Motorhome Alarms (1 Viewer)

[ceejayt]

Having a Growler fitted in a couple of weeks to our new vehicle plus tracker immobiliser. Had VanBitz strike back last time and wouldn't have been able to get insurance without it.

Great system!!

 

[eddie]

I think a lot of time they don't, our garage alarm was blasting away earlier in the week at just after 3am due to internal PIR being tripped. This is very loud but not a light bulb on anywhere in the street. they all must be sound sleepers as it woke me and the house is not even attached to the garage. Same went for the house alarm when i cut through the wires accidentally of course. No one came round to see if we were being burglered, i think most of the time people just accept they always go off. Our street is also neighbour hood watch as well lol

I prefer to have them though regardless as it is a detterrent and may just be enough to make them move to the next house/garage/van etc

PIR's are unreliable which is why Strikeback and Growler don't use them.

Why didn't the system telephone you and alert you?

 

[weebill]

Another thumbs up for the Growler and GSM immobiliser. Had ours fitted in July and the installation is of the highest standard.

Bill.

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[zac]

PIR's are unreliable which is why Strikeback and Growler don't use them.

Why didn't the system telephone you and alert you?

It did but the phone was on silent and i left it in the office, it was the actual siren that woke me up. All the alarms i have call me but of course this only work's if you have the phone on you.

 

[Big Nick]

How much extra is the bit that sends you a text of does the Growler do that from standard?

 

[GAVLAD]

One thing that has changed on our new Growler is that the previous red LED's have been changed to blue and they are MUCH brighter.
That is great in daylight as they show up more than the old, dimmer red ones did but at night they are VERY bright.
So bright that when we first brought the van home my next door neighbour, a retired very senior police officer, thought that an over officious copper could nick us for imitating a police vehicle.
Also, when parked on an aire and close to the next van the light by the hab door is likely to light up next doors bedroom unless their screens are tightly shut.
This year I have taken to covering the side LED with a bit of duct tape so as not to annoy neighbours on aires.

They could do with a dimmer to reduce the brightness at night but I guess that would add complication and price.

Richard.

I had a growler fitted in July.
We've been well talked about on sites since.
Usually from caravanner's moaning aloud so that we can overhear their comments that the flashing LED's kept them awake all night.

I love it.
I'm waiting for someone to actually tell me to my face rather than loudly behind my back, - just so that I can tell them to go buy some thicker curtains!

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[DavidG58]

I had a growler fitted in July.
We've been well talked about on sites since.
Usually from caravanner's moaning aloud so that we can overhear their comments that the flashing LED's kept them awake all night.

I love it.
I'm waiting for someone to actually tell me to my face rather than loudly behind my back, - just so that I can tell them to go buy some thicker curtains!

slightly selfish IMO. we have been parked next to MH's fitted with these alarms on rallies, not really sure why they needed to set them in those environments, but the blue flashing lights were damned annoying right outside our windows

glad to see there is now a dimming option, can't just be me doesn't like them so bright

 

[Robert Clark]

slightly selfish IMO. we have been parked next to MH's fitted with these alarms on rallies, not really sure why they needed to set them in those environments, but the blue flashing lights were damned annoying right outside our windows

glad to see there is now a dimming option, can't just be me doesn't like them so bright

I was shocked when I heard about thefts at some recent rallies - that's very selfish too
It's not unreasonable to take steps to protect yourself and your belongings

 

[DavidG58]

I was shocked when I heard about thefts at some recent rallies - that's very selfish too
It's not unreasonable to take steps to protect yourself and your belongings

I missed that thread, and totally agree with you, but you can't have been parked next to the equivalent of a police motorway patrol car on full alert, all night long

I am not anti Vanbitz, and am currently uninsured for theft as I haven't got an alarm, so will probably be talking to him soon, but the blue lights on the undimmable, or those that don't know they can dim them, are a bit much (IMO of course). It seems like others might agree, concerned neighbours for instance , but also sounds like it has been addressed

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[GAVLAD]

slightly selfish IMO. we have been parked next to MH's fitted with these alarms on rallies, not really sure why they needed to set them in those environments, but the blue flashing lights were damned annoying right outside our windows

glad to see there is now a dimming option, can't just be me doesn't like them so bright

You'll be pleased to know that I declined the offer of a dimming option. Brighter the better.
I'm thinking of fitting flashing beacons and a siren on the roof next, wired up to the toilet flush.
Unfortunately, not everyone respects others property & possessions like you'd like to believe and it's usually not your rally members but passers by who are the opportunists. Being slightly selfish that I'm accused of, IMO, Maybe you shouldn't park so close if something like that annoys you.

 

[Robert Clark]

I missed that thread, and totally agree with you, but you can't have been parked next to the equivalent of a police motorway patrol car on full alert, all night long

I am not anti Vanbitz, and am currently uninsured for theft as I haven't got an alarm, so will probably be talking to him soon, but the blue lights on the undimmable, or those that don't know they can dim them, are a bit much (IMO of course). It seems like others might agree, concerned neighbours for instance , but also sounds like it has been addressed

We were parked for the night in an Aire in a large town in France this week. We were the only van there, and the Aire was alongside a riverside cycle track. It was dark and we were preparing for bed. The blinds were drawn and from the outside of the van, nobody would have known if we were in or out.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door....
Being as it was so late, I certainly wasn't going to open the door and take a look outside. Maybe it was just kids mucking about, maybe it's was more sinister.
I'm sure that if we'd had flashing lights on the outside of the van, that kids or criminals would have thought twice before approaching,
Like you I've been parked next to vans who had an alarm system and felt their flashing lights were unsociable - however I'd rather deter criminals given the choice

 

[DavidG58]

@Robert Clark , I think we are in general agreement here, but I reckon you need a dog

I wouldn't have been keen to open up either, but it was probably the local mayor inviting you to park closer to his house for safety

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[Big Nick]

Not sure why anyone would take pleasure in annoying or causing nuisance to someone else but hey it takes all types to make a world.....sadly

 

[DavidG58]

You'll be pleased to know that I declined the offer of a dimming option. Brighter the better.
I'm thinking of fitting flashing beacons and a siren on the roof next, wired up to the toilet flush.
Unfortunately, not everyone respects others property & possessions like you'd like to believe and it's usually not your rally members but passers by who are the opportunists. Being slightly selfish that I'm accused of, IMO, Maybe you shouldn't park so close if something like that annoys you.

I now retract the 'slightly' bit and hope that I am not placed near you at a rally

 

[GAVLAD]

I now retract the 'slightly' bit and hope that I am not placed near you at a rally

I hope you're not too

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[9526]

Our alarm has a blue led on the dashboard, we crack open the side blinds just enough to ensure anyone interested in robbing us can see that we have an alarm.

I doubt it is powerful enough to shine through neighbours blinds though.

It doesn't keep us awake either as we tend to sleep with our eyes shut.

 

[eddie]

Our alarm has a blue led on the dashboard, we crack open the side blinds just enough to ensure anyone interested in robbing us can see that we have an alarm.

I doubt it is powerful enough to shine through neighbours blinds though.

It doesn't keep us awake either as we tend to sleep with our eyes shut.

Do you have anything outside?

 

[gus-lopez]

You'll be pleased to know that I declined the offer of a dimming option. Brighter the better.
I'm thinking of fitting flashing beacons and a siren on the roof next, wired up to the toilet flush.
Unfortunately, not everyone respects others property & possessions like you'd like to believe and it's usually not your rally members but passers by who are the opportunists. Being slightly selfish that I'm accused of, IMO, Maybe you shouldn't park so close if something like that annoys you.

Until you get somewhere that they aren't legal & told to turn it off ?
Yes those blue lights are extremely bright. My tv in the hall has one when on standby & there is no need to turn lights on at night to see what you are doing.

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[Jim]

Until you get somewhere that they aren't legal & told to turn it off ?

If you are somewhere policed so heavily that you are told to turn an alarm LED off; then I think You probably don't need to lock the doors.

Biggest issue is that Nowadays alarms going off tend to be ignored by the Public / other campers.

I would only fit an alarm if its an insurance company stipulation...most take no notice of alarms sounding. Does not deter smash and grab thieves.

Pretty Much my Point over the public ignoring alarms, Including me!. Y

Your immobiliser or tracker takes care of theft, your alarm is not really for that.

Yes, "Alarms are generally ignored by the public" This has always been a complaint against alarms, but it's not valid in the case of the Motorhome Alarm. They are not installed to alert the public. (especially these days, when everyone is scared of their own shadow and walks-on-by any sort of conflict) Alarms in motorhomes are installed to deter thieves, those who don't want to get caught (the vast majority).

Ask on the forums who has been robbed while they slept, I've been around motorhome forums a while and I know quite a few, ask how many of those robbed had alarms, I know none. High-profile alarms deter the vast majority of criminals, fact.

All well and good, but there are some determined/desperate/stupid scrotes who know that an alarm won't likely lead to their arrest (because mostly no one responds to them) This is where the loud internal alarm comes in to play, The noise really is so disorientating/debilitating; couple this with the adrenalin a thief has and he will not be in the van for more than a few seconds, more of a smash and grab than a full search of your van losing everything.

Much like that annoying building alarm is ignored by the public. Someone stealing your van, putting it on a low loader with the alarm screaming, no one will care. However motorhome alarms have a higher purpose. To summarise the benefits.

• A thief looking at your van in the night, LED's flashing, obviously alarmed, most will be deterred and softer targets chosen.
• People with properly installed and set alarms never get robbed in their sleep, at worst they are woken by the alarm.
• If all else fails; Very loud Internal Sirens will limit loss.

 

[Chris]

Does the Growler stop you getting gassed?

 

[Jim]

Does the Growler stop you getting gassed?

We don't worry about it when were on holiday

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[Judge Mental]

I have flashing led fitted outside the blind..cost less then a tenner. Also window and cab door alarms less then £50

Still don't think any of this stuff puts of junky scumbags and the like as they well know a motorhome will be full of goodies (unless a safe fitted)

The most reliable alarm system I ever had was a commercial Autowatch system. They now do specific models for motorhomes cost should be about £400 maybe a bit more with extras. For approved fitters in your area look on Thatcham web site.

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[Chris]

I hang a few of these around the outside of the van

Not been gassed yet.

Amazon product ASIN B00KBUDXYO

 

[mentaliss]

My take. I would only fit an alarm if its an insurance company stipulation...most take no notice of alarms sounding. Does not deter smash and grab thieves. Fit a safe and secondary dead locking.... + dummy flashing led's

I second that.................

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[eddie]

Does the Growler stop you getting gassed?

It must do, as no one that has had Growler fitted has reported that they have been gassed lol

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

The gassing which occurs in our Growler equipped van is either self inflicted or courtesy of the bloody dogs!

 

[eddie]

The most reliable alarm system I ever had was a Autowatch system. They now do specific models for motorhomes cost should be about £400 maybe a bit more with extras. For approved fitters in your area look on Thatcham web site.

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We offer a comparison chart to enable our systems to be compared on a like for like basis. Unfortunately what cannot be compared is our 26 years experience specialising in Motorhome security. Not cars, not horse boxes, not fork lifts, not lorries or not even buses! Our bespoke systems, are tailored individually for each Motorhome, by our staff, that only ever work on Motorhomes.

£400 plus more for extras, from a jack of all trades installer, isn't so far away from a £599 specialist installation. One poster earlier, said he missed the protection of the accessory protection loop, which is standard on Strikeback to allow you to export the alarm out from the motorhome to protect such things as bikes on a rack, and trailers for example. Another poster wrote that he has to remember to leave his blinds ajar to ensure that a potential thief can see the Motorhome is alarmed! Again, standard in the £599 price are TWO LED's Ine internal, one external. Automotive grade raised resin decals for the locks warning that the door is alarmed, five language window stickers stating that this Motorhome is alarmed, We even have a tilt sensor on the bonnet as standard.

So if, you can find an installer that can provide these types of things, how much extra to the Four hundred odd quid would they cost? And you still haven't got the lifetime warranty on the control unit, or a
specialist installation.

Hence why we have a comparison chart. Sadly the people selling alarms often cannot answer half the questions that potential customers ask them, which is the real indication of the depth of knowledge and experience that they have!

Personally? Me? Broke into a locked alarmed Motorhome for MMM in 1999 had it hotwired and ready to drive in under twenty seconds.

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[Big Nick]

Only thing in the way of an alarm from Vanbitz for me is the 600 mile round trip!

We'll probably go to Cornwall/Dorset next year in the MH so it'll have to wait till then

Strikeback or Growler though......

 

[eddie]

Don't forget you exclusive Motorhome Fun discount of 10% making Strikback only £549 for Funsters

 

[Robert Clark]

Don't forget you exclusive Motorhome Fun discount of 10% making Strikback only £549 for Funsters

Don't forget the FREE night at Cornish Farm too, for those who can't make it there and back in a day.
Just like a little holiday - you go home with an empty wallet !

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