GPS Tracking device for vehicle security

[4402tuff4u]

Was wondering if anyone here has bought a GPS tracking device for their classic mopar for security reasons. I have Lo jack on mine but it's old technology, large and have been having some issues with battery life. These new units I have researched are compact, easily hidden out of view and provide software that iPhone or other smart phone can display location on a map, on your phone screen. Battery life on these new units is pretty good because it uses power only when you activate it to check on your ride or the unit is activated due to unexpected motion. Any recommendations?

[Troy]

Might be useful:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=120887.0

Check the link to the 70 site a few posts in.

Troy

[68X426]

How does GPS protect the car?  It would just help the law to find it (abandoned, wrecked or chopped up).

Of course I never got the point of Lojack, so I'm just low tech guy.

[myk]

What don't you understand about LoJack?

[68X426]

What don't you understand about LoJack?

How does it make a car secure?  It's a tracking device, right?  So how does it prevent theft, damage, vandalism?

I understand it helps find the car, but that's after the fact, so I don't get how it makes anything secure.

[bull]

Install a manual transmission and automatically 90% of people below age 35 will be unable to steal your car.

[Dino]

Install a manual transmission and automatically 90% of people below age 35 will be unable to steal your car.

You're not lying though.  Last year one of my professors asked a class of 40-ish how many could drive stick and only 4 raised their hands.  I was a bit shocked.

GPS is a must.  If they want your car then it'll be gone.  But at least you'll have a fighting chance to get it back.

[NHCharger]

I have a GPS tracking device from Brickhouse Security. Costs $20.00/month for monitoring fee.

[myk]

What don't you understand about LoJack?

How does it make a car secure?  It's a tracking device, right?  So how does it prevent theft, damage, vandalism?

I understand it helps find the car, but that's after the fact, so I don't get how it makes anything secure.

I've never seen LoJack as a security device.  As a matter of fact, LoJack markets their products as "Vehicle recovery systems."  There's no duplicity or intent to deceive anyone with their products...

[Lord Warlock]

had a nice GPS tracker from garmin (GTU10) that was reasonable for the tracking package, but they terminated service on it this year claiming they were changing to newer cellular network and old unit wouldn't work anymore.  too bad, it worked great and let us check up on our daughter, such as when she was driving across state to visit could tell exactly where she was.  Used it to track her location secretly while she lived at home...she couldn't be trusted with a car, she'd drive out of town any chance she got.

wish I could find a replacement with tracking for less than 10 bucks a month. looking at trackimo, not sure if its any good or not. 

[v21hemicharger]

How does GPS protect the car?  It would just help the law to find it (abandoned, wrecked or chopped up).

Of course I never got the point of Lojack, so I'm just low tech guy.

You can set up geofences and get text alerts when the vehicle goes outside the fence.  Also has rapid tracking.

http://www.rmtracking.com/

[Lord Warlock]

the more I've read about trackimo the more i'm tempted to pick one up, only now the kid I didn't trust in my car is 400 miles away and little need to be tracking a 20 year old. 

[DixieRestoParts]

These systems look interesting. Has anyone installed in an older car without obd system? Will it still work?

I'd love to put in my musclecar's in case of theft or "unauthorized" use. Also, wouldn't be bad to put in a teenager's car.

[Lord Warlock]

I installed the GTU10, with a hardwire kit into the daughters car, wired to the battery so it wouldn't need recharging or removal to charge again.  It also will tell you if the battery is about to die and text mssg me when that happened. It did not use an OBD system.  The trackimo also has a hard wire kit available, and would probably work well for a teenagers car, cost is approximately 140 bucks and first year is free monitoring, 5 bucks a month afterward, about the cheapest deal I've seen.  If I wanted to track the kids car, that is probably what i'd attempt to do it with.  Just thinking my daughter probably no longer needs to be tracked, at least not by me, if the wife wants me to do it, can try that later.

[myk]

These systems look interesting. Has anyone installed in an older car without obd system? Will it still work?

I'd love to put in my musclecar's in case of theft or "unauthorized" use. Also, wouldn't be bad to put in a teenager's car.

Problem is the power source.  If you hook it up to the battery then depending on how much the car is driven you could run it down before long.  Or, someone steals the car, they cut the battery and now the GPS is dead.  You could try a unit with its own battery but then you're charging it constantly.  I don't know.  I think the Lo Jack for classics is the only viable alternative...

[stripedelete]

You could try a unit with its own battery but then you're charging it constantly. 

My buddy used one to monitor his soon-to-be ex's trips to the boyfriends house.  The charge large lasted about 4 months.   Not too bad.