Suggested Alarms for Nuevo EK

Has anybody got any recommendations for suitable alarms and also for fitters please?

Depends how much you want to spend Ellie.

The Strikeback or Growler systems from VanBitz are reckoned by most people to be the best there is, largely because it has been developed specifically for motorhomes rather than just adapted from a car alarm.

Not cheap though, but Growler is guaranteed for life, and VanBitz is one of the most reputable companies you will find anywhere. You won't get much change from £1000, but if it saves getting your lovely new van pinched it's going to be worth it.
http://www.vanbitz.com/growler-reviews/

http://www.vanbitz.com/wp-content/uploads/Growler.pdf

VanBitz will be at the NEC Show if you are going, and they will have all the information at their display van.

One of the most useful features we like is the "Night mode", whereby all the external doors are still alarmed but the internal sensor is disabled. On a French Aire where you may be slightly concerned, this is a great reassurance. Believe me, if the alarm went off it's not only you who would be instantly wide awake. The lights would come on in every house within half a mile!! 

We have a Sigma S30 fitted to our Nuevo not had our motorhome long but it seams to work well.

http://www.scorpionauto.com/home/products/S30

Ellie-mae wrote:Has anybody got any recommendations for suitable alarms and also for fitters please?

We had a dedicated motorhome alarm fitted by our dealer from Outsmart . Works well on our FIAT Kingham. And, if you shop around you should find some fitters will do it cheaper. One of the reasons it was chosen was that our insurance demanded a cat 1 device on the van because of its value [almost £60,000] but we all know that it will not stop a determined thief from taking it away.

Mine has a Sigma which was on it from new.

I would also recommend a VanBitz Strikeback or Growler. Had one on our previous van for 16 years with no problems, worked once in anger when someone broke into the side locker and they fled empty handed as soon as the alarm went off. If you have the "Devil's Wail" internal alarm fitted as well, no one would stop inside the van for long!

Our new van had a Autowatch alarm fitted when we got it last year, when we walked into it on the at the Dealers an alarm went off, didn't realise we had set it off as it was not very loud inside. When it is set there is very little indication that it is on just a blue light beside the steering wheel, not visible when all the blinds are closed.

Not been happy with it so we will be at VanBitz next month for one of their alarms to be fitted. For the following reasons, the main threat is a break in and the resulting damage, even if there is nothing left in the van it is target. So make it obvious that it is protected, they fit a dashboard LED and up to 3 external LEDs front back and near the habitation door as well as decals near the habitation door and protected lockers. If that doesn't send them off to another target, the alarms are extremely loud and painful to the ears, the growler comes with extra alarm at the rear of the vehicle and internal alarms (can be switched off for sleeping in or leaving pets in) you would to be very determined thief to put with it.

As Dave said they are expensive but compare it to the cost of the van or the cost and hassle of a break in and damage, I think it is worth it.

Mike

We also had a strikeback alarm fitted with the devils wail soon after we bought the Nuevo from new. They also fitted the bike loop and an extra flashing warning light. I have been tempted to be in the van and set off the devils wail to see how long anyone could stand it, but thought better of it. The bike loop may also be useful for securing other items other than bikes.

Don't do it, I have in error, it is not an experience I would want to repeat!! I was always very careful after that to check it was off when leaving the dogs in the van, and the internal movement detectors.

Mike

Mike187 wrote:Don't do it, I have in error, it is not an experience I would want to repeat!! I was always very careful after that to check it was off when leaving the dogs in the van, and the internal movement detectors.
Mike

Yes indeed Mike. Once was enough.

I seriously wonder if a thief would steal a van with the Devil's Wail going off. He would have to find a way of driving with his fingers in his ears - and I'm not really joking either. He certainly wouldn't stay long inside to pillage your contents!!

It hurts - as it is designed to do!!!

There is a dashboard switch to turn off the internal sirens however. The external ones are pretty loud, but nothing like as terrifying as the whole lot going at once! The latest Growlers have blue warning lights which can be switched between "bright" and "lighthouse" mode. The latter is very handy when on a French Aire for example, but if there are tenters nearby on a campsite they will be knocking on your door to complain.

Hi,
We have two alarms on our Nuevo! The original Peugeot one, which has a immobiliser, and a tilt sensor ( forgot about it until I jacked up the van to change a tyre!) and goes off if the vehicle battery gets low as well.  Also it has a Sigma alarm fitted, very loud!, only arm that if the van is "offsite". 
I fitted a "AutoMatrics" tracker recently, I highly recommend this, it is armed by movement. The post man has "bumped" our van, I got a txt from AutoMatrics, I knocked the van moving stuff passed it, got a txt. It has to be reset by AM so can't be switched off by "undesirables", the sensitivity is adjusted by AM after a few "test" triggers. It has given us a lot of confidence when we leave the van anywhere, knowing we have a silent guardian. You get a txt when the alarm is triggered, you txt back to reset it, or tell AM to start tracking your van.  We have a remote to disarm the tracker when we are in it, Great!
Check out the AutoMatrics web site for more details.
                                                                            Mike.

Having read quite a lot about alarms and one stated that you had to deactivate it by sending a message from your phone.
So a simple question does this mean that if there is no phone signal you cannot use the alarm 
David

Hello all, I had a Cobra Cat 2/1 Thatcham approved alarm fitted to our Nuevo when we bought it in 2015. Cost around £490, including sensors for rear door and locker. Touch wood no problems as yet......the siren is very loud, proved by entering the van after forgetting the alarm was activated. As long as we use the fob key which activates the central locking we are okay and don’t wake the neighbours! Good alarm/ reflected in discounted Insurance Premium, along with the Hal Locate Tracker, I think we are covered as well as we can be.........hopefully! Chris.

Sorry all.......forgot to say the alarm was fitted by TSN Automotive, and the mobile fitter came out to us.......did a good job in around 4 hours. If anyone wants details of the company if you contact me I can supply. Chris.

Heanorboy wrote:Having read quite a lot about alarms and one stated that you had to deactivate it by sending a message from your phone.
So a simple question does this mean that if there is no phone signal you cannot use the alarm 
David

David, 

I don't know if your reference was to a recent comment that I made regarding my MetaTrak requiring a text message to arm and disarm it, but if so, it relates to a non start and tracking system that is fitted in addition to my alarm.

My alarm is armed/disarmed by its own fob and totally separate from the remote immobiliser app.

In partial answer to your question, if there's no phone signal, the MetaTrak won't receive commands.

Ken.

Kingham wrote:In partial answer to your question, if there's no phone signal, the MetaTrak won't receive commands.

I was about to pm you with that question. I won't be getting one of them then.

dbroada wrote:

Kingham wrote:In partial answer to your question, if there's no phone signal, the MetaTrak won't receive commands.

I was about to pm you with that question. I won't be getting one of them then.

Always your call, but that single function isn't the only benefit of the system.

After a lot of thought, I went ahead on my understanding that most vehicle theft is urban centric, therefore my van is at greatest risk of theft, where phone signal coverage tends to be better and MetaTrak has that covered.

The only places so far, where I have completely lost coverage, has been deep in Scottish valleys, which means I can't set the MetaTrack remote immobiliser, however the OEM immobiliser and the alarm have to be overcome. The chances of an organised professional thief trawling remote Scottish valleys is so low, I barely consider it an option, as there's not enough money in it for them !

On top of that, if I discover that my van has been stolen, once I am back in phone signal coverage, I can send a command to immobilise my engine after the event (next time the engine is switched off) and can accurately monitor the location of my van, so for my needs, it is worth having.

Thank you Ken a lot clearer now
David

Thanks Ken, I don't often carry a phone so its me without a signal.

Since my recent loss I have an put together idea of how the van was possibly taken. If it was as I expect, driven to a local estate it would have spent less than 10 minutes, probably less than 5 being driven. Even knowing where it went would not have helped much as it could have been in the back of a lead lined lorry and back on the road in far less time than we could have reported it to the police.

Again in my case it had the OEM immobiliser and a Cat 1 motion sensor which to the best of my knowledge were both working but were somehow overcome. It could well have been done over a few days rather than all at once, which does suggest your remote location is again safer. I also had a working SIM in the Truma iNet control but the police will only track a mobile in murder or kidnapping levels of naughtiness, not vehicle theft.

But as you say, its an individual call and every little bit of time bought might be the difference to it being removed or not.

Our Automatrics tracker sends a signal to AM HQ when it is activated, they txt you to advise that the alarm (silent) has been activated. If you do not reply, they send a txt to another phone number, or try ringing all the phone numbers given. They will automaticaly start tracking your van until you contact them, by txt or phone. Only AM HQ can to cancel the alarm. To disable the alarm before you enter the van,you have a remote key fob. (the unit also sends a signal to AM HQ when the batteries need charging! very clever.)
As our unit is self contained, (no wires) I fitted the unit myself.
My Wife and myself have different mobile tariffs, so should be able to be contacted most places. Hope this clears up a few points. Mike