Family vehicle tracker recommendations

[Sigarms]

Long story short, with two kids driving and a couple of issues that have me come to this point, it's time to use technology and get a vehicle tracking device for the "family" shared vehicle.

Anyone use one? What brand? How do you like it?

Primary reason is for tracking speed.

 

[oosik]

The Taco Wagon came with a GPS activated tracking system. It's made by Garmin.

If I don't know where I am - it will show me where on the digital map display. It can also show others where I am if they have a GPS unit and the appropriate software. All can be supplied by Garmin.

Yes - if it will show my speed as an individual display or on the map display. Will it display my speed to others with appropriate GPS unit and software - I don't know.

It CAN be configured to display any journey with the pickup and speeds during the trip. It's a recording feature that can be called up on the digital display in the truck.

With appropriate GPS unit and software it might even be able to display this information on an external unit. Again - I do not know.

I've really never used it that much. Like on my motorcycle - with plenty of gas in the tank - I'm NEVER lost.

 

[bdhsfz6]

If you have a smartphone, you could use these Apple Air Tags:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/mobile-phone-accessories/bluetooth-trackers/pcmcat748301221690.c?id=pcmcat748301221690&qp=brand_facet%3DBrand~Apple&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy4eNBhCaARIsAFDVtI1K3waHu1UpULcP_eZyupLONkd-OEaSZxwIZjJW4kETj1UcfiPLA1oaArVuEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

They are easily hidden and have decent battery life. There are apps available which show position and speed.

 

[Sigarms]

Ossik

Appreciate the feedback, the only issue is I'm looking for an aftermarket GPS tracking system (one that can be monitored remotely when the vehicle is in use). The "family" car for the kids to use is a 20 year old Honda Accord with no factory installed GPS.

 

[Sigarms]

If you have a smartphone, you could use these Apple Air Tags:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/mobile-phone-accessories/bluetooth-trackers/pcmcat748301221690.c?id=pcmcat748301221690&qp=brand_facet%3DBrand~Apple&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy4eNBhCaARIsAFDVtI1K3waHu1UpULcP_eZyupLONkd-OEaSZxwIZjJW4kETj1UcfiPLA1oaArVuEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

They are easily hidden and have decent battery life. There are apps available which show position and speed.

Have you used one yourself, and if yes, how do you use it? My only fear from something that small is how reliable is the information, particularly speed while driving a vehicle.

That said, come to think of it, using waze on my phone is pretty accurate for speed.

 

[Root Cause]

I have a Trackr on my tractor. It seems to be good as far as location but speed was WAY off.
I traveled at 70 mph and it said I was going 117. Sorry I can't help with what works but this is one I would avoid.

 

[jk96]

Our family uses the life 360 app for our phones including our 3 kids. Free version tracks location and speed and shows a map history for the last few trips including max speed for that trip. A pay version gives you more safety options. Sure they could leave the phone but our stipulation is the phone always goes with you when driving and if you don't answer my calls privileges are lost. Luckily we are blessed with 3 very good kids.

Jeremy

 

[TractorGuy]

My wife and I have location sharing on in Google Maps but it doesn't log speed.

I have dash cameras in my vehicles. The one in my truck logs GPS data and speed. The speed only uses kph but is easily converted. The unit fits neatly around the rear view mirror stem so it isn't real obvious. The brand won't help you much because it was made for the double din head unit I installed.

Just throwing it out there. You might be able to find a dash camera with the features you want and then some. I know Garmin makes a dash camera that logs location and speed but I don't know if it will report either remotely.

I prefer units that hard wire to the vehicle and automatically start when the vehicle does.

 

[Sigarms]

I prefer units that hard wire to the vehicle and automatically start when the vehicle does.

Without doing much investigation as of yet, that would be my preference as well. Although I know for as much driving as I do and using the WAZE ap, it does work remarkably well IMO.

 

[Sigarms]

Our family uses the life 360 app for our phones including our 3 kids. Free version tracks location and speed and shows a map history for the last few trips including max speed for that trip. A pay version gives you more safety options. Sure they could leave the phone but our stipulation is the phone always goes with you when driving and if you don't answer my calls privileges are lost. Luckily we are blessed with 3 very good kids.

Jeremy

I'll need to look at it, thanks.

The irony on my end is the one we didn't expect is the one who was playing Mario Andretti on the way to work the other day.

In his defense, a couple of months ago I received an email from my home office in NY. Apparently I was doing 80 one morning. I called and apologized and mentioned I honestly didn't remember going that fast, and he laughed and at least said I'm not a problem like some others

 

[jk96]

Here's a couple of screenshots for you from my boys info. Shows current location, when he arrived, trip time, max speed, etc all in the free version. Gives you crash detection alerts as well. Map shows both map and satellite details.

 

[jk96]

The other nice thing is that is shows the phones battery life so they can't turn the phone off and claim the battery was dead. Also shows if GPS has been turned off.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

My previous employer had dongles that plugged into the vehicle's OSB port under the dash. They gave location, vehicle status (running, idle time, odometer miles, any fault codes, etc), speed while under way, and I'm not sure what else. I know it was a paid service, used for company "fleet vehicles", but it was all very easily defeated by simply unplugging the dongle from the port. "My" company vehicle had to go into the shop for service once, and they unplugged the dongle to plug in their reader. Unbeknownst to me, they left it off. It rode that way for months before anyone said anything about it.

Long story short, something easily defeatable (like something easily found and unplugged) would make the whole exercise pointless.

How about just taking away the car and letting junior walk for a month? Tell him next time it will be 6 months. If there's one after that, tell him it's permanent.

I know it's an unpopular idea these days...

 

[jk96]

How about just taking away the car and letting junior walk for a month? Tell him next time it will be 6 months. If there's one after that, tell him it's permanent.

I know it's an unpopular idea these days...

I think the op is looking for a way to know when that needs to be done without relying on a second-hand report after the fact if and when it ever comes

 

[plowhog]

I have a Trackr on my tractor. ... I traveled at 70 mph and it said I was going 117.

Does your tractor have a racing stripe?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If you have a smartphone, you could use these Apple Air Tags:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/mobile-phone-accessories/bluetooth-trackers/pcmcat748301221690.c?id=pcmcat748301221690&qp=brand_facet%3DBrand~Apple&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy4eNBhCaARIsAFDVtI1K3waHu1UpULcP_eZyupLONkd-OEaSZxwIZjJW4kETj1UcfiPLA1oaArVuEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

They are easily hidden and have decent battery life. There are apps available which show position and speed.

I have airtags in all vehicles now. My wife doesn’t have iPhone, so it only updates as other iPhones pick it up.

 

[Sigarms]

I think the op is looking for a way to know when that needs to be done without relying on a second-hand report after the fact if and when it ever comes

Very well said, thank you.

We have our family thanksgiving get together today, just came back from the landfill on my end, may I ask do they set an "administrator" on the account? I'm guessing per plan fee per month, unlimited family members?

 

[Jchonline]

Our family uses the life 360 app for our phones including our 3 kids. Free version tracks location and speed and shows a map history for the last few trips including max speed for that trip. A pay version gives you more safety options. Sure they could leave the phone but our stipulation is the phone always goes with you when driving and if you don't answer my calls privileges are lost. Luckily we are blessed with 3 very good kids.

Jeremy

360 is a horrible battery drain on iPhones. I do not recommend.

Before anyone says "ours are fine", please look at your battery usage in Settings over the past day or 10 days and tell me which App is using a crazy amount of battery. My brother had it for his family and my parents. My Dad was complaining about his phone running down. I looked and day it was using over 60% of the battery life on the phone in a given period. I deleted it from my parents phones and told my brother to use FindMy.

It is much better to just use the iPhone FindMy app and setup a family with it. It uses far less battery.

That said, tracking speed is going to be a HUGE battery drain on a phone. To track speed the GPS antenna has to be active the entire time. Your kid is going to end up with a dead phone battery.

If you need speed, my advice is to get something that operates separately than a phone and preferable plugs into the car.

I don't think AirTags will monitor speed, but even if they did it will drain the battery too fast.

 

[Sigarms]

How about just taking away the car and letting junior walk for a month? Tell him next time it will be 6 months. If there's one after that, tell him it's permanent.

I know it's an unpopular idea these days...

I agree with you, but...

PM sending your way...

 

[Jchonline]

My previous employer had dongles that plugged into the vehicle's OSB port under the dash. They gave location, vehicle status (running, idle time, odometer miles, any fault codes, etc), speed while under way, and I'm not sure what else. I know it was a paid service, used for company "fleet vehicles", but it was all very easily defeated by simply unplugging the dongle from the port. "My" company vehicle had to go into the shop for service once, and they unplugged the dongle to plug in their reader. Unbeknownst to me, they left it off. It rode that way for months before anyone said anything about it.

Long story short, something easily defeatable (like something easily found and unplugged) would make the whole exercise pointless.

How about just taking away the car and letting junior walk for a month? Tell him next time it will be 6 months. If there's one after that, tell him it's permanent.

I know it's an unpopular idea these days...

Nope thats exactly what I would do.