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Hi,
We are picking up our first RV tomorrow and the insurance company has said that we have to fit a Cat 2 immobiliser. While we are at it I intend to have a Cat 1 Alarm fitted. Can anybody recommend a system? I require a system that will let me have it armed while we sleep in the RV as we intend to do mainly wild camping rather than using sites. I have looked at the Van Bitz on the web. It seems ideal but very expensive. Any advice would be helpful.
The following members of MHF thanked patspiercing for this posting
Welcome to the site, obviously you're just on the learning curve where you discover that buying the van is only the start of your expenses!
Firstly, if your vehicle is fairly recent manufacture it probably has a manufacturers immobiliser fitted anyway and if not aftermarket immobilisers are fairly cheap. As for alarms, I agree with you that the Vanbitz one is comprehensive but overpriced. If you're capable you could adapt any car alarm that has an auxiliary circuit by wiring proximity switches into that circuit. You can then fit these switches onto the living area doors and lockers etc. as you wish. This appears to be what Vanbitz do. I'm just about to try this method as soon as the new alarm arrives so I'll let you know how I go on. Some insurers will give you a small discount for a Thatcham alarm but in my experience it's far from generous and doesn't warrant the expense of having one fitted.
Hi
All the insurance companies I had quotes from insisted on a Cat 2 alarm. When I checked with the RV dealer he assured me it had one fitted as standard.
I had to provide the make and model as a condition of the policy not for a discount.
This may be a requirement with all insurance companies when it's an RV.
Mine is a Clifford Arrow fitted by the manufacturer.
Jim
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The following members of MHF thanked ScotJimland for this posting
We had a Cobra (Cat 1) fitted to our 27ft MH covering all lockers (3), house and van doors.
It comes with a separate immobliser to that that comes with the van.
When fully armed there is 2 small black marble type sensors just inside the cab area facing the rear which creates a RF bubble so anything moving inside gets picked up.
But you can turn the bubble off while your in the van and only have the external hatches and doors armed
Cost, about £550
Regards
Hugh
The following members of MHF thanked BERTHA for this posting
Hi patspiercing
Firstly let me say welcome to the site and to the wonderful world of RVing.
We had the same request from our insurers when we recently picked up our Rockwood.
I contacted a company called Audio 4 Less, telephone 0845 644 2797, they quoted me a Cobra 3193 alarm (with immobiliser) for £159.99 fitted. This is not a Cat 1 system but they also sell other, more comprehensive systems as well. We went ahead and arranged the home installation and when the fitter arrived (less than a week after we called) he did a great job and we have the same functionality as Bertha in as much as we can isolate the internal ultra sonic movement sensors and just leave the coach door and immobiliser active when we are inside the RV. I asked the installer about doing the lockers, of which we have plenty, and he said I would need to rebook it for another day and the company would price this also. We haven't done this yet Shhhhh.....
We now comply with our insurance and have piece of mind for a really good price.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Keith
The following members of MHF thanked kands for this posting
I don't have an RV, but I do have a Strikeback (VanBitz).
Wonderful bit of kit in it own right, but overpriced?
I shall not have another, because my personal experience made me feel that VB *tried* to rip me off on the after sales?
Besides, I have since seen other products on the market which are as good, if not better. And certainly a lot less costs wise.
Cheers
Last edited by wilecoyote on Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:25 pm; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________ The Wile. E. Coyote
Jail me please... go on, just the once
The following members of MHF thanked wilecoyote for this posting
My last van came fitted with a Vanbitz alarm. On the whole, they seem a decent company to deal with but when the (battery backed up) siren went AWOL their only real suggestion was to drive to Somerset to get it looked at. Apart from the delay, cost and time this involved I thought this was pretty stupid as I could have been in Spain for six months, rather than Portsmouth.
The alarm was made by Meta, but for a long time I drew a blank on any useful information - they will only supply registered dealers. Of course they try to justify it but it seems like a a gravy train to me. I even tried registering as a dealer but that didn't work. Eventually I found a manual for a later system on Abacus Alarms site and was able to figure out the problem (plug disturbed while working under the dash).
Vanbitz wanted nearly £100 for a new battery-back-up siren if I wanted to try fitting one at my own risk. This struck me as a bit steep as Abacus will sell you a complete Meta system DIY for £119.
My new van will have an alarm fitted by me - at least if it goes wrong, I'll know who to call...
Chris
The following members of MHF thanked haylingchrist for this posting
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