Alarms

[Diemjoe]

Not to be a downer but looking through the photo galleries, there are TVs, stereos, solar panels, stoves, etc. Does anyone have an alarm on their trailer?

[Shadow Catcher]

My feeling, there are bigger more tempting targets

[Diemjoe]

If I was if a criminal bent, I would be the path of least resistance kind. I do tend to stay at the less crowded national forest camps and generally head out for day hikes and such so ny campground is usually empty.

[lrrowe]

Interesting question.
I probably would not think about one and for the most part would not have that much in the camper to steal.
But I do plan on spending a fair much of my time in the off beaten places where there will probably not be a lot of other campers.
At one time I was thinking of considering a game camera to take pictures while I was not there.

But coincidentially, just last month, I upgraded my older GE Simon security system main box to a more updated model - for my home. Now I have this perfectively good control panel and brains that I was thinking of trying to get a few bucks for it on Ebay. Now maybe I will think about using it in my CT. What the heck, it cannot cost me much for the sensors and then I have this noise maker should anyone pry my door open.

[Diemjoe]

I was thinking that a hunting camera would work but then I would remember it about 300 miles up the road after setting it up. Ww have a pretty bad car prowl situation up here at the Seattle area trailheads.so I'll start looking into options. Just don't want to be that guy that sets it off in the middle of the night on my way to the restroom.

[tlsallada]

Having been in the security business for about 40 years (http://www.advancedcommsec.com), I've often thought about putting a security system in one of the various campers we've owned (2 motor homes - one travel trailer & now a teardrop). I never did and although we've camped in all sorts of different campgrounds, I'd never heard of a single break-in.
IF I were to install one, I would go the wireless route rather than running wires through the camper. One downside, everytime you'd unplug from 110VAC the control panel would start beeping the keypad to notify you of the power loss. You could simply disconnect the standby battery to stop it or perhaps install a toggle switch to disconnect.
My feelings are, 99.9% of the folks you encounter camping are the kinda people you don't have to worry about breaking into your camper.
Terry s

[lrrowe]

Ah, yeah, but at least the neighbors will know you have an alarm.

[kenafp]

All it takes is one

[GerryS]

I would think an alarm system count be anything more than a glorified noise maker. Unless you find one designed just for campers.... 12 volt, gps with telemetry, cell phone based, wireless, specialized monitoring, contract free (I won't sign a security contract)....lots of obstacles.

Now, this changes a little if you are using it in storage.....but what good does it do if the popo is dispatched to your storage facility while the camper is rolling down the interstate with the wire cut to the siren..

Personally, would I pay $25 a month for this service? I doubt it....that more expensive that my insurance I already carry.

Not to mention how much I'm looking forward to the alar,m on the camper next to me at my favorite mountain retreat going off every 30 minutes while the neighbors who left their dog home while they are sightseeing for the day....

Good locks, good insurance and a common sense...

[dales133]

I've got an aldi gps tracker witch needs charging once a week and runs on a prepaid simple card.
I got it on a whim to put in my Wagon but would be good to theft proof a TD.
No God as an alarm but I'd think it would be more likely it would get stolen when not using it than broken into on the road

[lrrowe]

if I were to use what I have, first I would have to modify it to work on 12v only ( no beeping) and then without any call out service (no monitoring). If I used it in a remote area such as during hunting season, the hope is that it would scare the average thief away. If they are above average, then I probably have no chance anyway to stop them. Maybe then the game camera is an option.

[rowerwet]

towing without lights will be noticed by the police. hook a wire to the brake lights, run it to a hidden switch, from the switch run a wire to a well hidden, loud, car horn. Make sure the horn can be heard loudly. simple cheap trailer alarm.
Of course thieves don't even always bother using the trailer hitch, they just lash or chain the tongue to a bolt where the hitch ball would be. then they take it somewhere out of sight quickly, lights are the last thing they bother with.
Personally I don't think a thief would steal my homebuilt tear, I'm more concerned with stuff walking away, remember locks only keep out honest people, a trailer is even easier to break into than a house.

[Diemjoe]

Yeah, Pretty hard to fence a whole teardrop. But a Battery, stove, cooler, propane tank, etc may come in handy at the next meth Fest.

[tony.latham]

I've heard so many car alarms go off in my life that if I heard one in a campground I'd probably just start cussing and wish somebody would turn the damn thing off. But maybe its shriek would scurry the rif-raf along like a snake slithering into the swamp. Perhaps an inflatable sleeping Rottweiler? Or use a nearby 28' Jayco 5-wheel with a unchained generator to bait 'em away from your sardine-can looking teardrop.

Me? I camp so far off the beaten path that the crooks'l get lost. (so far)

T

[lrrowe]

Boy would I love to have my Rottie back with me. He died sometime back. But then, no one gave me any problems or worries. He was a pussy cat, but how he had most folks fooled.