When we choose a camper van holiday, we turn this special vehicle into a second home. We cook our meals in it, sleep in it and travel from place to place in it. The number of people who make such a vehicle their permanent home is growing, too. The high value of trailers and motorhomes makes them a real prize for thieves looking for easy money. That’s why properly securing your camper van is becoming more and more important. The worst thing that can happen on a trip is being left not only without a place to sleep, but also without the belongings we usually keep inside.
How to protect a camper van from theft?
It’s best to take a comprehensive approach to protecting your camper van from theft – combining mechanical security, electronic security and good habits on the owner’s part.
Mechanical security:
Steering wheel or pedal lock – A cheap and visible deterrent that puts thieves off.
Gear lever lock – Mounted to the console and hard to remove without specialist tools.
Anti-burglary locks for the cab and living-area doors – Additional deadbolts reinforce the weak points of factory-fitted locks.
Bonnet lock – Makes it harder to reach the battery, which is a frequent target for thieves.
Electronic security:
Alarm with motion and tilt sensors – A well-configured alarm should respond to doors and windows being opened and to attempts to lift the vehicle.
Immobiliser – Prevents the engine from being started without the correct code.
GPS tracker – Lets you locate the vehicle if it’s stolen. It’s worth choosing a model with a permanent power supply and an independent battery.
Good habits:
Parking in safe places – Choose well-lit spots that are covered by CCTV or guarded.
Covering the windows – Don’t leave anything in plain sight – not even a jacket or cables. Cover the inside of the camper van whenever it’s parked.
A separate battery for the living area – Makes it harder for a thief to reach the power source for the alarm or GPS.
Which tracker should you choose for a camper van?
When choosing a tracker for a motorhome or trailer, there are a few important features to look out for. First of all, the device should work on the GPS network (trackers usually fall into two groups, Bluetooth and GPS, and for a camper van the latter is the better option). It’s also extremely important that the tracker can keep working even if the vehicle’s main power supply is lost. In addition, an anti-theft alert can prove very useful. With this option, the device sends a notification to your phone when it detects unauthorised movement, so you stay in control of your vehicle even when you’re far away from it.
Trackers with these features include notiOne GPS Connect and notiOne GPS PLUS.
The differences between GPS Connect and GPS PLUS
The notiOne GPS Connect device is ideal for concealed installation. It has leads for connecting to the vehicle battery, so it can run on a permanent power supply. An additional built-in battery keeps it working for several hours if the power is cut.
notiOne GPS PLUS offers the same features as its sibling. The main difference lies in the battery and the design of the device. This tracker can run for up to 2 months without being plugged in to charge and doesn’t need a permanent power supply, which makes it a better fit for monitoring a trailer, for example. Its design, while still compact, makes concealed installation slightly harder. It will fit perfectly in a storage compartment or under a seat, for instance.
Most importantly, neither of these devices requires any contracts or additional fees. Everything is included in the price of the tracker, which comes with lifetime data transfer.
Where to buy a camper van tracker?
Both notiOne GPS PLUS and notiOne GPS Connect are available in the official online shop.
source: our own editorial team
