Security - Ghost II

[nuttyjnr]

Hi all, having spent a small fortune on getting the van and about to get it converted I need to look at security. Not as straightforward as I imagined due to the variety of options. I am tempted down the Ghost II route as my research has suggested it is a good system, if installed by a reputable comapny. Has anyone in the forum got Ghost and if so, how have you found it?

Thanks in advance - Richard

 

[rod_vw]

I've not used these folks but they come very highly recommended in the motorhome community.

I may be looking towards them when my conversion is complete, they won't do any work before it is complete as the positioning of sensors is dictated by the final design/layout.

 

[Oldrat]

Ghost are very good.

Dependent upon value, you’ll need to consider having a tracker installed as well, a lot of insurance companies insist on them. A lifetime package can work out much cheaper.

Also..
Consider visible security.

A thief will peel /hole a door before finding it won’t start. An immobiliser and tracker won’t do anything to prevent a break in, esp as anyone seeing you park up would hope for cash/cards and passports to be kept inside.

If you tend to leave your van parked up in a secluded car park whilst you wander off for a hike, you might want to consider fitting deadlocks to deter a break in and all the damage that entails whether or not there is anything in it to steal, they won’t know that. Anyone seeing you walk away will think that they have plenty of time.

Sorry to be so negative, but it’s taken me a while and plenty of ££s to feel comfortable.


I speak from experience, 32yrs police and 15 yrs relevant roles beyond that.

 

[nuttyjnr]

I've not used these folks but they come very highly recommended in the motorhome community.

I may be looking towards them when my conversion is complete, they won't do any work before it is complete as the positioning of sensors is dictated by the final design/layout.

Thank you. I'll take a look

 

[nuttyjnr]

Ghost are very good.

Dependent upon value, you’ll need to consider having a tracker installed as well, a lot of insurance companies insist on them. A lifetime package can work out much cheaper.

Also..
Consider visible security.

A thief will peel /hole a door before finding it won’t start. An immobiliser and tracker won’t do anything to prevent a break in, esp as anyone seeing you park up would hope for cash/cards and passports to be kept inside.

If you tend to leave your van parked up in a secluded car park whilst you wander off for a hike, you might want to consider fitting deadlocks to deter a break in and all the damage that entails whether or not there is anything in it to steal, they won’t know that. Anyone seeing you walk away will think that they have plenty of time.

Sorry to be so negative, but it’s taken me a while and plenty of ££s to feel comfortable.


I speak from experience, 32yrs police and 15 yrs relevant roles beyond that.

Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

I have found a couple of suppliers that will do a Ghost II immobiliser and S7 tracker as a package. Not cheap, but neither was the van and conversion. I'll also look at locks too. This will be our forever van, so I need to protect it.

 

[Grubscrew]

I’ve not heard of Ghost….bit of a dinosaur me on some things…
I fitted some of those van deadlocks….whilst the passenger and driver’s door are straight forward to fit, the sliding door is fairly crap…here’s why….
Because of the window I had to use the lower down lock unit…well what a dissatisfying result!
So the rear of the sliding door gets the lock. The door face it’s flat, however , the inside return of the door panel is angled at 20* and the deadlock has to also be at that angle, thus kicking out of flush the bit you put your key in…so that ends up being 20* angle to the face of the door, creating the crappiest result ever.
As for the rear door, I’ve a drop bolt , ( slide bolt) on the inside that is fixed to the inside of the near side door. That bolt is spring loaded and goes into a 10mm chequer plate billet bolted to the floor.
To top it all, I’ve got cctv on all three sides which covers tail and both sides.
However if they try hard enough, they’ll get it in the end.
Then there is the catalytic converter….plenty of beefing up went on there….10mm stainless steel Bowden cable through various welded channel adaptations, and chassis holes, will cause a real headache for the perpetrators.
Reciprocating saw’s cannot saw through the cable, as that’s their choice of dismembering!

 

[Guy]

Opposed to starting a new thread it seemed worthwhile bringing this one back to life having collected my van yesterday.

Living in west London where vans are turned over constantly can anyone add anything to the advice above. Any new ideas? Any cheap effective quick fixes?

I think @Oldrat and @Grubscrew make some very pertinent points, especially in regard to visual deterents and catalytic converters, something I hadn't even thought about. Would people consider steering locks and pedal boxes a good idea. I wont my van to retain a look of camper but equally don't want it being broken in to and so I think deadlocks (can anyone recommend good deadlocks or equally ones to avoid) on all the doors and a steering lock are a starting point. We will be parking up in remote areas and disappearing for hours on end. We will also be installing safari windows, whilst I have not yet seen them in the flesh how secure are they? I appreciate any window can be smashed but some 'sliding windows' in an old van could have been slid open from outside with no effort as the original catches were paper thin.

If someone wants to get in they will and I know this but I appreciate any suggestions, I ideally don't want anyone in in the first place so how do you make them move along?

Cheers

 

[SHARPY]

Yep like you say if they want in they'll get in so all we can do is put them off and make it as difficult as possible. Have you seen the van guardian alarms , they work on the basis of alerting the thief before they even get in . Along with other things I think they're a great addition.

Van Guardian Van Alarm | 113 dB Audible & Visual Deterrent

Van Guardian is a self-installed van alarm with 113 dB siren and shock sensors. Protect your van from theft. UK-wide and international delivery.

vanguardian.co.uk

 

[rod_vw]

Have you tried WattGuardz, very highly respected in the motohome world.

 

[Lebowski]

My van has an aftermarket alarm as the factory delivered ones are documented, i.e. the prospective thieves will know which system is in your vehicle and know where the looms are and how to bypass it.

My van has alarm + obd disconnect with immediate control room connect, GPS tracking, remote lock. That gives me piece of mind, no deadbolts as a window will be smashed to enable access by thugs in that case as if they want to enter, they will, whilst creating more damage.

 

[Guy]

Thanks for the feedback.

I’m currently working on deadlocks and a steeringwheel lock, visual deterents to basically send the potential thief to another van. Whilst I understand the comment of broken windows @Lebowski if I saw someone climbing through the window of a campervan or any vehicle it would get my attention where as opening the door and simply getting in wouldn’t. I also realise that my bikes that will be stored inside and need to be as secure as possible, locked together inside a locked van with additional locks!!!! It’s ridiculous really, what is the world coming too!

Can anyone recommend good DIY installed deadlocks?

I’m not sure how well alarms will work because of foxes and cats where we live, they seem to like using the van as a slide, or at least the windscreen

 

[Lebowski]

No one will climb through the side windows, the window will be broken to gain access to the door latch and to open the door in a regular fashion. I do fully support the idea to deter perps and send them elsewhere, preferably 6 feet under.