New member enquiry

We are due to collect our first motorhome, a 2013 Broadway EB, in a fortnight and we want to have an alarm fitted. Can any member offer us advice on the following:
• What make to opt for?
• Is it best fitted by the dealer – Marquis in this case, or should we look for a specialist fitter?
• Can anyone recommend a company in or near to Surrey?
Any advice will be much appreciated

Joe Janssis

Does your insurance company give a discount for alarm, if so it will probably have to be Thatcham 1 approved (they should be able to give you a list of approved makes that qualify for discount). This may limit your choice. If the insurance company doesn't give discount, then it really doesn't matter as long as it does the job. Dependent on the value of your motorhome, some insurance companies insist on a tracker being fitted. So first speak to your insurance company. Then research the various makes.

Hi there
Most insurance companies for vehicle values over a certain amount (usually £30K, sometimes £40K) insist on a Thatcham 1 category alarm. This usually is achieved by upgrading the security fitted by the manufacturer (i.e the immobiliser) by fitting protection to the habitation area using ultrasonic sensors and a sensor to protect the caravan door.

A new Broadway being around the £50K mark will certainly need this upgrade and as Paul says some may insist on a tracker.

The problem is you won't be able to insure your motorhome until you have sent your insurance company the alarm certificate. So unless you get a mobile company to go to the dealers, you will be stuck with the dealer option. What annoys me about dealers is they know this when you sign on the dotted line, but most don't advise until after the sale when you find out from your potential insurance company. On a £50K motorhome they should throw it in during £s discussions (something to remember for your next van)

Despite living in Surrey for many years I don't know of any companies who fit alarms.

Enjoy you new van

Regards
John

Whilst my insurance company offered a discount for having Cat 1 alarm fitted, they were happy for me to have it fitted within 2 weeks of purchase. I had a Strikeback system fitted which has caused no problems in the last four years, so don't feel pressured in the having a dealer fitted system. As has been previously suggested check what security requirements your insurance company requires.

hoopman wrote:
Most insurance companies for vehicle values over a certain amount (usually £30K, sometimes £40K) insist on a Thatcham 1 category alarm.

I think this must vary a lot from company to company and is probably heavily dependent on where you live. My van has a value over £40k, but when I asked my insurer (Caravan Club) if I could get a discount by adding a Thatcham Class 1 alarm, the answer was "no", and they did not insist on any alarm at all. Even a tracker from their approved list only got a discount of 7 or 8%.

Many thanks, some useful comments to take on board. Interestingly, Saga quoted and made no mention of an alarm, Safeguard made no response either way when I said I was intended to have one fitted. However, I take on board the comment regarding the possible requirement for it to be fitted prior to the insurance becoming effective - I will check this out.

Joe Janssis

When I bought my Hymer in 2001 I had Endeavour in Epsom fit an alarm. Chris fitted a Cobra Cat1 (not Cat 2 to Cat 1 upgrade) so I finished with double immobiliser. Details are 01372 276076, 07976 814032, 88 Rosebery Road, Langley Vale, Epsom Downs, KT18 6AA. He did the job at my home for half what Brownhills wanted. I was very happy with his neat installation except that he insisted on fitting mechanical switches rather than magnetic for doors and lockers. The habitation door one caused cosmetic damage to the draught seal over 10 years. He consulted me about switch positions and cable runs. He fitted ultrasonics in cab plus an HF type detector in rear. When we had problems with being unable to deactivate it he came back to fit an isolating switch and LED (to remind us) FOC. Problem was that Cobra had changed firmware so that HF detector did not deactivate with ultrasonics without telling installers or noting user manual! I would have used him again but had already asked Marquis to fit. (oh he even stuck Selca warning stickers, instead of Cobra, on the cab windows to mislead any villains!

On my Lancashire, Marquis' agent (TPS?) fitted a Cobra Cat2 to Cat1 upgrade. There is just one problem with that. Peugeot only supply one remote with the van plus one ordinary key. Additional remote costs about £200! Peugeot remote has 3 buttons unlock front doors, lock all and unlock habitation door. Alarm is wired so that it sets or unsets accordingly. On Lock (one syllable) flashers blink once, on unlock (2 syllables) they blink twice, if there has been an alarm you get 4 flashes plus beeps. The Cobra alarm fob will lock everything and will only unlock the front doors but not the habitation door, though this can be done with switch on driver's door once inside. Also, although the flashers will blink 4 times and beep if there has been an alarm there are NO FLASHES FOR lock or unlock. Apparently this is because the Cobra wants to flash twice for lock and once for unlock so the CANBUS would get confused!

Do specify exactly which external hatches are to be alarmed. They got it wrong on my Lancashire, alarming the gas locker instead of the wet locker! They did add the extra one though.

Hope this helps