Comparing the Best RV Pet Temperature Monitors

Pros:

• Real-time updates on conditions through smartphone app
• GPS tracking in case your RV is lost or stolen
• Includes 1 year cell subscription when purchased from Amazon

Cons:

• Monthly subscription costs after first year
• Fee for starting or stopping monthly subscriptions
• Only one sensor and only monitors temperatures

Ideal For: Full-time RVers with pets that are regularly left alone for long periods while RVer is at work or on excursions during extreme temperatures (heat or cold). The GPS tracking is also an ideal feature for travel trailer owners as travel trailers are at a higher risk of being stolen than Class A or Class C RVs.

Currently, the annual plan is $120/year ($10/month) while the monthly plan is $15/month with $5 fees for every time you start or stop service, quickly running up the total cost for part-time or seasonal RVers.

Buy Now: RV PetSafety Pet Temperature Monitor

Pros:

• Additional Flooding and Lost Power Alerts
• Powered via 120V adapter or USB which lets you use 12V RV system
• Can turn off monthly monitoring without fees, so long as you use it 4 months per year
• Can add additional water sensors to detect possible flooding issues

Cons:

• Monthly subscription costs
• No GPS tracking for the RV
• Only one temperature/humidity sensor

Ideal For: Full-time or part-time RVers that will leave their pets unattended in the RV and are also worried about potential flooding/pipe bursts and indoor humidity. With a less likely chance of being stolen, Class A and Class C RV owners may be less interested than travel trailer owners in the GPS tracking that the RV PetSafety monitor offers. Meanwhile, the option to convert SPucks into an entry alarm may be useful in case of thieves attempting to gain entry to steal the contents of your RV.

Buy Now: MarCELL PRO Cellular Monitoring System with Water Sensor

Pros:

• Additional Flooding and Lost Power Alerts
• Powered via 120V adapter or USB which lets you use 12V RV system
• Can turn off monthly monitoring without fees
• Can add additional water sensors to detect possible flooding issues

Cons:

• Monthly subscription costs, although lower than the MarCELL PRO plans
• No smartphone application to see real-time conditions
• No warning when battery completely discharges
• Only one temperature/humidity sensor

Ideal For: Seasonal RVers that may occasionally leave their pets (particularly RV tailgaters during football season) but don’t need constant coverage for their pets.

Cheaper subscription plans make the MarCELL ideal for cost conscious RVers. Currently, there are three plans, with monthly being $14.95, seasonal (4-8 month plans) being $11.95/month, and annual being $99/year ($8.25/month). There are no stop/start fees for MarCELL, unlike the RV PetSafety monitor, as long as you don’t leave it suspended for more than 6 months.

If you are traveling in Canada, then make sure you get the AT&T version. The Verizon version does not work in Canada.

Buy Now: MarCELL Cellular monitoring with Water SPuck

Pros:

• High and Low Temperature Settings and Alarms/li>
• GPS tracking
• Can turn off monthly monitoring for a low fee
• Can add door and window sensors and motion sensors to detect intrusions into your RV. A cable lock can also be added to secure generators, bikes, and other gear and will alert you when unlocked or the cable cut.

Cons:

• Monthly subscription costs
• No smartphone application to see real-time conditions
• One-time activation fee of $20 in addition to product costs
• Limited GPS locate services included in standard plan; additional fees for more location requests or high volume tracking.

Ideal For: Part-time or weekend RVers that need security between trips and temperature monitoring all the time. Built-in batteries mean that this works without a power source, so the system will work even if you have to store without power hookups.

But if you do have power hookups, you can set an alert to notify you if power has been disconnected. This can act as an early alert system if the power goes out with your pet inside, before the temperatures rise from the A/C being out.

Buy Now: DeWalt MobileLock DS600 Portable Alarm System

Pros:

• Connects with the Ring Alarm Pro system
• History by week, day, hour available on app
• Easy setup.
• Can add routines with Alexa-enabled devices when certain conditions met (temperature, humidity)

Cons:

• Needs Ring or Alexa apps to operate as part of the larger system.
• No GPS tracking
• Few RV-specific Alexa-enabled devices so far.

Ideal For: RVers that have Ring security system in their RV.

This is a great add-on to the Ring Alarm PRO RV security system. Easily integrate in with other Alexa-enabled devices to monitor not just temperature, but also different aspects of air quality and then create routines that can automatically start when certain conditions are reached (ie turn a heater on with a plug during winter, turn on a dehumidifier, etc).

Can also add the Flood and Freeze Sensor which is great for monitoring for potential burst pipes in winter or just regular old water and plumbing mishaps.

Highly recommend the Ring Alarm Pro system for remote monitoring, including cameras, and basic automation of the RV. The system itself does require subscription for most remote monitoring capabilities, but include its own cell-based connection.

Buy Now: Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor

Pros:

• Easily expand system to add additional sensors for RV wet bay, fridge, etc.
• Use Bluetooth for local readings if WiFi not available
• Maintains 20 days of data between syncs
• Gateway can plug directly into Ethernet cable if hard-wired connection is available

Cons:

• No water sensors for flooding/burst pipes
• No GPS tracking
• Sensors are not waterproof so outside applications need to be protected from rain, dew, etc

Ideal For: Full-time or part-time RVers that leave pets unattended only occasionally and for limited periods (ie not daily work).

Meanwhile, the Bluetooth and expanded system let you monitor additional spots, like the fridge and freezer (for food safety purposes) and the wetbay (during winter to prevent pipes from freezing). With the long-range system of the SensorPush sensors, you can easily monitor an RV parked in a garage, outside your house, or even in a detached building on your property during winter.

One sensor and one gateway is approximately the same cost as the Temp Stick system. The advantage comes from the additional sensors that are a third of the price of the Temp Stick.

Buy Now: SensorPush Wireless Thermometer and Hygrometer | SensorPush WiFi Gateway

Pros:

• No monthly subscription fees
• No gateway device required
• Unlimited history of readings on App or web account

Cons:

• No phone call alert options; only text and email
• No AC/DC power options; only AA batteries
• Full price for additional sensors

Ideal For: RVers that want a simple system to monitor temperatures while your pet is left unattended in your RV without monthly subscription fees.

Buy Now: Temp Stick Wireless Temperature Sensor

Pros:

• Dry probe lets you extend wire to secondary location (outside or wetbay)
• Easily add up to 5 additional probes, including water sensor
• Weather resistant case with on-sensor temperature display

Cons:

• Subscription required for continued email and text alerts
• Gateway must be hooked directly to router
• Short battery life

Ideal For: Stationary RVers or for offseason storage where an ethernet connection is available for the gateway. Cheapest option for remote monitoring. May be an option for part-time RVers to monitor conditions in their sticks and bricks home rather than their RV.

Currently, the first three months of email and text alerts are free. After that, a one year subscription is $11.88 ($0.99/month) making it much cheaper than the cellular based RV pet temperature monitoring systems.

Buy Now: La Crosse Wireless Monitoring System with Dry Probe | Add-on WaterLeak Probe

Pros:

• Three additional sensors each with their own displays
• No subscription fees
• Battery powered (AA and AAA)

Cons:

• Additional purchase required for offsite remote access to current conditions
• No GPS tracking
• No sensors for busted pipes or flooding

Ideal For: Offseason RV storage at your home where you can regularly check temperatures inside the RV. Since both the display and the sensors are battery powered, you don’t have to worry about plugging the RV into home electric to monitor conditions inside the RV.

Not recommended for remote monitoring with unattended pets left inside the RV unless sensors paired with the pricey Acurite Access. At that price, you should purchase one of the above systems made specifically for remote access.

Buy Now: AcuRite Indoor Temperature and Humidity Station

Use the camera on a spare cellphone to setup a monitoring application. Point the camera at a temperature station, such as the AcuRite Indoor Station above. Then use your primary phone to check-in regularly. You can also tell the dog to get off the couch even if you aren’t there.

Pros:

• Free app although it contains ads
• Motion sensor and low light capabilities
• Two-way communication possible

Cons:

• Data heavy which can be difficult in some scenarios
• Need to set alarm or remember to check-in regularly; no temperature alerts
• Easily bumped or knocked over to prevent seeing temperature

Ideal For: the most price conscious RVers or those that will only leave pets unattended on a very infrequent basis to make investing in a more reliable system a good idea. Better than not having any remote viewing to check on your furry family members.

Download Now: Alfred Home Security App