Trackers - who uses these and pays a fee each year (or one off)?

[LittleGreyCat]

We are about to buy a Motor Home fitted with a Phantom Sentinel Alarm and Tracker.

The alarm is good, and will qualify us for insurance with e.g. Comfort.
The tracker will require an annual subscription of about £150.
[There should be a lifetime option but the Phantom website is being coy about prices.]

Do people here use trackers?
If so, have they had good value, for example using the tracker to retrieve a stolen van?

 

[emjaiuk]

I have a Transit based Hymer, having a tracker is a condition of insurance with Comfort

 

[Wannabee]

Some insurers insist on a tracker and subscription. Mine didn't (Comfort) but then if out of courtesy and your duty of care to inform modifications they record that you've got one fitted, in my case they made it a condition for future renewals. Without reducing the premium of course. Why do insurers get a bad name I wonder?

Some vans e.g. Bailey, have a tracker built in. I'd question how effective that is given thieves are likely to work out how to bypass it given its a standardised installation.

I suppose assuming you're not compelled by your insurer it's personal choice whether the peace of mind is worth the expense. Whether you store it away from home might also have a bearing.

 

[funflair]

We have the same system and took out the lifetime subscription which was £500 at the time, talk to Phantom and I am sure they will sort it out for you.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I buy the £12 a year ones. They use an app or will text you the Google Maps co-ordinates.
The app licence lasts a year so you have to buy a new tracker yearly, incidentally that's why they get bad reviews when they stop working and people think they've been ripped off

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[G7UXG]

Some vans e.g. Bailey, have a tracker built in. I'd question how effective that is given thieves are likely to work out how to bypass it given its a standardised installation.

The professional thieves will probably know how to bypass any of the tracker systems, regardless of who fitted it. I doubt that everyone who goes on an installation course is as honest as the genuine installers.

That said, we have a tracker and paid the lifetime subscription when it was fitted.

 

[kelv]

I have a phantom tracker and have paid £399 for a lifetime subscription or as long as I own the vehicle

 

[Richard n Ann]

The professional thieves will probably know how to bypass any of the tracker systems, regardless of who fitted it. I doubt that everyone who goes on an installation course is as honest as the genuine installers.

That said, we have a tracker and paid the lifetime subscription when it was fitted.

I made a timer and ours powers down when the engine has been off 20 minutes so it can't be found with a detector, also saves data and battery drain... Disadvantage with that of course if they tow the van off it will never come on

Edit: when it powers off the location stays on the app

 

[Coolcats]

probably best to do everything to deter the thief, Vanbits alarm, a Tracker (VHF,GPRS) wheel lock, stop lock, OBD lock internal and external camera. any posts you can install if your parked at home etc.

If a thief really wants it they will take it but its about making yours more problematic than the next one down the road.

 

[Two on Tour]

As well as a standard type tracker, I have also fitted an "asset" tracker which fires up for a fraction of a second to ping its position and then switches off for 3 hours not sending a trackable signal during that time. If my van leaves the geofenced area in that 3 hour period, then a text sent by me will have it track its position every 10 minutes, again firing up for a fraction of a second to ping its position and then switches off.

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[Spriddler]

I don't give myself gas worrying if it will be stolen.
It's insured and it and everything inside it can be replaced.
If it's stolen when I'm away it just adds to the adventure - and another tale to tell.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I don't give myself gas worrying if it will be stolen.
It's insured and it and everything inside it can be replaced.

It's good to have a few sacrificial vans dotted about, keeps them off ours.. I thank you

 

[Spriddler]

It's good to have a few sacrificial vans dotted about, keeps them off ours.. I thank you

O.K. so far, but I do have a sticker............

 

[Richard n Ann]

O.K. so far, but I do have a sticker............

View attachment 618431

I used to have a "no tools left in this vehicle" sticker.
Inside the van I had a Van vault with a sticker on it I made saying "There's no tools in here either"

 

[Trevor Wbm]

I've fitted a Vodafone Curve with a permanent 12v supply. £15 to buy and £3 a month at the moment.

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[Wannabee]

I tried one of those prior to the tracker and ditched it as one of the most dysfunctional things I've ever owned. Sent back for a refund and that was difficult. Not Vodafone's finest hour.

 

[bobnick]

We are about to buy a Motor Home fitted with a Phantom Sentinel Alarm and Tracker.

The alarm is good, and will qualify us for insurance with e.g. Comfort.
The tracker will require an annual subscription of about £150.
[There should be a lifetime option but the Phantom website is being coy about prices.]

Do people here use trackers?
If so, have they had good value, for example using the tracker to retrieve a stolen van?

Phantom Sentinal.
I had one fitted a few weeks ago with a lifetime subscription of £499.
I may add it's been brilliant so far.

 

[bobnick]

I have a phantom tracker and have paid £399 for a lifetime subscription or as long as I own the vehicle

It's now £499

 

[bobnick]

Some insurers insist on a tracker and subscription. Mine didn't (Comfort) but then if out of courtesy and your duty of care to inform modifications they record that you've got one fitted, in my case they made it a condition for future renewals. Without reducing the premium of course. Why do insurers get a bad name I wonder?

Some vans e.g. Bailey, have a tracker built in. I'd question how effective that is given thieves are likely to work out how to bypass it given its a standardised installation.

I suppose assuming you're not compelled by your insurer it's personal choice whether the peace of mind is worth the expense. Whether you store it away from home might also have a bearing.

Not aware my new Bailey has a tracker fitted as standard.?

 

[Spriddler]

If the posts on here are true some motorhomes could be tracked down with just a forked branch.

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[RedFrame]

O.K. so far, but I do have a sticker............

View attachment 618431

In March 2020, for my own safety, I had to apply a notice to the back of my home delivery van, it read "No bum wipe carried on this vehicle"

Cheers
Red.

 

[kelv]

It's now £499

Still good value if you intend to keep the vehicle for a few years and I am also very happy with the service.

 

[G-RMPS]

A clock velcro'd to the wall fell off last week when the motorhome was in the compound where it is kept. The Vodafone tracker activated and I got an alarm text.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Thanks for all the comments so far.

Nobody has said "I had my MH nicked but got it back because of the tracker."!

How do you know you have had good service if you've never had to use it in anger?

 

[SheikhLala]

Phantom Sentinal.
I had one fitted a few weeks ago with a lifetime subscription of £499.
I may add it's been brilliant so far.

Exactly what we had fitted.
I look at it, that if its going to get stolen then it is but if I can reduce the amount of wriggle room the insurance company have, then the equivalent of a new handbag for the wife is a sacrifice she is willing to make

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[TOAD on Tour]

I have a Transit based Hymer, having a tracker is a condition of insurance with Comfort

Yep, have a global telematics tracker. Requirement with Comfort Insurance.

 

[bobnick]

Still good value if you intend to keep the vehicle for a few years and I am also very happy with the service.

Agree. When we are finished with this van we are finished with MHing.

 

[dosser]

Never had it used in anger but I'm insured through Comfort and they accepted the Metatrak that was fitted by the previous owner on our last A Class and the Outsmart The Thief on our new to us pvc Adria again fitted by the previous owner. Yes I paid the sub but for peace of mind and for insurance cover I accept that I'll pay it.
Just another thing to hopefully keep it safe but again if someone really wants it they'll have it. At least it will be covered by the insurance if they do.

 

[Basa]

We are about to buy a Motor Home fitted with a Phantom Sentinel Alarm and Tracker.

The alarm is good, and will qualify us for insurance with e.g. Comfort.
The tracker will require an annual subscription of about £150.
[There should be a lifetime option but the Phantom website is being coy about prices.]

Do people here use trackers?
If so, have they had good value, for example using the tracker to retrieve a stolen van?

I bought a Scorpion S7-ALS Tracker direct from the manufacturer for £599 and as part of the deal they gave me lifetime subscription and warranty.

 

[Basa]

I bought a Scorpion S7-ALS Tracker direct from the manufacturer for £599 and as part of the deal they gave me lifetime subscription and warranty.

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