We all know these trucks are theft targets. Let's just say I'm on my 3rd diesel in two years (currently a 2004 F350 6.0L that I've had for 1 month). The first two were stolen and totaled (the first one was stolen 3 times before being totaled), and the current one was very recently broken in to but only "almost" stolen. The damage included the driver's door lock cylinder, sawn through steering wheel (I had a club installed), drilled out ignition cylinder, and smashed windshield (from trying to get the club off).

I know it's relatively easy to set up these trucks to be theft-proof (kill switch) or to be retrieved (Apple Airtag). The issue is that at that point they've already busted in so you're stuck having to replace lock cylinders, door handles, etc..

I was trying to come up with theft-proofing that also had a visual deterrent to stop the attempted theft before it started. I'm considering removing the already compromised steering wheel and installing a race-car style removable steering wheel that I can take with me. I'm just starting research and I realize that means I'll lose cruise control and an air bag and potentially have to relocate a horn switch, but seems like it would be a small price to pay to know my truck will still be there. That combined with a kill switch and I would probably feel comfortable leaving my truck unlocked (but completely empty). For me this is an occasional vehicle not a daily driver.

I'm very experienced mechanically but realize I have no experience when it comes to aftermarket race-style mods and parts. Does anyone know if this is even possible? Does the steering wheel sit on a pretty standard spline or will I have trouble finding a coupler? Will I be throwing codes with the air bag removal? I was considering trying to relocate the cruise control buttons to somewhere on the lower dash but that's not deal breaker. Any constructive input is appreciated.

 

I’ve never heard of anything, I doubt if it’d be possible given the airbag and clock spring wiring. Maybe you should just move to a better neighborhood.

 

I was hoping to just dead-end the airbag and possibly relocate the cruise control controls. Not sure what codes a missing airbag would throw. Grant Products seems to have some adapters that might take care of the horn, but I still have to figure out how/if they would work with a detachable steering wheel.

I never thought of moving. Thank you, thank you! You solved my problem!!!!!!!

 

They were stealing a 6.0 diesel?

 

Had one on my tube frame buggy. It was a center steer rack, couple of u joints, couple pieces of solid shaft, and a couple,e of bearings to hold the shaft the steering wheel attatched to.
https://www.appletreeauto.com/steeri...style-all52302

 

Heroin is a helluva drug

 

Just thinking out loud....

Have you thought of buying "Boots" and put on the wheels? Maybe just remove a front wheel? This would at least be a visible deterrent so maybe they would go elsewhere.

Maybe just remove the battery; Battery Disconnect? Not visible, so truck torn up with them getting in.

Buy a Manual Transmission model? Might not be able to drive it, especially if you get a clutch lockout

Four wheel brake line locks, so all four brakes are set when you park for the night?

Got no information in your signature - where are you located? And the big thing, what's the truck worth to you - If you have had multiple stolen and this truck for a month, how much do you want to spend to keep this truck. Really need more information

 

After the first one I'd have installed surveillance cameras, perhaps Ring, with alerts on my phone. It might not wake me up but I'd have evidence to give to the cops as to who took it, so they could perhaps make some headway in getting these repeat criminals off the streets.

After the second I'd have rigged an alarm that would get me out of bed so I could greet them with my shotgun.

At this point, your insurance company must love you - you're paying HIGHLY inflated rates due to where you live and the number of break-ins your area must be dealing with. I know you think we're joking, but I would HIGHLY consider moving, JUST because of the insurance savings. I mean you'd need to weigh the other costs as well, but there's a good chance you could keep some $$ in your pocket AND quit getting your truck broken into.

 

Id rig up a 12 guage on the passenger seat covered with a jacket or?? open the door and a string pulls the trigger and bye bye scum bag. Or...how about pulling a relay or two under the hood so it wont start?

 

I would pull all the wheels and put the truck on jack stands. Nobody want to steal a junker. Its a bit of a hassle, but no more than the complicated efforts of rigging a quick change steering wheel. If the city gives you hard time about a "junk" car in your driveway, I think you have plenty of good cause to turn that around on them for not policing the area.

 

OP, are you really being serious here? This just sounds beyond the pale

 

Boots - I haven't tried this yet but I may in the future. Seems like pretty minimal hassle for a nice visual deterrent. My only fear is that the ones I've seen are no more difficult to defeat than the steering wheel locks and those don't seem to deter them much. I have video of all the thefts and I'd say the boot adds about 20 seconds to the time it takes to steal the vehicle.
Battery disconnect - I wired up a remote battery disconnect on the Dodge. When you click the button on the keyfob, everything goes dead. The thieves actually popped the hood and defeated it.
Manual Transmission - Unfortunately there's just not enough of those around.
Four wheel brake lock - Good suggestion. I thought about this at one point but it's that whole "they have to brake in first which means I'm stuck replacing hardware" conundrum.

Good suggestions.

I don't want to delve into the political aspects, but I actually live in a very nice neighborhood. It just happens to be in a city (Seattle) that has allowed this type of behavior to be normal and without consequences.

The truck is nice (aside from being a 6.0). Lariat in excellent condition with low miles (under 150K) and the previous owner had recently redone the entire front end, brakes, new injectors, new EGR cooler and some other stuff. I went back in and replaced the oil cooler (as well as coolant flush, stand pipes, installed a coolant filter, and some other knick-knacks) because his shop did the EGR without replacing the OC . I have an affinity for these trucks so yeh... I'd like to get to a situation where I can keep it.

 

I have video of all the thefts. The PD doesn't have a mandate to curb auto theft so it's all useless. I have stories form this situation in regards to the PD inaction that would blow your mind, but that's not the point of this thread.

Even with an alarm it's hard to get outside in time. These guys are fast. This is why I'm looking for a better solution.

My rates haven't changed.

 

I am. The theft of these pickups (late 90's - mid 2000's) is an epidemic here. I was told by an officer that the Ford Super Duty of this era is #1 on the most stolen list. The junkies gravitate towards trucks and SUV's to run loads of stolen garbage from place to place and this vehicle with the plastic door handles and weak ignition tumblers seem to be the easiest to take.

There are regional facebook groups dedicated to trying to locate stolen vehicles. A disproportionate percentage of the vehicles posted up here are pickups of this era.

Anyway... was just wondering if anyone had any experience with a quick disconnect "race car style" steering wheel.

 

Dang, I hate that you are suffering so much with that - it's not fair at all you have to deal with that crap.

What kind of wheels does it have? If you can put hardened cable or hardened chains through the wheels and chain it to something. Kinda like a bike lock and chain, but waaay bigger.

If you take your steering wheel off - and you can live with the airbag situation, I don't see why that wouldn't work as well. Maybe two deterrent's (wheel boots, no steering wheel) would be enough.

By the way, while our theft rate is not nearly as high, the PD here doesn't do anything about it either. They just don't care enough on property crimes. Friend had a Chevelle stolen and the PD just came out and wrote a report. Said "we'll probably never find it" and left. They just could not care less.