Intruder alarm with roof up

[andrew bazeley]

I should be used to it after 8 years, but the sensitivity of the interior alarm when the roof is up is a real pain. It might be because I've got the Gore-Tex roof liner, but when the roof's up, the alarm goes off at the slightest puff of wind or over-excitable fly or wasp. I have to disable it at night (I have been known to move in bed) or when leaving the van on a campsite. Which invalidates the insurance (badly needed when I'm carrying guitars when using the van for gigs). Anybody else find this, or am I just unlucky?

 

[Meoncoast]

I have always put the roof down when I leave the van by alone. I always wonder how the insurance would be if someone broke/cut their way in if left unattended with it up

 

[WelshGas]

The alarm is sensitive and can only be disabled.
You are supposed to disable it at night otherwise it will go off.
You do realise that you can set the vehicle alarm such that it is fully operational, doors, movement of vehicle etc: with doors Deadlocked but interior movement alarm only disabled.
If your Insurance stipulates that the Interior alarm must be On if the vehicle is unattended then you will have to put the roof down each time.
The other alternative is possibly a mains or battery operated Infra Red, domestic type alarm, that can be adjusted for intruder size to be used when the vehicle internal intruder alarm is disabled.

 

[GrannyJen]

Ditto Andy,

If I'm not in it then the roof comes down,

The idea of some moron going near it with a pen knife or more is enough for me anyway.

 

[larrylamb]

Why would the alarm be on at night if you are sleeping in it? You can lock the doors with the button on the drivers door, no alarm set.

 

[Rob H]

I should be used to it after 8 years, but the sensitivity of the interior alarm when the roof is up is a real pain. It might be because I've got the Gore-Tex roof liner, but when the roof's up, the alarm goes off at the slightest puff of wind or over-excitable fly or wasp. I have to disable it at night (I have been known to move in bed) or when leaving the van on a campsite. Which invalidates the insurance (badly needed when I'm carrying guitars when using the van for gigs). Anybody else find this, or am I just unlucky?

I'm impressed that you managed to get insurance for musical instruments for gigging in your van, insurance companies seem to run a mile from musicians. lol.

Rob H.

 

[Hotel California]

@Meoncoast and @GrannyJen ,
Do you realy think a thief is gonna climb up there cut a hole in the canvas and crawl in....
If he want's to get in he taps a window or breaks a doorlock , much easyer.
When i am parked up somewhere distance and allone yes but ,
Do you close the roof also when leaving the Cali on a campsite....?

 

[WelshGas]

@Meoncoast and @GrannyJen ,
Do you realy think a thief is gonna climb up there cut a hole in the canvas and crawl in....
If he want's to get in he taps a window or breaks a doorlock , much easyer.
When i am parked up somewhere distance and allone yes but ,
Do you close the roof also when leaving the Cali on a campsite....?

Agree, and always leave roof up with internal alarm off on campsite and valuables out of sight.

 

[Meoncoast]

Do you realy think a thief is gonna climb up there cut a hole in the canvas and crawl in....
If he want's to get in he taps a window or breaks a doorlock , much easyer.
When i am parked up somewhere distance and allone yes but ,
Do you close the roof also when leaving the Cali on a campsite....?

YES if it is left un attended - my choice is Belguim full of only nice people, My insurance says the van has to be left sercure.

about slash and run not slash and climb in

 

[GrannyJen]

@Meoncoast and @GrannyJen ,
Do you realy think a thief is gonna climb up there cut a hole in the canvas and crawl in....
If he want's to get in he taps a window or breaks a doorlock , much easyer.
When i am parked up somewhere distance and allone yes but ,
Do you close the roof also when leaving the Cali on a campsite....?

No, I don't think a thief will cut a hole and climb in...

I'm thinking about the typical moron that walks down a street scratching cars with a key or spray painting something that someone else may value. A nice canvas roof... what a target, and yes, I have in the past had my tent slashed when using one.

It of course depends where, and of course also depends on other factors but as a rule it it one of those judgement issues that I will always default to close the roof if in doubt.

 

[Hotel California]

Did your incurance said if the roof is up it not wel secured? Strange thing .

I also close the roof sometimes leaving the Cali , but certainly not always....just depending on situation.
Ps , i do not camp that often in Belgium....try to leave the country before i put my roof up

 

[andrew bazeley]

The alarm is sensitive and can only be disabled.
You are supposed to disable it at night otherwise it will go off.
You do realise that you can set the vehicle alarm such that it is fully operational, doors, movement of vehicle etc: with doors Deadlocked but interior movement alarm only disabled.
If your Insurance stipulates that the Interior alarm must be On if the vehicle is unattended then you will have to put the roof down each time.
The other alternative is possibly a mains or battery operated Infra Red, domestic type alarm, that can be adjusted for intruder size to be used when the vehicle internal intruder alarm is disabled.

Yes - I do that when I'm sleeping inside. I never used to, but at a festival once somebody just opened the door while I was sleeping upstairs, and calmly pinched my jeans with all my cash and cards in them!
I've never lowered the roof when leaving the campsite, but that sounds like the answer. Thanks.

 

[andrew bazeley]

I'm impressed that you managed to get insurance for musical instruments for gigging in your van, insurance companies seem to run a mile from musicians. lol.

Rob H.

Specialist musical instrument insurers. Not cheap!

 

[Hotel California]

At the end it's just fingers Xsed that one never gets to deal with thieves or vandals

 

[WelshGas]

YES if the it is left un attended - my choice is Belguim full of only nice people, My insurance says the van has to be left sercure.

And your Driveaway Awning? The vehicle is secure/immobilised etc: the Camping area is as secure as your awning. No different to a caravan + awning.
And as Hotel California stated, a little tap on a window and your in. The Insurance company are more interested in the Vehicle at £50,000 + than contents.
My Insurance does Not specify the Internal alarm must be On when unoccupied.

 

[WelshGas]

Yes - I do that when I'm sleeping inside. I never used to, but at a festival once somebody just opened the door while I was sleeping upstairs, and calmly pinched my jeans with all my cash and cards in them!
I've never lowered the roof when leaving the campsite, but that sounds like the answer. Thanks.

Sorry, don't understand this. If the alarm was On with Internal Alarm Off, how did they open the door? They would be locked for external access.

 

[larrylamb]

Sorry, don't understand this. If the alarm was On with Internal Alarm Off, how did they open the door? They would be locked for external access.

That's sort of what i was saying, sleeping in the van lock the doors with the button on the drivers door, job done.

 

[Meoncoast]

Camping area is as secure as your awning.[/QUOTE



.

Only have a wind out one.
Again it highlights we all use our Cali in different ways

 

[Neilgbj]

Confused...

 

[WelshGas]

Only have a wind out one.
Again it highlights we all use our Cali in different ways

And is that secured when you are not present?

 

[Meoncoast]

And is that secured when you are not present?

Yes unless some sum bag wants to rip it off the side of the van

 

[WelshGas]

Not as secure as you think.
So following your methodology. If someone, obviously not you as you only have a wind out awning, had a Driveaway Awning, or a small tent etc, and they were on a campsite then if they followed you then they should dismantle the awning or tent and put it in the vehicle and put the roof down, before taking the dog for a walk or going down the pub?

I have never ever heard of theft from a CamperVan with an elevating roof where the method of entry was via the roof canvas side panel, whilst on a campsite.

I'm sure someone will come along shortly to prove me wrong.

 

[Yorkdubshire]

The only reason our roof will be coming down on the camp site when we leave it is if the weather forecast is bad. Will probably do the van interior the world of good to get a good airing after I have been sleeping in there all night!

 

[Looby]

Is it possible that some interior alarms are more sensitive than others? Our van has often been left on campsites with roof up and I've never disabled the interior alarm for leaving it. I do make sure that there's nothing on the interior roof ledges that could fall down if a breeze blew the canvas and I take the kitchen roll off the shelf attachment above the sink so that it can't waft about but have never known it go off.

 

[WelshGas]

Is it possible that some interior alarms are more sensitive than others? Our van has often been left on campsites with roof up and I've never disabled the interior alarm for leaving it. I do make sure that there's nothing on the interior roof ledges that could fall down if a breeze blew the canvas and I take the kitchen roll off the shelf attachment above the sink so that it can't waft about but have never known it go off.

How would you know if you had left it?