New to the scene 2014 SE 140

Hi All,

Well I look forward to a new venture and though I have camped a bit with the kids, the campervan will be a new experience for us two "grown ups" and a little Chihuahua. I dare say the first trip will be from Warwickshire to the beach near Weston so the pooch can run. So plenty of excitement ahead, but plenty also to thing about first.

Van security!

I haven't set anything up yet, but my shopping list is into double figures! I wonder if I shout out a thought whether you experienced types would care to chip in and let me know how high up on my list it should be?

Window stickers as a deterrent,
Steering lock,
Gearstick lock,
CCTV cameras,
Cab door deadlocks,
sliding door hook lock,
slider lock shields and drill resistant inner plate (do they make a mess of the lovely paintwork?),
alarm and lights for touching door handle,
shatter proof film on the windows (all of them? glass all round!),
cover up the bonnet release lever?,
ghost immobiliser,
tracking system if that fails,
OBD isolator?

Does everybody start with the same dilemmas?

Look, I know it's very wordy. I like getting my money's worth : )
Any help would be very much appreciated. And if you could steer me towards a sympathetic insurer that would be amazing.

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to seeing you at the beach.

Welcome to the Cali club! That's quite a security shopping list you've got there - I think most of us started with similar worries but you don't need to go overboard on day one. I'd definitely recommend a ghost immobiliser and decent insurance as your starting point, the rest can come later once you get a feel for where you'll be parking up.

I hope you get loads of fun and adventures with your new Cali ! They’re great for impromptu get always.

Regards security you might want to research what others on the forum have done / opinions about vulnerabilities of the model you have, and if they’ve added to the vans already pretty decent security. The forum search works well - choose Advanced Search and then you can target better for your model etc.

For our van we chose to get a tracker and immobiliser fitted, plus a dashcam that does time lapse when parked up.

I’m sure many will say just get decent insurance, but it’s really down to what you’re most comfortable with.

steminju said:

Van security!

I haven't set anything up yet, but my shopping list is into double figures! I wonder if I shout out a thought whether you experienced types would care to chip in and let me know how high up on my list it should be?

Does everybody start with the same dilemmas?

Click to expand...

Hello and welcome.

Your insurance company is likely to set tracker requirements so it might be a good idea to speak to them.
Check the forum for insurance recommendations and the bacon butty test. We're just renewing with Comfort. A-plan also do campervan insurance although they can be expensive. Find a specialist provider not a standard car insurer.
We have the VW and and other form of professionally installed tracker and, as a visual warning, a steering wheel lock. Turn the front wheels to the kerb with the lock on, it is just a further annoyance to a would be thief.
We also have a dash cam which records whilst parked as required.
You can spend a fortune on this and all the other accessories you might consider necessary. Only you know your risk level.

cpaharley2008 said:

Welcome to the Cali club! That's quite a security shopping list you've got there - I think most of us started with similar worries but you don't need to go overboard on day one. I'd definitely recommend a ghost immobiliser and decent insurance as your starting point, the rest can come later once you get a feel for where you'll be parking up.

Click to expand...

Very simple, straightforward and comforting. Thank you very much. Onwards and upwards : )

As an owner of a Cali of approx same vintage as yours, I relax knowing that this type and age of vehicle aren't on the wish list of today's car thieves. They're too busy nicking latest edition Range Rover Sports etc.

Casual break-ins aren't common, but the biggest deterrent against that is don't leave attractive items out on view inside the van.

Personally I wouldn't bother spending money on any of the things on your list, but if I was going for anything to improve peace of mind it might be the Ghost immobiliser which folks seem to think offers real protection.

Enjoy your van.

Agree with above. We have the same year van and it doesn’t ever cross my mind that someone would take it. Break in, sure.

Hawthorn37 said:

I hope you get loads of fun and adventures with your new Cali ! They’re great for impromptu get always.

Regards security you might want to research what others on the forum have done / opinions about vulnerabilities of the model you have, and if they’ve added to the vans already pretty decent security. The forum search works well - choose Advanced Search and then you can target better for your model etc.

For our van we chose to get a tracker and immobiliser fitted, plus a dashcam that does time lapse when parked up.

I’m sure many will say just get decent insurance, but it’s really down to what you’re most comfortable with.

Click to expand...

Many thanks. I appreciate the time taken to respond. It's very useful, and I think I'm in the camp of trying to stop the loss in the first place, so happy to spend the money. Cheers!

Up10 said:

Hello and welcome.

Your insurance company is likely to set tracker requirements so it might be a good idea to speak to them.
Check the forum for insurance recommendations and the bacon butty test. We're just renewing with Comfort. A-plan also do campervan insurance although they can be expensive. Find a specialist provider not a standard car insurer.
We have the VW and and other form of professionally installed tracker and, as a visual warning, a steering wheel lock. Turn the front wheels to the kerb with the lock on, it is just a further annoyance to a would be thief.
We also have a dash cam which records whilst parked as required.
You can spend a fortune on this and all the other accessories you might consider necessary. Only you know your risk level.

Click to expand...

Some good tips there thank you. I'm partial to a bacon butty but I expect I'll have to dig a bit to find out what's going on there : ) Thanks again.

Velma's Dad said:

As an owner of a Cali of approx same vintage as yours, I relax knowing that this type and age of vehicle aren't on the wish list of today's car thieves. They're too busy nicking latest edition Range Rover Sports etc.

Casual break-ins aren't common, but the biggest deterrent against that is don't leave attractive items out on view inside the van.

Personally I wouldn't bother spending money on any of the things on your list, but if I was going for anything to improve peace of mind it might be the Ghost immobiliser which folks seem to think offers real protection.

Enjoy your van.

Click to expand...

Wow! Instant karma : ) I'm just tearing up my list! Well not just yet. I'll wait a bit to get a perspective but I have to say it's an influencer. Many thanks.

pchmlk said:

Agree with above. We have the same year van and it doesn’t ever cross my mind that someone would take it. Break in, sure.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. This approach is leading the way. I'm certainly thinking about it. Cheers

Think along the lines of a visual deterrent. Something like a DiskLok Gold edition steering lock is a worthy choice. Anything that makes life more difficult for a would be thief hopefully moves them on.

Stargazing said:

Think along the lines of a visual deterrent. Something like a DiskLok Gold edition steering lock is a worthy choice. Anything that makes life more difficult for a would be thief hopefully moves them on.

Click to expand...

Seems to be getting a fair few recommendations. Could be the one. Many thanks!

Agree with the keep it minimal camp above. We have an older 2010 SE, the standard security on these vans is pretty good, internal movement sensors, anti tow, mobiliser, dead locks etc. The only addition we made was a Bulldog wheel clamp which we use at home when the van is left on the drive, as its very visible from the road, just as a visual deterrent. Just get out and enjoy your van and the great adventures its designed for with out worrying to much

Beeechke1 said:

Agree with the keep it minimal camp above. We have an older 2010 SE, the standard security on these vans is pretty good, internal movement sensors, anti tow, mobiliser, dead locks etc. The only addition we made was a Bulldog wheel clamp which we use at home when the van is left on the drive, as its very visible from the road, just as a visual deterrent. Just get out and enjoy your van and the great adventures its designed for with out worrying to much

Click to expand...

Oh that is so encouraging, thank you. And useful information about existing security as well. Will probably go for a steering wheel lock and a ghost immobiliser and leave it at that. Thanks again.

Oh that is so encouraging, thank you. And useful information about existing security as well. Will probably go for a steering wheel lock and a ghost immobiliser and leave it at that. Thanks again.

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