Hood Locks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
I don't have anything to lock. lol 240 sixes just aren't what most midnight bandits are looking for. Actually if I did think I needed to lock it I would move, I don't even take the keys out of it most of the time.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Why lock it?
Well, I am trying to decide whether or not to get the hood lock whose sale price expires tonight. Willow, I doubt if you would move, and even if you did not every one has that luxury and that would presume your truck is never far from hearth and home anyway. I don't worry about locking my hood that much, most of the time the truck is at home and sometimes I leave the keys in it. I did have a battery stolen years ago parked in front of a dentists office while I was inside for a visit to the dentist.
The reason to lock the hood that I see, is to make it a lot harder for someone to steal the whole truck.
Anyway, sounds like no one has really used the factory option hood lock that Motor Haven has on sale. I assume after installation, you would actually lock the hood with a small padlock. If you live in a really safe neighborhood, just slip a little piece of baling wire where the pad lock would go!
Joe
The reason to lock the hood that I see, is to make it a lot harder for someone to steal the whole truck.
Anyway, sounds like no one has really used the factory option hood lock that Motor Haven has on sale. I assume after installation, you would actually lock the hood with a small padlock. If you live in a really safe neighborhood, just slip a little piece of baling wire where the pad lock would go!
Joe
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 1
From: california
It's not so much as where you live, it's more of where you park it. For instance, just this afternoon while parked at the boneyard looking for parts, someone was in the parking lot looking for parts. They found two of my hub caps!!!
What piece of Ch@#y would do that? I guess I'm fortunate that they weren't looking for a battery or anything else. Well, I guess this means that I have two more reasons to look for hub caps that I really like. I think the hub caps on the early Broncos are cool, but I think they're all 15's. On my other truck, I fished a chain through the "channeling" of the hood and use a padlock. Works fine.
What piece of Ch@#y would do that? I guess I'm fortunate that they weren't looking for a battery or anything else. Well, I guess this means that I have two more reasons to look for hub caps that I really like. I think the hub caps on the early Broncos are cool, but I think they're all 15's. On my other truck, I fished a chain through the "channeling" of the hood and use a padlock. Works fine.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 281
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From: Bearspaw (near Calgary)
Does someone have a picture of the factory hood lock? I've never seen such a beast. And jherman I don't think most car thieves need to get under the hood to hotwire your truck. I watched a show on car thieves last week and the thieves themselves said the biggest deterrent for them was "The Club" or equivalent. I also like the brake lock that some guys have mentioned on this site.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
I had a room-mate in the Army who told me he and another buddy in the state of _______ would steal batteries out of parked cars. Couldn't believe it.
So, depending on where it's parked I suppose a hood lock would be a good idea. I don't spend much time away from my rig or keep it garaged. Call me paranoid. But a good hood lock would be sweet. Might give me that pseudo-confidence to at least leave it for a while...?
So, depending on where it's parked I suppose a hood lock would be a good idea. I don't spend much time away from my rig or keep it garaged. Call me paranoid. But a good hood lock would be sweet. Might give me that pseudo-confidence to at least leave it for a while...?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
The locking hood cables are easily defeating unless you go to an extreme mounting them. Usually if you can get a pry bar between the dash and lock, you can pry them right off the lower part of the dash or rip the mounting bolts through the dash sheet metal. Then all you have to do is pull on the lock cable to unlock the hood.
Pad lock the hood, gas cap lock, wheel locks, and install a hydraulic brake lock and you are going to discourage and defeat most the criminals. I throw a club on as a visual just to discourage the stupid thiefs with only a screw driver and coat hanger so they do not cause unwanted damage.
If they want the radio from my truck, they willhave to find it and put it back first
Pad lock the hood, gas cap lock, wheel locks, and install a hydraulic brake lock and you are going to discourage and defeat most the criminals. I throw a club on as a visual just to discourage the stupid thiefs with only a screw driver and coat hanger so they do not cause unwanted damage.
If they want the radio from my truck, they willhave to find it and put it back first
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
I have to wonder where you guys live to feel that is all necessary, or more accurately, where are you leaving your trucks at?
And no matter how well you lock it up you are still only keeping out the stupid ones.
I just leave my truck unlocked, no sense getting a window broken out for them to find out there isn't much in that mess. I did have a couple guns stolen back on the farm in broad daylight but I wouldn't put myself through a lifetime of paranoia to avoid it again. I just never left my guns in the window again.
And no matter how well you lock it up you are still only keeping out the stupid ones.
I just leave my truck unlocked, no sense getting a window broken out for them to find out there isn't much in that mess. I did have a couple guns stolen back on the farm in broad daylight but I wouldn't put myself through a lifetime of paranoia to avoid it again. I just never left my guns in the window again.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
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I had a 75 Ford back while in the service. It was parked outside one of the local watering holes one evening. Long story short, somebody broke into my truck.
They left me $100 and a new radio.
It was a real bad looking truck..
They left me $100 and a new radio.
It was a real bad looking truck..
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
Likes: 10
From: **** hole San Jose ca.
I've lived in many places, big citys to a small place with 300 people
and theres always someone there wanting to get something for free in a time of need and thats when your not around. Well, last week there was a older T-Bird up on cement blocks and a jack
with all 4 tires gone, and down the block a guy had his truck broken in to and around $2,500 to $3,000 of stuff stolen. 6 months ago there was a compact car stolen at day time across street from me. Well,I could keep going but will stop here. I have to park my truck on the street. I have a chained hood, the club, a cut off switch on the battery and a blinking Red LED in the dash. A lager sliding bolt across the camper door with a big pad-a- lock on that, Plus wheel locks and alarm on the cab doors. knock knock on wood the truck has not been messed with yet
shxt happens all day and night, just get a police scanner and
you will hear of all the crap going on in your area..
My old saying is you can't to safe. Have a great sleep!
PS lots of stuff going on right now, My scanner is always all
orich
and theres always someone there wanting to get something for free in a time of need and thats when your not around. Well, last week there was a older T-Bird up on cement blocks and a jack
with all 4 tires gone, and down the block a guy had his truck broken in to and around $2,500 to $3,000 of stuff stolen. 6 months ago there was a compact car stolen at day time across street from me. Well,I could keep going but will stop here. I have to park my truck on the street. I have a chained hood, the club, a cut off switch on the battery and a blinking Red LED in the dash. A lager sliding bolt across the camper door with a big pad-a- lock on that, Plus wheel locks and alarm on the cab doors. knock knock on wood the truck has not been messed with yet
shxt happens all day and night, just get a police scanner and
you will hear of all the crap going on in your area..
My old saying is you can't to safe. Have a great sleep!
PS lots of stuff going on right now, My scanner is always all
orich
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Hood Lock NOT
Thanks for the input. I think I finally figured out the the Hood Lock at 25% offf was in fact just a standard Hood Latch based on the part number. Some of the parts books call it a hood lock and some call the same part number a hood latch.
I would still like to come across something to lock the hood down. I used to use a club but quit. A battary interrupt switch seems like it would be good.
We all know if someone wants it bad enought they are going to take it unless you are standing there with a S&W.
Thanks.
Joe
I would still like to come across something to lock the hood down. I used to use a club but quit. A battary interrupt switch seems like it would be good.
We all know if someone wants it bad enought they are going to take it unless you are standing there with a S&W.
Thanks.
Joe