Alarm sys for my Montana Big Sky

[5WRon]

I've just read the blog about 5th wheel break-ins and some have an alarm system.

We are full timing but would like to see if anyone has an alarm system that works...for when we leave our Monty? What kind, pros and cons..etc.

Thanks and we will be seeing you on the road,
Ron and Linda

[grampachet]

I noticed an alarm system at target or WM that would call a phone number that was entered into its system. This would only work for those who have a land line. May not be what you are looking for.

[Dave e Victoria]

In a previous life, I was an executive at one of the largest alarm companies and I am here to tell you alarms for mobile equipment like we travel in are extremely problematic. As mentioned, you have to have an open communication line. While cell phones offer that possibility today, we have all experienced the problems with service in many parts of the country. Next is the problem of what to do if an alarm is received by the monitoring station. What emergency or police service should be dispatched. Even if you are connected to some locater like GPS, there are rules and regulations to be followed. As an example, it is illegal for an alarm company outside of Maryland to alert police or fire inside the city of Baltimore. The industry is rife with these sorts of arcane regulations. Finally, there is the problem of false alarms. In the industry, fewer than 5 % of the alarm events received in a monitoring station are dispatchable. Of those that cause emergency dispatch, nearly 95 % turn out to be false alarms. As a result, most police and fire departments require registration of the alarm system before any action can be taken. Violations result in onerous fines.

So, what to do. 1) get some stickers warning that you have a security system. Even in normal residential communities the most effective deterent is the yard sign. Next, get a dog or other loud noise maker to draw attention to the situation. And finally, as most of these break-ins occur in storage yards, make sure they have adequate security. They may even allow you to connect into their system.
Dave

[bigmurf]

Dave: Thanks for some GOOD info.

[Tom S.]

There are ways around Dave's cited problems. For example, if you install your own alarm, it does not have to report to a monitoring service - you can instead have it call your land line, or with the proper equipment, your cell phone. Even if you use a monitoring service, most will let you specify who to call, and you can exclude the police and specify yourself and/or a friend. The main problem with an alarm is it has to have power - and most trailers in storage do not have power. Batteries only last so long.

[DonPd]

quote:So, what to do. 1) get some stickers warning that you have a security system. Even in normal residential communities the most effective deterent is the yard sign. Next, get a dog or other loud noise maker to draw attention to the situation. And finally, as most of these break-ins occur in storage yards, make sure they have adequate security. They may even allow you to connect into their system.
Dave

As a retired law enforcement officer I am with Dave. The alarm stickers on the doors and windows work most of the time. If the thief doesn't believe the stickers have something that makes noise be it a little noisy dog or some sort of local noisy alarm system. A thief doesn't want to draw attention.

[richfaa]

Dave gives good real life experience information.. Here is the way I see it. All one needs is a screw driver to get through any door, window, compartment in any brand RV in short order. You don't need to be a expert anyone can do it.The odds of keeping anyone out of the camper are practically zero.

We have never seen "secure"storage facility. The cost of installing lighting a good alarm system and a full time security guard would be cost prohibitive and it is doubtful that he consumer would pay the price of storage. Check out a good alarm and reporting system for your stick home then multiply that by a bunch for a storage facility.

Our Local police department says that there are two things that will deter most breakings... Light and noise. We use both. First we are able to keep our camper on the property and near the house...always have on all our campers. We live in a well lite neighborhood and have motion detector lighting both in front and back. The Montana is in a well lighted area. We use the sensors that you can hang on the door or compartment that produce a 100/120DB alarm when the door is opened. They are low cost and very effective. Our objective is to keep the bad guy from breaking into the truck/camper/house., The bad guy does not like light and noise. We have a fried who has to store his camper a a storage facility when not in use and has installed motion detector lights and the door/compartment alarms on his 5th wheel. Of course you need some kind of power source. He uses batteries. Even the best of Storage facilities are high risk. We are very happy we do not need to use one.

[Gramps]

You might try a look at mace.com. They have some rather inexpensive systems that seem simple to set-up and use.
As a side note, I'm connected with Mace at all, just saw their sight and thought of you guys.
You might be able to put a dusk to dawn sensor on your outside flood lights, unless your rig doesn't have them.

[blamb]

Dogs work great! I recommend two.

[Waynem]

Light at night, and noise all the time if someone is breaking in. AS stated, a theif does not like either. And of course, a dog. If anyone breaks in when a dog is barking, they are a really, really dumb thief. Sitting right next to that yapping little Chihuahua is a Bull Mastif waiting for a meal.

As for any system that calls your cell phone while you are on the road - well, like what are you really going to do? Rush back and see what was taken? Enjoy yourself for the time being because when you get back you will still see what damage has been done and what was stolen.

Lights don't pose much of a problem in installing and activating. However, for those alarm system that produce noise and are based on motion detection, make darn sure you put it in a place that will not pick up outside neighbors walking buy. It is quite annoying to say the least. Many motion detection noise making systems will also allow you to put an outside PA Speaker some where on your RV. I recommend out of site, like mounted to the frame underneath. Also, you will want a separate battery system so that when the thief disconnects the power and jimmies the compartment and cuts the batter lead, you still have noise from the extra power. Usually one of those little flash light 6 volt batteries will last long enough to produce noise.

Good luck. It is a shame we have to worry about such things.