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quoteTracking devices, also known as after theft recovery devices, are becoming ever more popular on UK caravans. In recent years several caravan manufacturers, notably Swift, Bailey, Coachman, Lunar and Elddis have fitted trackers at the point of manufacture to various ranges.
Also in the last 15 years several manufacturers have developed specialised devices for caravans – including the likes of Phantom, Tracker, SmarTrack and Hal Locate.
A tracking device offers the best chance of recovering a stolen caravan quickly!
It’s a much debated subject on whether GPS (using satellites to establish position of a stolen caravan) or VHF (using radio wave based technology to locate a stolen caravan) type tracking devices offer the best level of protection for you caravan. We won’t get into that on this blog, all we’ll say is that Caravan Guard do currently accept devices of both kinds for their touring caravan insurance customers. Check out our tracking page to see which specific devices are acceptable.
What we do want to discuss is whether you need to do anything to ensure your caravan tracking device remains operational. If you currently have a caravan insurance policy on which you have stipulated that a tracking device is fitted, it will likely be a condition of theft cover that you do all you can to keep the tracking device operational – that’s certainly the case for Caravan Guard customers.
So what do you need to consider?
- Check battery levels
- Maintain subscriptions
- Test for location
- Test proactive features
- Useful apps and online tools
Read on for more information on each of these subjects
Battery drain
The first issue we wish to discuss is power drain.
Devices which use GPS technology tend to be wired into a caravan’s electrical system and rely on the caravan’s leisure battery for power. Several well known VHF systems such as Tracker’s Monitor are also wired into the caravan’s electrical system.
When your device enters its last year of battery life, it’s well worth speaking to your tracking device provider as they may offer you a cut price deal on a newer model.
A common feature of some caravan specific tracking devices wired into a caravan’s electrical system is low power consumption (many operating on under 15 milliamps) so that a device can remain powered and operational for long periods via a caravan leisure battery without the need for charging. This is particularly useful when a caravan is kept in storage for long periods.
That said, despite low battery drain, your leisure battery may not keep your tracking device powered if your caravan is left in storage for over three months at a time. Whether it lasts even this long may also depend on the type of tracking device you have installed and the condition of your leisure battery and other electrical devices you may have running even when not in use such as an alarm system.
Note many proactive tracking devices will run in conjunction with an alarm (using an alarm is a great way to trigger an alert your tracking device’s monitoring centre if the caravan has been moved or broken into).
What can I do?
Many devices which rely on your leisure battery for power have a low battery alert feature which will send a warning to you by mobile SMS text. (Note some of these devices may also have a back up battery to provide power to the device for a temporary period after power from the leisure battery has been used up).
Phil Prior, Quality Specialist from Thatcham Research, one of the leading bodies for testing and accrediting Tracking devices states: “With Thatcham certified products (connected to the caravan’s leisure battery) you will get two alerts – the first is for the caravan’s own battery, for when it drops to a point where the tracking system has to switch to its own power. This is followed by a second alert to warn that the system’s own battery is reaching a level where it needs recharging.”
You may also be able to monitor battery levels via a live smartphone app or online tool such as in the case of the Phantom Pro iii device (shown left).
If you know your tracking device is reliant on your leisure battery, and you don’t act to recharge it, ultimately your tracking device will stop working making your caravan vulnerable to theft and potentially nullifying theft cover on your caravan insurance policy if it is discovered your device was not operational at the time of theft (and having an operational device is a condition of cover).
So if you know your tracking device is about to run out of power, it’s time to act and recharge your leisure battery.
Even before periods of winter storage it’s worth carrying out some basic maintenance of your caravan leisure battery to ensure its performance. It’s also worth ensuring you have the necessary equipment to charge your battery when needed.
Subscriptions and airwaves
All the tracking devices Caravan Guard approve are professionally monitored by operating centres run by the tracking device manufacturers. To ensure that your device is monitored throughout the year you will need to pay a subscription fee or airwave fee.
The Phantom Pro iii app records details of when your airwave package falls due for renewal
Subscription fees cover the tracking device company’s costs of running its operating centre. In some cases this fee goes towards the ongoing cost of a mobile SIM card which devices use to communicate information to and from the operating centres. It’s vital for all devices to have this operating centre support, and without it your device will be effectively switched off and unable to be tracked in the event of theft. Of course the operating centres are also vital in co-ordinating a police recovery of a stolen caravan.
If you own a proactive tracking device that alerts you in the event of break in or movement of your caravan, keeping your is subscription paid will ensure the operating centre is able to alert you and quickly establish if a genuine theft is taking place ensuring a quick police response.
Don’t forget your tracking device may have come with an initial subscriptions package which most likely will have been one year, but dependent on the deal you were given could range from 3 months to 5 years! It’s important to know when your subscription period ends to ensure you renew and ensure continuous monitoring of your device.
Owners of Tracker Monitor systems fitted to Bailey Unicorns between 2010 and March 2015 should be aware that these devices won’t be supported after 31st March 2018. Also the device has an internal back up battery which kicks in if power from the caravan’s leisure battery is cut – bear in mind this back up battery will only last between 3 and 5 years.
How else can you check your tracking device is working correctly?
We’ve already raised how your tracking device company may allow you to access information on battery levels via smartphone apps or the internet. Some of these web based facilities may also let you check to see if the tracking device can give you an accurate location for your caravan. It’s certainly worth asking your tracking device company about these features and if available using them from time to time to give you peace of mind that your tracking device works as it should.
The Phantom app allows you to check the location of your caravan using your phone. Phantom are offering owners of older Phantom devices a special offer to upgrade to the new Pro iii device. Call Phantom for details.
Of course it’s not all on you to check your device is operational. It may be of interest to ask your tracking device operator how often they check your device.
Many operating centres regularly perform what’s known as ‘polling’ which essentially sends a test communication to a tracking device to confirm it is still working and capable of giving a location.
If you have a proactive tracking device that triggers by an alarm or motion sensor, you may have already been able to test out your device already.
Generally, if you forget to disarm either trigger, it will result in your tracking device company calling you to establish if a genuine theft is in progress. Manufacturers of tracking devices may hate us for saying this, but once a year it may be worth creating a false alarm to see if and how your device does work!
Have you ever checked your tracking device? Maybe you’ve let your subsciptions expire? Tell us in the comments box below:
I have purchased a 2013 Sterling Elite Trekker and on paying my subscription for the tracker around £90 I am being told that it will require replacing next year. Just wondering how much the replacement will cost and is it actually worth it as it’s stored securely when I’m not away in it.
You’d be best checking with your local Swift dealer for the costs John.
Is a sterling elite searcher fitted with a manufacturing standard tracker. If so how do I find out.
Hi Julie, you’d need to check with the dealership. Alternatively, you could contact Swift
Hi Julie. It depends when your Searcher was produced. We can see that Searcher models were manufactured between 2006 and 2014. But we are aware that all Swift caravans from 2013 onwards were fitted with standard tracking device. The Tracker Retrieve battery powered systems that were fited to Swift Sterling models up to the 2015 ranges are nearing the end of their life now as batteries were only expected to last five years. If your Searcher is 2013 onwards, you should have some documentation for the Tracker system. If not it would be worth contacting Swift on 01482 875740 or Tracker on 0333 207 4121 for assistance.
If your Searcher is older than 2013, we do recall that some Swift models were fitted with a device called Hal Locate for a period. We are not sure which models this applied to – again Swift could advise.
Hope this helps.
I have a 2013 Sterling Eccles (Swift group) which is fitted with a tracker. I renewed it when required as a condition of your insurance.I am due to renew in a weeks time and rang tracker at the end of July. I requested that they ensured me that it was active before I paid. They then said that my tracker was not working and they would need to replace.I waited for them to arrange a visit by an engineer, but no reply. I have now further checked and they have arranged to visit me the day before my renewal date. But for me checking I would not have been covered presumably? Poor service I feel, and will be interested to see what the engineer does to ensure that it is working.I think that in future I will need to look at an Insurance company that does not require Tracker ion future.
Hi Frederick,
Many thanks for getting in touch.
Sorry to hear you’ve been having problems with your tracking device.
From what you’ve said it sounds as though this was completely out of your control and that you’re doing everything to ensure the tracking device is back in working order as quickly as possible.
If the tracking device wasn’t working and you had needed to report a theft claim, your policy may have been invalid, but thankfully this is not the case.
Could I suggest you give us a call to update us on the situation? One of our call centre advisers would be happy talk you through everything in more detail.
Contact us on 0800 14 88 400 (or 01422 396 769 Mobile friendly number), we’re open until 8pm weekdays and 4pm weekends.
Regards,
Caravan Guard
I have a swift challenger 564 fitted with aTracker by the manufacture it failed to talk to Tracker at its monthly check so Tracker e mailed me to fix a date for them to come to my home to fit a replacement which they duly did. I wonder has any one else had the same. David W Wright.
Hi David,
Sorry to hear that you were having issues with your tracking device. It’s great to see that Tracker were quick to resolve the matter and fit a replacement. Hopefully this is an isolated incident, but if anyone has been encountering problems, we encourage them to get in touch here on the blog. It may be that we can communicate comments back to Tracker if necessary.
Many thanks
Lucie
Tracker requested £149. when I phoned to renew my membership on my12month old bailey Unicorn 2. Told them it was far to expensive. Then received letter stating, renewal £89. As my insurance Comp. state only £40 difference between having tracker active or not I will Not be renewing my tracker. Also note my 12 yr old car which I have had since new with a tracker fitted that was paid for, for life £500.00 in yr 2002. Tracker have now just told me that the cover on my car was only for 10 yrs.. So I’ve been driving the past 2 yrs without tracker protection and no notifications from Tracker to this affect……….
Hi Dave,
I hope you’re well. I put your query to TRACKER who tell me that:
The TRACKER Caravan Monitor fitted to the Baileys Unicorn II caravan does have the 2 subscription options:
1. Annual = £89
2. Duration (as long as the customer owns that Caravan) = £199
You would have received the first years subscription free of charge.
With regards to the device on your car, I’m told that:
The TRACKER Monitor for Cars also has 2 subscription options:
3. Annual = £149
4. Duration (as long as the customer owns that Car) = £399
When we state duration, this is for as long as the customer owns the Car/Caravan – we do not have a cut off at 10 years – that said as with all Stolen Vehicle Recovery Security products they do require Audits/Maintenance from time to time to ensure that they are fully functional.
I hope this helps.
Many thanks
Lucie
My brand new van Sterling eccles Quartz is fitted with a tracker but most insurance companies don’t discount on this tracker fitted ??
After 3 months I would have to pay £60 p y for a tracker I cannot check and don’t know is working till day I may need it if ever stolen .. Now cancelled subscription as it is all [ It may work ] if ever needed.
Regards
Des Osborne .
Hi Des
The good news is that Caravan Guard do offer a discount for the tracking device fitted to your Sterling – I assume it’s a 2013 or 2014 model and that would mean it has the Battery Powered Tracker Retrieve fitted. At £60 for a subscription you might find it’s worthwhile against the discount you could get off your insurance with us. If you speak to Tracker (0845 602 2356), I know your device has a 5 year battery life, so it may still be possible to reactivate your device and renew your subscription. You could also ask Tracker how you would test the device to check it is working. If you do go down this route, please let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Craig