GPS tracker – A caravan spends most of its life parked. It sits in a storage yard over winter, beside the house between trips, or unhitched at camp while you head into town. That’s exactly when you’d like to know where it is, and exactly when a tracker in the tow vehicle is no help at all. Unhitch, and the car’s tracker drives away with the car.
If you’re thinking about tracking the van itself, the first decision isn’t which app or which brand. It’s how the tracker will be powered. Get that right and the rest is straightforward.
Why the van needs its own GPS tracker
Plenty of tow vehicles already carry a plug-in tracker in the OBD-II port. That’s handy for the car, but a caravan has a 12-volt system, not an OBD-II port, so a plug-in car tracker has nowhere to go. A van tracker needs either its own wired power or its own battery.
The same goes for camper trailers, box trailers and work trailers left at a depot. If it gets left behind, it needs a tracker of its own.
Option one: hardwired, when the van has suitable power
A hardwired tracker is connected to the van’s electrical system and fitted out of sight. It’s a permanent, discreet fit, and you never have to remember to charge it.
The catch is the word “suitable”. The tracker needs a supply that stays live when the tow vehicle is disconnected. The lighting plug alone won’t keep a tracker running when the van is parked, and braking and breakaway systems should be kept separate from the tracker’s power. This is a job for a qualified installer, who picks a concealed spot with good reception, tests the power and earth, and confirms reception before closing the panels.
As an example, EZY GPS’s EZYH1 hardwired tracker is rated for a 9–90 V DC supply, so a 12-volt van system is within range, although installation kit limits may differ. It has a built-in backup battery, and because it’s wired in, it can send a power-loss alert if its power is cut. The fitting is arranged and paid for separately.
One more question to ask the installer: how much will the tracker draw from the van’s battery? A vehicle-powered tracker uses battery power, and the effect depends on the device, the install, the battery’s condition and how long the van sits between trips. If it lives in storage for months, say so up front.
Option two: rechargeable, when there’s nothing to tap
If the van or trailer has no practical power to wire into, a rechargeable asset tracker does the job without any wiring. You charge it, mount it securely and let it report.
EZY’s S20-Pro is built for this. It has a 7,500 mAh rechargeable battery with USB-C charging, magnetic mounting and an IP67 enclosure. Battery life isn’t a fixed number. It depends on how often the tracker reports, how much the van moves and the signal where it’s kept, so the reporting schedule is matched to how often the van moves and when you can charge it. Choose a secure mounting position suited to the van and where it’s stored.
The trade-off is simple: no installer and no wiring, but you do need to keep it charged.
What you’ll see in the app
Whichever way it’s powered, a caravan tracker should answer three questions quickly.
Where was it last reported? Open the map and check both the location and the time of the last update. EZY’s trackers offer 10-second live tracking, depending on device settings, power and coverage. A tracker that’s asleep or out of coverage shows where it last reported, so the timestamp matters.
Did it leave the storage yard? Location zones, also called geofences, let you draw a boundary around the yard, the driveway or a work site, with alerts supported by the device and how the service is configured.
When did it move? Recorded journeys and stops show where the van has been.
The hardwired option adds a few extras. On the EZYH1 you can also use after-hours alerts when the van moves while it should be parked, power-loss alerts, mileage and speed reports, and trip export. Those features are on the hardwired unit, so don’t expect them from a battery tracker.
Coverage on the road and in storage
Trackers report over the mobile network, so coverage depends on where you tour and where you store the van. Before you buy, list your storage site and your usual routes, especially if you head regional or remote. EZY’s standard plans run on Optus/Vodafone, with Telstra options available by quote. GPS reception can also be weak inside buildings and underground, which is one more reason to check the last-update time.
What a tracker can and can’t do
A tracker records where the van was reported and can alert you as configured. It can’t promise to stop a theft, and it isn’t a substitute for insurance or physical security. Keep using hitch locks, wheel clamps and secure storage, and use the tracker on a van or trailer you own or are authorised to manage.
Working out the cost
Compare plans per device, with everything included. EZY GPS prices its caravan and trailer GPS tracker plans, for both the EZYH1 and the S20-Pro, at A$77 per device per year including GST, or A$275 per device for five years prepaid, with the tracker, SIM, data and app/web access included, plus A$11 postage per order. Hardwired fitting is separate. There’s a 60-day money-back guarantee and a 5-year device warranty, with terms applying.
Before the first trip with a tracker fitted
Do a short test at home before you rely on the tracker on the road. Open the app, check that the van shows a fresh position and update time. Then tow it around the block to confirm a trip records. If you use a rechargeable unit, note the charge level and set yourself a reminder to top it up before a long trip or a long spell in storage.
Tell everyone who uses the van that it has a tracker, and put the app on the phones of the people most likely to notice it has gone. Keep a note of the van’s registration, VIN and a few photos with your other travel documents. So you can give police the details quickly if you ever need to.
Finally, check the tracker again after the van has been serviced or repaired, in case a panel or connection was disturbed.
The short version
If your van has a supply that stays live when you unhitch, a hardwired tracker gives you a permanent fit and the fuller set of alerts. If it doesn’t, a rechargeable tracker gets you tracking with no wiring. As long as you keep it charged. Either way, check coverage for your storage site and routes. And check the last-update time before you rely on what the map shows. For a setup check, EZY GPS is on 1300 399 477.
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