- Trackhawk VL03 GPS Tracker with Kill-Switch - 4G LTE Vehicle Tracking for Cars, Trucks & Trailers with Driver Monitoring, Anti-Theft Protection & Real-Time Location Tracking – Subscription Required

I installed the Trackhawk VL03 on my truck a few weeks ago and have been really impressed. The device was easy to set up with clear instructions, and the mobile app gives me real-time location updates whenever the vehicle is moving. The built-in kill switch adds peace of mind, since I can remotely disable the vehicle if something happens. GPS accuracy has been spot-on and the 4G LTE connectivity means updates are fast. The subscription is necessary for live tracking, but the cost is reasonable considering how much functionality you get. Overall, this is a high-quality tracker and security device that works as advertised.

UPDATE 7/10/2024: This is a good GPS system and I actually went to Mexico and the GPS and kill switch worked great. Unfortunately, less than 1 year after install, the GPS died in the parking lot of a store. What this meant was that I could no longer start my truck until I wired the ignition back the way it was. Luckily, I had tools in the truck and was able to do so in under 30 minutes. The device did its job but a bit disappointed that it died under 1 year. I had another unit in my car that was simply GPS and no killswitch and was paying $50 per month for that. I was referred to Trackhawk GPS by another friend who bought it. Yes, you pay a monthly fee of $20 (or $16 if paid annually) but it is worth it since you get coverage and peace of mind in the USA, Canada, and Mexico (probably other countries too but only know of North America). Installation is very easy. The instructions aren't very good and I actually found a youtube video that helped me but it was for another GPS device with similar wiring. I think it would benefit the Trackhawk Team and their customers if they made an install video. Yes, all car wiring is different but it would let people see more or less how to wire/install. I have a 2008 F250 Diesel and was able to install in about an hour. If you need a wiring guide for your car, you can use a website like The12volt which will give you the wire color coding for your vehicle. Before you install anything, make sure you turn the device on and activate then test that GPS and everything works. For constant power, I simply tapped into the power cable on my OBD2 port since it did not require removing the stereo or making the install more complicated than it needed to be. For ground, I simply installed a a ring terminal to the ground wire and drilled it into clean grounded metal under the dash. For ACC, there are different places you can check under your dash. Your best bet may actually be to to into your ignition wiring as you will have an ACC wire there and will need to cut the starter wire anyways For the starter, search The12volt website for your wiring diagram or even Google and it will tell you the cooler of the starter wire, or you can use a power tester and start your vehicle a few times to see which one runs to the starter. Lastly, you will have the wire to the kill switch relay. Then you simply hide all of the cables and reinstall any panels you removed. It is very simple to do.

It is a very reliable and efficient device

This is our second unit. This product is awesome! I’ve had the first unit in my Honda Element for about 6 months now and love the peace of mind it gives me. I’ve lived in Philadelphia and Baltimore with this device where car thefts are unfortunately commonplace. They may break my window and get nothing but they won’t drive off with my vehicle. I am not mechanically inclined so I had to find someone to install it and reaching out to mechanic’s shops was pointless, none of them wanted to do it. Maybe because it’s equipment they’re not familiar with, I’m not quite sure. So I reached out to some car audio places that put in stereos and security systems with alarms and remote starters. I found one that had good reviews and they charged me $250 to put it in. They hid it well inside the engine compartment so you can’t even see it when looking in the engine compartment. We’re about to have this unit installed in a new city and found another car audio guy who’s charging $299 to put it in our Nissan Xterra. In this vehicle he said he has to put it in the dash so that has to be opened up. The app is very good and easy to use. I feel better using that than there being a switch hidden somewhere inside the car. If I forget to enable the kill switch I just pull out my phone. I’ve had to call customer service a few times for questions and account stuff and they are beyond great! Very communicative, fast to respond and will solve your problem professionally. They’re a US company and that makes me feel more comfortable than trying to deal with distance and a language barrier with a Chinese product. Buy this product, you won’t regret it!

UPDATE - This is a very capable product, and works well IF you can get past the installation. The company stands behind it and will help you if you contact them, BUT if you don't understand circuits and/or the electrical system of your car, intimately, it will be a nightmare. A pro will be done in 45min-1hour, amateur maybe double that, but don't expect a step by step youtube tutorial. This is not for Hacks. This is like buying a low make British sportscar. The performance is spectacular, but it will be inherently difficult in ways a mass market daily driver isn't. If you aren't absolutely confident in your technical wherewithal, or you don't own a car with an existing youtube tutorial, I would recommend coughing up $100-$150 and get a car audio installer to do it right. The app and software is very capable, but hides important features by default. Call Tech Support, and you can get it to be a great tool. If you have a fleet of cars, this is definitely for you. If you are a one off casual user, it can be great, just understand what you're getting into. I think the monthly user fee is too high for my use; however, I am a junkie used to cheap Chinese garbage quality. This is absolutely not that. If I was doing it over again, I might have pause in the decision; but if I was a Turo baron, a Mexican Cartel middle manager, or had an appreciable plumbing business; it makes a lot of sense. All in all - it is a good product, at a fair price. Not a bargain, but it does things much better than the very cheap models, albeit at a cost.

Recommend

The app interface needs improvement, not very user friendly. I also think some better features could be added. For example, the speed limit setting only sends you warnings but doesn’t actually limit the speed on the car like a governed. Would also be nice to see a feature that tells you about rapid acceleration, or like people donuts in your rental car. The subscription fee is a bit up their compared to the competitors and I expected a bit more.

I work for a program and we needed a device that did a lot more than GPS locate. When I found this product, I called the number and the guy Rob helped me through everything, he was absolutely amazing. He always picked up my call from start to finish. He shipped the product out for me right away so I could get it faster, he set up the appointment for me to get it installed, he coordinated with the people installing to ensure the device was working, he talked me through setting up the account and how to use the app and website. I have nothing but good things to say about the service I received, I will be using them and this device whenever I need this. As for the devices, the tracking is so so precise, I was shocked, the ability to use the kill switch and take control of whether the vehicle can be turned on or not, regardless of the person having the key, is so important and it does it safely. All the other functions, such as, setting a max speed that they can't go over that, a geolocation so they have parameters to where they can drive, it is in-depth, easy, and everything I needed. Again, I work for a mental health program, safety, ease, and ensuring my student can be adults but we still have the control needed to ensure safe decisions, this device is perfect.