01422 396 769 
quoteInvesting in a battery-powered tracking device – or using the official term, a battery-powered asset location system – means you can regularly check in on your caravan or motorhome’s location when it’s out of sight. Great for peace of mind and it could even lead to an insurance discount!
Here we bring you a guide as to what these battery-powered asset location systems are and how they work, their pros and cons, plus a review of five models currrently on sale.
Battery powered asset location systems are essentially a little box that can be hidden in your caravan, campervan or motorhome. These devices are stand alone, meaning they’re not wired in or connected to your caravan or motorhome’s battery. Instead, they rely on their own battery power source to monitor the exact location of your leisure vehicle. This means they can often be self fitted although some brands still recommend a professional fitting.
Tracker photoshoot with West Mercia Police, M5 West Midlands..
To preserve battery life, these devices might only wake once a day (unless prompted by you) to confirm your leisure vehicle’s location. However, if your caravan, campervan or motorhome is stolen, an active recovery mode can be activated which will allow police to locate it.
Typically, when these devices are in sleep mode, they’re virtually undetectable to thieves; even when a device “awakens” it’s only “live” (and therefore detectable) in the second or so it takes to ping over it’s location to you.
But if your caravan or motorhome is confirmed as stolen, a message can be sent to the device for it to wake up more frequently, dropping in positions at more regular time intervals.
Because such tracking devices are wireless, they can be installed in a location that only you need know about – again making them almost impossible to find.
These devices can work great as a lower priced alternative to a ‘wired’ tracking device, or you could even get one as a secondary tracking device for your leisure vehicle.
If you want to know more about wired tracking systems, see our guide to caravan tracking systems or our article about motorhome tracking systems.
Meeting Thatcham standards
All the devices we list below have an S7 rating from Thatcham, the independent, industry-approved vehicle security organisation that offers verification services for alarms, immobilisers, tracking systems and more. As much as we often refer to such devices as trackers, Thatcham refer to S7 devices as asset location systems.
For battery powered asset location systems, an S7 rating means they reach a number of requirements including:
- 24/7 Certified monitoring centre
- A minimum of one means of transmission of signal (essentially the technology used to send its location – this can be via GPS, GSM or VHF)
- Battery power supply
- Means of locating asset (i.e. your leisure vehicle) within a one-mile radius in general terrain
- Precisely locatable within 15 minutes from signal receipt on Thatcham pursuit test
- Remote set function
- Resistance to attack for a minimum of two minutes
These and other battery-operated tracking devices are listed on the Thatcham site under the tab Category S7: Asset Location System Battery Powered. Find out more here Thatcham Security Certifications – Thatcham Research.
Do note the products listed below are also approved tracking devices by us here at Caravan Guard for all touring caravans and motorhomes up to £100,000 and dependent on your storage location. They will also qualify you for a large discount on your annual caravan or motorhome insurance premium.
Top tips for buying a battery powered asset location system
- If you’re self-installing, follow any manufacturer advice on where to place the device to maximise its effectiveness.
- Check how frequently the device updates its location or “wakes up” – some offer more regular check-ins than others.
- Keep in mind that the batteries in these devices won’t last forever and some can’t be recharged or replaced – so it’s worth checking the battery life before you buy. The frequency that a device “wakes up” will likely influence the expected battery life.
- Do check the location of your vehicle on the app regularly to make sure the device is still working and the battery hasn’t expired.
- If you’ve declared that a tracking device is fitted to your caravan or motorhome on your insurance policy, your insurer will expect that device to be in full working order at all times.
Why might battery powered tracking devices not be as effective as wired systems?
As mentioned earlier, these self powered devices spend most of their time in sleep mode to preserve battery life. While this can be an advantage – making them harder for thieves to detect – it also means with some devices there could be a delay of several hours before you find that your caravan or motorhome has been stolen.
Many wired tracking devices have proactive capabilities because they are constantly emitting a signal and are linked to an alarm or motion detection rocker switch. When the alarm or motion detector are triggered, the tracking devices sends an immediate alert of disturbance. That early alert can greatly improve the chance of recovery of stolen caravans and motorhomes, or even help to catch thieves in the act.
Star Player #1
Moving Intelligence Mi01 Sentry
The Sentry comes with GPS, GSM and RF positions so, if for example GPS (Global Positioning System) is unavailable, it will use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) with an RF (Radio Frequency) beacon, to pick up your vehicle’s location and recover it if stolen.
Moving Intelligence (formerly Phantom) says the wake/sleep cycle make it almost impossible for thieves to jam or block signals yet still allow it to always gain a position.
The ‘Historical Points’ function lets you access log points by map view, online, and through the MiApp, while Lock Position means you are notified next time you check in if your vehicle is moved from a designated spot.
Key features: Cell-site positioning and RF signal, IP67 waterproof rating, 20-plus years’ experience in the leisure vehicle sector, battery life up to five years, European coverage, transferable to other vehicles, three-year warranty
Typical unit price: £210
Subscription costs: £99 per annum
Star Player #2
SmartTrack Wireless
This device will automatically tell you your motorhome or caravan’s location once a day and has a battery life of four to five years. It’s overseen by Global Telemetrics, the monitoring platform for a number of worldwide vehicle security companies.
It uses a multi-network, roaming SIM to give the strongest network connection at all times.
Despite being wireless SmarTrack still promote a professional fitting service for the device.
Also, SmarTrack has its own, exclusive recovery agents who will track down the vehicle if it’s been stolen and left in a specific location, also liaising with the police for an efficient recovery process.
It operates via a secure online account, where you can also check previous location reports and battery status.
Key features: IP67 waterproof rating, European coverage included, international roaming network, three-year warranty, fully transferable
Typical unit price: £399 (including professional installation)
Subscription costs: £10.99 a month/£99 annually
Star Player #3
GPSBob Mongoose S7 Asset (Code Monkey)
GPSBob offers free UK installation by approved professionals, which gives peace of mind if you’re unsure about where to put such a device yourself.
Its app uses GPS tracking for UK-wide coverage, and alerts can be customised. GPSBob also says: “Our GPS tracking app allows you to access real-time GPS tracking on your mobile device any time, keeping you in control of your leisure vehicle’s location and security.”
Key features: GPS tracking, free UK installation, subscription flexibility, UK-based control room, five-year battery life (based on one update/”wake up” per day)
Typical price: £199.99
Subscriptions costs: From £8.99 a month to £539.40 for five years.
Star Player #4
Matrix iQ MagTrack+
It’s the rechargeable battery that’s a key point of difference between this system from Matrix iQ and its rivals, as well as the use of magnetics to keep the unit in place. The device is self fitted. The lithium battery can actually last as long as five years between charges.
There’s a finder’s network and recovery service, with a one-hour target national response time. As a back-up, a light sensor sends an alert if there’s an attempt to remove the unit.
The Trak+ app has four tracking options – standby, transport, monitor, theft – plus the facility to turn on or off the removal and motion sensors.
Key features: Lithium ion rechargeable 6Ah, 3.7V battery, IP65 waterproof rating, motion and tamper alerts, up to five years’ battery life, dimensions 107mm x 61mm x 32mm
Typical price: £110
Subscription costs: £8 a month
Star Player #5
CanTrack Protect
Part of Radius Telematics, CanTrack employs a team of ex-Police Officers to help retrieve stolen vehicles. Once a theft is reported, real time monitoring is activated and this team springs into action.
The Protect features a particularly tough PA6 nylon polymer case, with epoxy resin set hard around its electronics (there’s a video demonstration on the CanTrack website).
It can also be programmed to wake upon motion, shock, tilt and more. Battery life is estimated at more than 2,000 reports/over five years.
You can install it yourself via a 3M adhesive pad to simply stick and/or corner holes for bolts/screws.
Key features: Jammer and scanner resistant, IP69 waterproof/dustproof rating, dimensions 68mm x 68mm x 25mm, 24 months/1,200 wakeups warranty period (whichever comes first)
Typical price: £249
Subscription costs: £149 per annum
Battery-powered asset location (tracking) systems comparison table
Make |
Model |
Battery life (years) |
Pings per day |
Price of unit |
Subscriptions costs |
| Moving Intelligence | Mi01 Sentry | 5 | 1 | £210 | £99 per year |
| SmartTrack | Wireless | 4-5 | 1 | £399 | £10.99 per month |
| GPSBob | Mongoose S7 Asset | 5 | 1 | £199.99 | £8.99 per month |
| Matrix iQ | MagTrack+ | 5 (rechargeable) | 1 | £110 | £8 per month |
| CanTrack | Protect | 5 | 1+ | £249 | £149 per year |
Over to you…
Got any advice on battery powered asset location systems or trackers that you’d like to share with other caravan, campervan or motorhome owners? Please feel free to add a comment below.
Can these trackers detect a jamming device? Is there a possibility that thieves will simply use a jamming device, then take the vehicle to a place where they can search the vehicle for a tracker, and if found, disable it?
Okay article but why pay monthly for monitoring? Get a device which alerts you by text to movement and pay nothing. Okay the companies say they have special relationships with the police to facilitate recovery but do they all really?
Very interesting topic gives a good reason to fit a self powered tracker
I have An S7 tracker fitted to my motor home and also I’ve hidden my own apple tracking device gives me a better sense of security.
Brilliant article, Can you give an approximate discount % for an average motorhome?
Hi Paul, for motorhomes we offer a 25% discount for owners who have a functioning approved tracking device installed.
This is for a wired tracker that gives out a signal 24/7. These battery powered trackers only give out a signal for a second a day so chances of being located are very slim. A lot of tracking companies like GPS Bob are installing both a wired and battery silent tracker as a back up so the thieves remove the wired one and think they are safe.
I think that the point here is that these trackers transmit for a second only once a day. So anyone waving a tracker detector around is most unlikely to pick up a symbol – unless they do it all day!
A great tracker
Robert send a link to this device and I’ll take a kook at it – I’m a radio comms
engineer Richard
Excellent overview. Thanks.
Smartfleet trackers a UK company are worth a mention.
Very good article
A waste of money there was an item on Facebook for a device that cost £17.59 that would find any tracker fitted in a caravan or motorhome. With the normal type of thieves they can remove the tracker before they pull away?