The Unstealable Truck

[FlyAU]

Originally posted by mattadams
I see it all the time, I've even seen it at grocery stores and stuff. That's just stupid. Of course cops do that to bust people often to, just leave a car running unlocked, wait for someone to come along and steal it then nab them. But really, if you are going to leave your car running with the doors unlocked in a public place, or even in your driveway, you deserve to have your car stolen. Occasionally in the winter I'll leave the car running to warm it up but I will always lock the doors, AFTER making certain I have my spare key with me. Then I just go out, unlock the doors, get in, and its nice n cozy warm. True if someone wanted to steal it they'd just have to bust a window, but it's not like I walk 1/4 mile away while letting it warm up, usually just run inside where I can see it and so forth.

What's your address again?

 

[donkey boy]

I don't know if I should post this one here or in the section daybrightner!!

A friend of mine was convinced, that most cars get stolen at night (kind of true though). So he made a secret switch for the headlights hidden in the glove compartment, thinking that if thefts woun't be able to turn on the headlights, they would leave the car where it was. I don't know if his idea would have worked; nobody ever intended to steal his car!

 

[Alon Wilder]

My Friend had a removable steering wheel which seemed to work great. I forget the company that makes it though. The way it would work is you would unlock the steering wheel with a key and pull it off of the steering column and then in its place put a aluminum cap that would lock Eliminating someone from putting another steering wheel on .

If interested I can fined out who makes this product

Alon
surfdog_1@yahoo.com

Originally posted by kubben
As I put more time and mods into my truck I feel the need for a good alarm system. However I really don't want a little beep beep beep beep alarm because the factory gave me one. I want something that makes the truck UNSTEALABLE.

I saw a thing Performance Products had that you hooked to your battery and then unscrew it and the car won't start. Perfect idea! But what if they just rip it off and touch the wires and get it started?

I want something full proof. Any ideas?
I was thinking about wiring some sort of lock to perhaps the starter wires in the engine comparement were it would be HARD to find. Then when locked the car wouldn't start.

Do I sound like a retard? Probably so! hehe

Any ideas? I hope to keep my truck for awhile and my city is getting more and more car theft's.

 

[kubben]

I have airbags and cruise control on my wheel.
So it wouldn't work.
I thought I might just hook the body to a battery so if anyone touches the truck. ZAAAAAPPPPPPP! jk

 

[rpenner54]

Grant makes that stearing wheel.

 

[98 Xplorer]

Hey all,

Just wanted to add my .02. I would have some kind of noise maker on the truck(an alarm)just to attract attention,plus I would then add a switch to the fuel pump mounted in an unfindable location. They would only be able to take your Xplorer by flat bed at that point. Just my security idea.

Alan
98 Xplorer

 

[flyguy]

I like to wire my car up with c4 attached to motion sensors. Nobodys getting my truck.

nick

 

[brianb9]

Quorum electronic key

There actually is no skeleton key that will open all of these electronic locks as each one is different and no one key will make all the right connections in every lock. It is also not easier for a criminal to piece the wires together as all the wiring run to the lock is black and gives no clue as to which ones need to be hooked together if they were even going to try. At best they would have to trace all the black wires back to their colored sources which can be anywhere the installer chooses, very unlikely as criminals are generally in a hurry and will go to another unprotected easier to steal vehicle. Sorry I,ve got no solution for the towing thing. I do park mine in 4 wheel drive with parking break on so if they are going to move it it will have the alarm blairing and the wheels locked and dragging. Hope this helps.

[Edited by brianb9 on 09-13-2000 at 07:12 PM]

 

[kubben]

Where do I get these kill switches and wafers keys and what not? You guys talk about them but I can't find them for sale anywhere.

 

[2001ExpSport]

A lot of you here have posted about electronic car alarms which can easily be bypassed and shut off. The circuit key and the laser thing, don;t waste your time. As for the noise maker, we don't need anymore cars making noise because someone drove by with a catback.

Nobody has mention a FUEL CUT OFF! This is the only fool proof method, no fuel, no car. A fuel cut of switch is mounted under your dash. You leave your car, you shut off the fuel...done. My friend has one and his key is like a Kryptonite key, so it can't be picked.

Don't spend your money on these silly motion detetcor car alarms.

Besides, you have insurance right? Who cares if it gets stolen?

I had a car stolen with out any sort of an alarm in a nice area. Insurance company gave me more than it was worth and paid my deductable, who needs an alarm?

Just my .02

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 09-13-2000 at 08:27 PM]

 

[kubben]

Bad call.
I really care if Stocky gets stolen.
I've put a lot of work into Stocky and that's like losing a kid. Well I don't have kids so I doubt it's like that but it is to me.

PS. Where do I get fuel shut offs, start shut offs, etc?

[Edited by kubben on 09-13-2000 at 08:37 PM]

 

[FlyAU]

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport
Besides, you have insurance right? Who cares if it gets stolen?

Because I'd be forced to drive a POS Chevy Malibu rental until State Farm got around to cutting a check.

On second thought...for what the insurance co. would give me, I could upgrade to a new Land Rover Discovery or (and just so I don't get flamed, lol) a new Explorer Limited. Maybe I could "accidentally" leave a key in the car. Hmm...

 

[Option]

Has anyone ever thought of fully armoring your Explorer. I read this in Popular Science, for something like $15,000 bucks they give you bulletproof windows and bulletproof doors. Imagine someone trying to break in your vehicle and the frustration that will set in after the crook trys to throw a brick through your window 5 or 6 times and can't do it. I couldn't afford this mod but it would be cool to have. Just for you spies out there.

 

[00XLT]

I agree with 2001, your best bet is to get good insurance, LoJack wouldn't hurt too. If you're looking for vehicle protection, here are some more real world suggestions:

1. French your doors, get lexan windows (It'll slow em down)
2. Get any alarm with the pager addon, a membership at Bally's, and a good handgun.

Regardless of what you do to keep them from starting your car, unfortunately it will only stop novices. My Solara actually got stolen by being towed from out of my parking garage and I haven't seen it since. No, it wasn't illegally parked, they tried stealing it two weeks earlier but couldn't get it going, starter kill stumped 'em. But where lack of knowledge ends in failure, ingenuity picks up where it left off, security tapes showed they came back with a tow truck. It isn't anything new, a couple buds of mine on campus have had their cars stolen by tow trucks, drill the battery to shut the car up and tow it off, when's the last time you stopped to ask a tow guy if he was stealing the car he was taking? It's such the perfect guise and it sucks, but it's life. So call up State Farm, bump yourself to full coverage and get a LoJack transmitter put on your car, at least that way you'll have half a chance of getting back.

 

[kubben]

Central Texas offers a tracking device for your car I just found. It gets stolen you call police and they know were it is. And they cannot take off the device.
Genious. I'm calling today.

 

[CHH777]

Some company makes a hydraulic brake locking valve that locks all fours up tight. Hide the valve under your dash and a thief won't know what the hell he's doing wrong. It'll even prevent "unauthorized" towing of your vehicle.

Also handy for winch owners...

 

[kubben]

Please find out who makes that.
Also I still want to know were to buy these fuel pump shut offs and such. Anyone know a web site that sells them?

 

[Alec]

Just to add my little bit...

Those circuit keys that plug under the dash aren't very good. My friend had one that spazzed out on him. A couple of times the car started up on it's own! Also, since it splices into a bunch of circuits, it fryed half his electrical system. He ended up taking it out a year after it was installed. BTW, he took it to three places, and they all said it was the device, not the installation that was the problem.

 

[Ru Dawg]

My .02 worth(if any!)

Here's my theory...Any good auto theif is NOT going to try to steel your ride the first time he/she sees it. They are going to watch you like a hawk for at least a couple weeks. They are going to try to see if you operate kill switches and what not. They may even see you installing one of these detterants, and then you become a target because they know what ya have. I have to agree with some of ya, the kill switches are probably the best method. When you install these things, DO IT YOURSELF IN A GARAGE!!! And also, get GOOD INSURANCE!!! Make sure you put these switches somewhere that you can reach without being obvious that you're reaching for something, under the dash or in the glove box is too easy. How bout under the ash tray? Maybe hide inside the console? BTW..I'm not an expert, I've just read and seen a lot about this. Plus, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!!! LOL! just kiddin'!

[Edited by Ru Dawg on 09-14-2000 at 09:50 AM]

 

[mattadams]

as for the idea of the hydraulic brake good idea in the theory but keep in mind all the brakes completely slammed down tight, the vehicle can still be moved. It can be towed. It can still be dragged. Scared the heck out of me a few times on the poughskeepie trail in ccr2000 when I was going up an incline, didn't make it all the way (took a bad line, my bad) and when putting it in reverse, let off the brake just a little bit to go back a bit, and slid back probably 5-10 feet. Gerald experienced the same thing on another obstacle and I had experienced it before. You can have your brake pedal slammed to the ground and still be moving at a pretty good pace. Like I said I sitll haven't heard of anything that will truly prevent it from being stolen in all situations. I have good insurance, but I know that if it were stolen, I'd probably get about $7500 to $10000 for it, when I've "invested" probably close to $20,000-25,000 in it. Plus all the time I've put into it, and all the work, I'd be super pissed if it got stolen. Like someone else mentioned, the alarm is to keep the amateurs away. Following common sense rules such as lock your car everywhere you go, don't leave spare keys in obvious locations on the outside of the vehicle, park it in the garage whenever possible (I can never park mine in the garage because of the height with the lights on, but if I know I'm not going ot use it for a few days or more I'll pull it into the backyard, where if they wanted ot steal it they'd REALLY have to work at it, they'd have to unlock the gate (or just drive over it which is also possible), then disarm it, then hotwire it drive back over the gate. Still not stealproof but better then sitting in the driveway for a week. I also use PIAA light locks, similar to some tire locks. They could get them off if they wanted, but it'd keep someone from walking by and saying "wow, lots of PIAA's... let me get out my 11/16" wrench and take em home with me!". PIAA also makes a system for wiring your lights in to the alarm so if the lights are tampered with the alarm will go off, but I have no experience with that product nor the knowledge/desire to do all that wiring. So far no ones tried to steal it/steal anyhting out of it that I know of... occasionally I'll come out of where I'm at and there'll be some people looking in the windows of it and stuff which kind of creeps me out but they usually are just interested in the Explorer and want to see what I've got, supposedly. I oughtta get a camera and mount it facing out the window and park it for a while to see eveyrone that walks by and checks it out. I don't know if people have thought about stealing it but saw the flashing red light and decided to go on to the next car, either way it hasn't been stolen yet .

By the way, just FYI, if you shoot someone that is trying to steal your car that is not legal and you can be put to trial for it. About the only state where it is legal is Texas. Now if someone enters your GARAGE and tries to steal your car, you can shoot them and be within your legal limits. Another benefit to parking in the garage whenever possible .