Alarms/Immobiliser/wheel clamp

SarahBP

SarahBP

Free Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2019
Posts
10
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3
Location
Staffordshire Moorlands
Funster No
62,125
MH
Ford Zefiro 696
Exp
I'm a newbie
We've just bought a Roller team Zefiro 696 and shall be collecting in 2-3 weeks- very excited. The van does not come with any of the above. We planned to certainly purchase a wheel clamp and would be interested in folks opinion on the need for all three.
Our van will be parked off road outside our property and we plan to use for regular short trips and an annual 2-3 month trip a year in the UK with a good deal of wild camping

TIA
 
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The 696 comes with a very low payload figure so you'll struggle to stay legal on the longer trips, even if you register it at the higher 3,650kg weight and don't take a 3rd or 4th person.

Have a word with the dealer to see if you can register it at its higher 3,650kg weight, assuming that you have a C1 category on your license.
 
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Blue Knight said:
The 696 comes with a very low payload figure so you'll struggle to stay legal on the longer trips, even if you register it at the higher 3,650kg weight and don't take a 3rd or 4th person.

Have a word with the dealer to see if you can register it at its higher 3,650kg weight, assuming that you have a C1 category on your license.
Click to expand...

We spoke to the dealer about weight and need for C1 and were assured we wouldn't need this.

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The payload figure is 425k (60+ stone) after the driver ,water and gas. We checked on that at the time of buying. We feel that this is more than ample as we are not people to load up with masses of stuff. Thanks for pointing this out though.
 
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You want to load it up with as many deterrents as you can , coz in the end you are only buying time , if they want it , they will have it away . I had a dual axle caravan stolen it had two wheel clamps , hitchlok , and was behind a chained steel 5 bar gate . It had all the windows etched . never seen again .

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If possible concrete a ground anchor into the floor, get a length of high quality chain and a blooming strong padlock. Put the chain through the chassis and ground anchor. Job done. If it costs £300 you’ll save that in your insurance excess if you have to make a claim.
 
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We use one of these. You can easily increase the level of security it provided by inserting the locking cylinder upside down to make drilling it out harder
 
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visual deterrents are good but not normally secure enough, but they do perhaps offer an outward sign that 'this van will be harder to steal' than one without visual deterrents. important to have a decent alarm system as an absolute minimum.
 
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You will certainly have an immobaliser as factory fit. But, we have seen just how easy it is to over ride the Ford system, so an additional system may well be needed. As mentioned above, it would be hard to suggest any other alarm other than a Vanbitz Strikeback or Growler. With this, you add the additional extra of the Non Start. Visual detarants are good, but can be broken relatively easily, but its all about time and noise for a thief. Most of the research about is theft from rather than theft of a motorhome.

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My son recommends Nemisis ultra. He said that he hates them as it can take 5 of his top quality drill bits to get them off when people lose their key.
He is a master locksmith works on safes for the police he lives in Weymouth if you need him
 
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Get a good alarm system with non-starter and tracker (another recommendation for VanBitz - just search on this forum). If you don't, with your Ford-based vehicle, you are going to get hammered by insurance premiums.
 
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We struggled to get insurance cover on our van when new unless it had a cat 1 alarm & active tracker system.
We ended up delaying our collection date by a month, so that we could get it into Vanbitz to fit the Growler Alarm & Meta Tracker, along with twin rear view cameras.
Yes it was another initial outlay, but we feel happy knowing that its got the best alarm system we know of thus far.
Good luck with your new van, have a look at the OBD cover plate, this stops thieves plugging into your van and over riding the immobiliser.
This is one example for a Transit

Ford Transit MK8 2014 Onwards OBD Port / Socket Protection

OBD Protection Device Premier Product: **SOLD SECURE ITEM** Stop Theft! Prevent your OBD port from unauthorised access & Programming. OBD Port Protection is a must in today and fight against van theft. The Garrison Ford Transit - OBD Port protector helps to prevent immobiliser emulator / bypass...
garrisonlocks.co.uk garrisonlocks.co.uk
 
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Van bitz Growler & meta trak, which is the best, which, I had fitted after our motorhome was stolen off my drive with no damage to locks or windows.
I also fitted dead locks after the event. The OBD lock looks good as well.

Enjoy your new toy :))
 
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Congratulations on your new motorhome! All makes can benefit from added security but some useful info. from earlier thread here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/ford-transit-mk7-security.206269/#post-3534679
Good alarm & non starter if it's within your budget but certainly a Gold Sold Secure wheelclamp too - couple of good options here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...amp-£90-delivered-saunderson-security.183736/

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So Van Bitz appears to be the most popular but in Taunton so would like of possible to find someone nearer as this will want doing soonest on pick up. Thanks
 
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Booked into Vanbitz for Strike back and non starter immobiliser fitting on Monday, thanks to advice from funster. Living the dream. Smudger55 ???
 
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SarahBP said:
The payload figure is 425k (60+ stone) after the driver ,water and gas. We checked on that at the time of buying. We feel that this is more than ample as we are not people to load up with masses of stuff. Thanks for pointing this out though.
Click to expand...
Hi and welcome... we pick up our Roller team on the 25th.

With a payload of 425kg I assume your RT has already been up plated? Standard payload on a 3500kg is 345kg for the Ford or 390kg for the fiat. If it has both the drivers pack and thermo pack fitted a further 29kg has to be deducted. If it's just the two of you it'll be fine, try driving an AT Tracker without a trailer... that needs serious head working to stay legal.
Just be wary when you wild camp lugging the extra payload of water around with you and that RT's don't seem to cater for a 2nd leisure battery if you feel you need one.

Good van the 696, loads of space, 5ft wide island bed and separate shower and the Italians put them together very well.
You mention that your van will be off road at your property, if the land is yours have you considered a couple of removable bollards? Personally I think an alarm and tracker are minimum requirements. Thatcham are in the process of changing their categories to certification which could be confusing although 5 minutes on their website will steer you in the direction of their recognised brands.... oh and take your bike rack off too.

Enjoy!
 
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Along with an OBD lock, disc lock, clutch claw, battery isolator.

SarahBP said:
The van does not come with any of the above. We planned to certainly purchase a wheel clamp and would be interested in folks opinion on the need for all three.
Click to expand...
 
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We have a imobiliser
as standard, hubby also used disklock, our neighbour is a police officer said it's the only thing recognised by the police as effective as a deterrent, :unsure:

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Jonno1103 said:
Hi and welcome... we pick up our Roller team on the 25th.

You mention that your van will be off road at your property, if the land is yours have you considered a couple of removable bollards? Personally I think an alarm and tracker are minimum requirements. Thatcham are in the process of changing their categories to certification which could be confusing although 5 minutes on their website will steer you in the direction of their recognised brands.... oh and take your bike rack off too.



Yes we're currently looking at telescopic bollard. The Thatcham alarm is being fitted before we collect by company we met at the motorhome show. Bike racks essential for the bikes we shall have with us but we're weighing everything very carefully.
Any advice on bollards?
Thanks
Sarah
Click to expand...
 
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Hi There and welcome, We bought our very first MH this year and we use 5 visible deterrents, clamps, steering locks etc, we even use them when we are pitched on a site. Next time you’re pitched up and walking back to your van from the shop, take a good look around at everyone else’s and try to make sure that your van looks the hardest one to pinch. Don’t let the payload and ford chassis remarks put you off your new van, spend as much as you can afford on security and more more importantly spend as much time as you can enjoying your van.
 
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