A few weeks ago I bought for the real #vanlife to go experience a wonderful 4×4 overland expedition camper, a great device that is basically roadworthy. But what's good can always be better, so I started thinking about a few upgrades that I wanted to add to the 4×4 expedition camper before it really goes on the trip. In this article I take you with one of the most important upgrades for the motorhome, namely the security. I had a brand new alarm system with immobilizer installed to which we also added a professional GPS tracker. You can read all about it in this article.
Also read:
- Want to buy an Offgrid 4×4 overland camper? † Tips and what to watch out for
- Off-grid 4×4 camper upgrade | Solar panels & Victron bluetooth battery charger
- Off-grid 4×4 camper upgrade | Tracemaster GPS Tracker Alarm System
- Off-grid 4×4 camper upgrade | Tough Dog shock absorbers, HD leaf springs and auxiliary air suspension
Anti-burglary and alarm systems are not a luxury
Unfortunately, I hear and see in the various travel-related facebook groups all too often that motorhomes are stolen, or that the motorhome is broken into. Camper vans in particular seem to be the target of theft and burglary. Unfortunately, our friends from Reisstel.nl in Italy in broad daylight also to deal with a burglary in the camper busresulting in much damage and misery. I can't imagine the hell that must have been for them. I think it's terrible to have to experience something like that.
Good burglary protection is therefore absolutely recommended if you own a motorhome or campervan. It would of course be a complete disaster if your beautiful possession is damaged or even stolen. I therefore want to do everything I can to a) keep thieves out and b) do everything I can to possibly track down thieves. I would also like to insure the motorhome all-risk, for which certain security requirements are necessary. So get started!
Two alarm systems
Of course you can't prevent everything, but you can make it more difficult for thieves and criminals by first securing your motorhome properly with an alarm system. Because we have a separate camper unit on a 4×4 pickup truck, we unfortunately had to install two alarm systems instead of one. It is an upgrade that unfortunately also costs twice as much for our camper.
Because potential thieves can also read along, I will not reveal too much about the brand and configuration of the alarm system itself. I can tell you that the alarm can be triggered in all kinds of different ways and that different alarm systems are linked to each other, including an immobilizer and also a GPS tracker.
Tracemaster 100 Pro | GPS tracker
Fortunately, I can tell you more about the GPS tracker. A professional GPS tracker has been installed. This professional GPS tracker is also widely used in the logistics sector. With this track & trace system you can view the location of your vehicle live via an app on your phone or via a web portal on your laptop or PC. You can also review rides, replay rides and even analyze driving behavior.
This reliable and accurate GPS tracker ensures that your precious possession is always immediately traceable, easy to use and without cables.
You can immediately see in real time where your vehicle is via the free App. You have a direct overview with an accurate location via a clear Google Maps map.
In addition, you can look back on routes driven up to 3 months ago, so you can also trace afterwards where a vehicle has been and which route has been taken, even the speed driven can be viewed.
- Free app
- Easy in use
- Highly accurate
- Good battery life
- Can be connected to 12v from the car
- 12v cables not included
That in itself is nice, but what it is mainly intended for us is of course the extra anti-theft security. You can set the alarm off in many ways, for example by setting GEO zones. If this zone is exceeded, the GPS tracker will sound an alarm via, for example, notifications on your phone. You can also have it alarm you in case of vibrations, or when someone tries to turn it off or remove it. There are an amazing number of options! Take a look at the list of alarm options in the right photo below. The options you see there are not even half of what is possible with this GPS tracker from Tracemaster.
Built-in battery
There is a battery in the GPS tracker that lasts up to 100 days. So you can choose to let the Tracemaster 100 PRO function simply on the built-in battery. You can then easily put it in a cupboard, or use it for something else, such as your trailer or scooter. There is also a very strong magnet that you can attach to the bottom. This way you can easily stick it to a chassis beam or something else made of metal.
However, the weakness of the internal battery is that you always have to keep the GPS Tracker within reach because you eventually have to recharge it, even if that is only after a few weeks or months. Possible criminals can then detect such a tracker fairly easily with special devices and therefore also try to disable it, precisely because they are within reach.
Power the Tracker for extra safety
Are you, like us, going for next-level security? Then you can also choose to connect the Tracemaster 100 PRO to the electricity system of the motorhome or car. Because the tracker now always has power, you can also hide it much better and deliberately make it difficult to reach. You can literally install the GPS tracker in a wall, attach it under the water tank, under the hood, in an extra compartment near your gas tanks, etc. etc..
Demotivate a thief
With a continuous power supply, the possibilities are suddenly endless. Even though the criminals have equipment to locate the tracker, it will still take them a lot of time and effort to disable the GPS tracker. Unscrew or break open glued walls, remove air filters, empty compartments, you name it. Every extra layer one has to go through takes time. The uncertainty and extra time it takes is, of course, far from ideal for criminals. Due to the vibrations and movements caused by all this rumbling, both you and the authorities may have already quietly alarmed you, allowing you to catch the thief in the act.
Should the GPS tracker be disconnected for some reason, or if the car battery is empty, it will continue to work on the internal battery for another 100 days. You can also set your alarm to receive notifications when the GPS tracker is turned off, the power is turned off, or it is removed from a surface. As a thief you really have to be in good hands to disable this device without sounding the alarm.
Features of the Tracemaster pro (as advertised)
- unique system, no additional subscription costs.
- IP65 Waterproof.
- Real time tracking: Follow the GPS tracker live via the online platform (www.tracksolidpro.com) on the computer or telephone with the free very extensive Dutch Tracksolid PRO APP. Here you can also view the routes traveled in the past and receive notifications. All settings can be configured via the App.
- GEO Fence alarm: If the GPS Tracker leaves the preset 'safe zone', you will be notified of its current location. This allows you to intervene in time.
- Speed alarm: You will receive a notification if the set maximum speed is exceeded.
- Vibrate alarm: When the GPS Tracker starts moving you will receive a notification including the coordinates of the location.
- sleep mode: The GPS Tracker automatically goes into/out of sleep modes if the vehicle has not been moved for at least 5 minutes. In sleep mode, the battery consumption is considerably spared and therefore lasts longer.
- Motion alarm: Receive a notification when the GPS Tracker starts moving.
- Tamper alarm: The GPS tracker is equipped with a sensor that detects removal/movement of the device itself and triggers an alarm.– Low battery alarm: You will receive a warning if the battery is almost empty.
Other specifications of the GPS tracker
- The GPS Tracker works worldwide via the IOT/GPRS network.
- The GPS Tracker is equipped with internal WiFi/GSM/GPRS antennas (WiFi/GSM/2G GPRS network).
- GPS accurate up to 5 meters directly visible via the App/Web platform.
- The GPS Tracker comes with a Dutch manual.
- Dutch-language helpdesk and support.
- Fully Dutch App (Tracksolid PRO) and web platform (www.tracksolidpro.com).
- Size of the GPS tracker is 10.8 cm x 6.1 cm & 3 cm thick.
- The weight of the GPS Tracker is 291 grams.
- Powerful magnetic holder included.
- Anti jamming.
- Multiple systems can be followed via one user account, all systems on one screen.
- 2 year full warranty.
This reliable and accurate GPS tracker ensures that your precious possession is always immediately traceable, easy to use and without cables.
You can immediately see in real time where your vehicle is via the free App. You have a direct overview with an accurate location via a clear Google Maps map.
In addition, you can look back on routes driven up to 3 months ago, so you can also trace afterwards where a vehicle has been and which route has been taken, even the speed driven can be viewed.
- Free app
- Easy in use
- Highly accurate
- Good battery life
- Can be connected to 12v from the car
- 12v cables not included
Visual anti-burglary alerts
Then there is the visual part of security. Let criminals know you've got your security in place! This often deters thieves in advance and you can prevent potential burglary damage. In general, criminals are often looking for 'quick wins'. Cars or motorhomes without alarm systems or with easy-to-open locks. Of course, they don't want to be heard and seen either, so anything that could trigger a potential alarm that makes them seen and heard will by definition have a demotivating effect.
For this reason, we have placed highly visible red, flashing alarm lights on which you can see that the alarm systems are switched on. We also received warning stickers for the alarm systems. We have placed these stickers on the various doors and windows that warn of the extra protections that have been installed. A burglar will definitely notice these kinds of warnings, so that he or she immediately knows that it is a secured motorhome and it will therefore take much more effort to be able to make a quick and unseen strike.
Extra investment, but all-risk insured
Of course, all these security upgrades for our motorhome (and I haven't even mentioned them all) are expensive. After careful consideration, I thought it was worth doing and went to reserve a budget for the alarm systems. This was mainly because with these protections I could immediately insure the camper properly. It was a requirement for the all-risk insurance that I absolutely wanted to have on the motorhome.
Now that the camper is god secured, and also has an all-risk insurance, I am already a lot reassured. Without further ado, burglary or theft would still be terrible, but it does give a little extra peace of mind and I dare to leave the camper abroad with peace of mind.
Next upgrade: solar panels
We really don't sit still Wereldreizigers.nl† There will also be solar panels on the expedition camper. After all, I want to be able to survive off-grid for longer periods and of course I need power for that. You read everything posting solar panels on the camper here.
Also read:
- Want to buy an Offgrid 4×4 overland camper? † Tips and what to watch out for
- Off-grid 4×4 camper upgrade | Solar panels & Victron bluetooth battery charger
- Off-grid 4×4 camper upgrade | Tracemaster GPS Tracker Alarm System
- Off-grid 4×4 camper upgrade | Tough Dog shock absorbers, HD leaf springs and auxiliary air suspension
