on a proper alarm and go to Vanbitz- they know what they are doing and you will have the best protection possible.

No connection with them, just a very satisfied customer.
 

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