ATV Tracker Recommendation

[Percy Veer]

Can anyone recommend a Tracker device to deter theft and aid recovery?

What are the must haves?

Thanks

 

[******]

Trackers will only have negligible deterrent for theft, usually deterring only the inexperienced and amateurs.

Most thieves are "tracker aware", and search for them (sometimes using technology to do so), and are usually removed before the stolen equipment is left for a while, for a cooling off period,.

Like stamping, smart water, tagging, and so on, trackers are primarily aimed at post-incident recovery, rather than deterrent.

The criminal planning cycle can take seconds, days, weeks or months – depending upon the complexity of the crime and sophistication of the criminals – opportunist or organised group.

Though the process remains the same.

#ruralcrime

 

[******]

That is not say trackers are not useful tools. I just wish to manage your expectations.

I posted a few suggestions to think over, a while ago, when someone made a similar enquiry:

There are various options available; contingent upon your budget.

Depending on what you choose, things you need to consider:

GPS satellite connectivity
GSM mobile phone connectivity
Concealment / Discovery Prevention
Battery life/charging or hard wired to the machine
Subscription charges
Mobile Phone Data charges

Cost versus reward - i.e. is the cost justified for what it is keeping an eye on. The return on investment.

Remember the tracker is not about preventing theft, but recovery after theft. So is there something better, easier, cheaper that you can do to prevent the theft in the first place? Ideally both - prevention and recovery, if you have the budget and time. Experienced thieves will normally check for trackers, so they are not 100% fool proof, even when hidden to an extent - but certainly it is better than having nothing if you do lose your equipment. As has been highlighted by a couple of posts in this thread, equipment is usually left to "cool off" for a few days, which is a good opportunity to recover your kit or set up a "sting" - but that depends upon your individual police force or local bobbies.

Apple Air Tag, Tile and similar products are cheap and easy to use with good battery life, but not 100% secure/accurate. They rely on appropriate mobile phones passing close to the tag, to pick up the signal which then notifies the owner via the mobile phone network. What you may get is the "last known location" but the machine may be taken to an area where there is no phone signal or limited passers-by to pick up the tag signal.

TrackingFox OBDII GPS tracker is quite cheap, quick and easy to install and is charged by the vehicle, but has a monthly fee of around £4 per month (depending on the length of contract you go for). Professional thieves will probably look at the OBD socket and remove anything they don't like the look of.

TruTrak FMT100 is also cheap, and connects to the vehicle battery so charging is automatic. This is a Pay as You Go option, no contract required which is better than being obligated every month. Again, professional thieves will probably check the battery for additional wires, and if I were to choose this option I would probably extend the wires to make sure the device is out of sight.

There are many other similar products out there, within the same sort of price range and ability, but hopefully this gives you a few ideas as a starting point and considerations. Trackers that I use for surveillance operations cost around £400 each, have long battery life but do require charging after a few weeks of heavy data use and have a small monthly subscription, but they are only used for specific operations when the device will be removed anyway once the task is complete (or swapped over mid-operation for long jobs) and the cost of the subscription fees are passed to the client. They are better for concealment but probably too expensive to buy and run for the actual probability of equipment being stolen.

 

[******]

Vehicle Security Tracker

ATVTrac is the market leading discreet vehicle tracker that monitors the movements of your pride and joy in real time.

atvtrac.co.uk

 

[ford4000]

Got Datatool here on the quad.

 

[******]

ATV Tracking Device | Anti-Theft Tracking Device | Back2you

Protect your ATV with a Magnetic Tracking Device online at Back2You® Track your ATV vehicle, plant & machinery, and pet with our tracking devices. Book your order now!

back2you.com

 

[******]

Got Datatool here on the quad.

ATV | Datatool | Motorcycle Security | Motorcycle Tracking

ATV & Side by Side Security Protecting your vehicles since 198524/7 Stolen Vehicle MonitoringInsurance approvedAffordable Tracking Endorsed by PROUDly M ...

www.datatool.co.uk

 

[Pistonbroke]

One way to help identify your quad after recovery, if the serial numbers have been ground off ,is to stick a sheep EID tag inside the handlebars.

 

[DieselRob]

Got Datatool here on the quad.

Same here, fitted by the dealer from new

 

[Fendt516profi]

Atv trac, pull starting the quad today and it rung me to make sure the quad was secure. Have a data tool one to and it doesn't ring when trailering the quad but does immobilise it if the fobs not present

 

[DieselRob]

Atv trac, pull starting the quad today and it rung me to make sure the quad was secure. Have a data tool one to and it doesn't ring when trailering the quad but does immobilise it if the fobs not present

Odd because Datatool is usually very good, by the time I’m at the end of the farm lane (half mile ish) they’re on to me, very frustrating (at myself) as I’m crap at remembering to set transport mode

 

[ford4000]

Atv trac, pull starting the quad today and it rung me to make sure the quad was secure. Have a data tool one to and it doesn't ring when trailering the quad but does immobilise it if the fobs not present

Strange, I only have to freewheel down a hill with the ignition off and Datatool will be on the phone very quickly