It dawns on me as I start spending more and more money on my truck that I want to drive daily, that it would be a good idea to make it more secure.

Sure there are things like car alarms (which I'll probably do with a keyless entry at some point), but it got me thinking. Especially a bit outside the box as we who build trucks know every wire, ever nut and bolt, every detail about it. Thus we can throw in a thing or two that no one else will catch.

I sorta thought about things like changing the wiring for starting it, having a kill switch before or maybe even needing a key and then using a push button start hidden somewhere. Nothing actually inconvenient (cause you'd never really use it then so what's the point?), but maybe a little something that would make stealing it a whole lot less easy.

Now I know if someone wants it bad enough, it's going to be theirs, not much you can do about someone with a tow-truck, but still a little something extra doesn't hurt as most people who are going to try to steal it are just going to jump in and drive away.


I think the biggest obstacle with it all would be making something real easy to use and yet in no way be a safety concern as you where driving it.

So, anyone have any neat ideas? Don't have to be too technical if it's something you don't want the world to know obviously. The idea I'm going for is ease of use, I mean how many of us actually put on 'the club' (or better yet the ones that lock up the pedals on the floor) every single time? But if it's sorta an automatic thing it could actually be kinda fun... well not if it's like trying to fly a plane, but just a little trick.



(and yes, I've had a truck stolen before. My whole thing is "there are many like it, but this one is mine." Another one just like it is not the same, the details are different, you don't know it like you would know your first)

 

I know several people that have multiple disabler switches in their vehiclea - Battery cutouts, ignition disrupters, extra switches, fuel switches
The best is something that will not allow them to drive it anywhere - Second best is a tracking device, they have one for dogs now

 

I approach my truck security two ways - short-term and long-term. For short-term I have the standard car alarm setup and a kill switch on the ignition. For long term storage I also have a weather-proof, under the hood switch that kills the connection for the ignition coil and a battery disconnect. Frankly, I believe the old adage - Door locks are for an honest man. If someone wants to steal something bad enough they will. Our job is to make it harder for them to do it. It stinks we live in such a world but it's a fact. Even with disabling everything, someone can still ****** the truck without ever starting it. I have been working on a wheel immobilizer similar to a car "boot". Maybe that will stop them.

 

As important as a good security system can be..good insurance is equally important. You may be surprised how inexpensive "collector" car insurance can be. For example, I have $40k "stated amount" coverage on my 56 F100 thru Grundy for only 188.00 a year. That's with zero deductibles coll/comp. That's pretty good peace of mind in the event of a total theft. You can go on line at www.grundy.com for a quote based on the amount of insurance you need.
There are other collector car insurance companies out there as well for price comparison purposes. Google them.

 

What he said.

A while back I was searching for coverage on a collectable vehicle and got quotes for similar stated value coverage from grundy, haggardy and C&S, I believe it was. I ran these policies by State Farm to verify these other policies would work with my SF umbrella policy and I had a pleasant surprise. SF quoted me numbers that were competitive and actually cheaper than the other quotes. There is very little difference in the actual features, some of which I like SF better. SF has recently learned that the collector car coverage can be profitable, that we take care of our vehicles. A few years back, SF was not competitive.

I've been known to pull a rotor from an antique tractor to disable it short time.

 

Just a simple battery disconect mounted on the firewall is a pretty good security device . Very easy to reach under the dash and cut it on and off .

 

Transmission choice can actually help in this area. Anybody can drive an automatic, but it's absolutely amazing how many people can't drive a manual these days. One other trick that I like is a hydraulic line lock for the brakes. It's a small part that you mount in the floor where it's out of the way in the cab but in easy reach from the driver seat and easy to plumb brake lines to from under the cab. It's going to be awfully hard to tow in a hurry without dollies if the brakes are set!

 

How would a brake lock work? I mean at that point you could use it like an ebrake too. I'm just curious on how it works without getting air in the line and if it could be dangerous while driving. Cause its a pretty neat idea.

 

Anything you can do to help deter someone from trying to break into your vehicle. A crook isn't going to waste much time unless he is looking for your vehicle no matter what you do if he wants it it's gone. Insurance, alarm, tracking system, a club and anything else you can do is for kids looking for a joy ride and trying to steal thing out of it.... I have a club, adding altmen latches, power door lock, alarm to install in mine that has autostart, & 2-way communication remote.

 

Hi Guys,
I have the standard alarm system plus I have a very small
toggle switch under the dash driver's side that shuts off the electronic fuel pump.

I have State Farm but I think it's just carried as an ordinary car - I'll try the classic car route - thanks for that one.

Ben

 

I had a thought with the brake line lock; for the brakes to be locked on it needs to be engaged with the pedal down to have the pressure to work (otherwise its just no brakes and then you will have a crashed truck instead of stolen lol ). But, would this hurt the master cylinder? It might be fine held in place with suction, but I wonder if having suction hold it down instead of a foot over time would wear it out much faster.

 

A line-loc on the brake system is plumbed in after the MC and is really for temporary use only. The way it works is enable it, press the brake pedal and it holds pressure on the wheel cylinders until you disable it. I have installed several of these on medium duty trucks that had hydraulic brakes, but they are not recommended for parking brakes. You could install one and just turn it on when you get out of the truck. When someone jumps in and takes off, the first time they hit the brakes it will keep them from going farther.

 

Though it might risk them trying to power through it I suppose, might break something lol. Still a neat idea with a possibility of a better one hidden in there I think.

 

I made my own "wheel lock" a few years ago for a covered trailer I had. I chained it to a telephone pole, through one of the wheels. I kept it in the alley behind my shop so I was afraid that it might be stolen. Of course I forgot about it and hooked up and started to drive away. The good thing was that I didn't pull the pole out of the ground, but I did have to buy a new wheel. I am planning on an alarm and installing a cut out switch. I will also have insurance.

 

Let em take it. Who wants a 60 year old truck with 100 Horse power and a manual trans? Its insured for way more than its worth through Haggerty. Inexpensvie and agreed value. If its stolen I hope I dont get it back.