Security
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New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13
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From: Little Elm, TX
Security
I have to start driving to a not so good part of town early in the morning. I was just wondering what types of secutrity measures besides an alarm I can take? I was looking into getting lojack anyone had any experience with that?
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 606
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From: Deep East Texas
Something you want to think about is that most systems on the market really only buy you time. Almost anything can be bypassed or circumvented. I know a guy who installed a fuel pump toggle switch. When you go in to start it, hit the switch so your pump works and turn the key. If it is in a remote place out of sight, no one will be the wiser. You can hot wire, tear the column apart or anything else; if you're not getting fuel you're not going anywhere. Obviously if you don't have an electric fuel pump, it won't work.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 1
From: South Texas
The door handles are a weak link. They just jam a screw driver in the lock and smash it in, that unlocks the door and they are in. There are some backing plates (jimmyjammer) that go inside the door behind the door handle. Its just a metal plate that encloses the lock cylinder and stiffens up the handle (its all plastic), its just some thing else to slow them down. If they want in, they get in. If you get an alarm I would get a pain generator (extra loud siren) inside the cab.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 772
Likes: 1
A big dog works good. But kinda rough on interior. Then again, so do snakes, but kind of hard to deal with. I'm with the other guys, if they want in, they are gonna get in. Two things you need to do, one slow them down or tow stop them. Remeber, a thief wants a quick turn around, ANYTHING that slows him down will make him think twice about it. And the fuel pump switch is a great idea.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,673
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From: Chicago Area
I put in the Ford Gold remote start/security system, and also a battery disconnect with a fused bypass, and several other tricks.
Many people say that if they want your truck, they'll get it. That may be true, but with the computer now controlling everything, and the complexity of this system, it would take a VERY smart guy a long time to drive it off. I think if I were to try to steal it myself, I'd try to get a correctly coded remote, because getting up into the electronics would take too long (and I know every wire). And then I'd have to have the bypass "key" or the fuse would blow and disconnect the battery when the starter engaged. As well as properly connecting or disconnecting some toggles.
A smash-and-grab or quick tow would seem more likely, since nobody really reacts (except with annoyance) to a siren. Hopefully, you'll be close enough to hear it. And the trouble with Lojack is the cost and now its already gone. But it probably does deter. And reinforcing the handles sounds like a good idea. I did a little reinforcement around the steering column (metal under the column shroud).
As a practical matter, any add-on you make will probably cause the bad guys to move on. You just can't leave it stock.
Oh, yeah--there's also Louis (that's "Louie", my Dobe)!
Many people say that if they want your truck, they'll get it. That may be true, but with the computer now controlling everything, and the complexity of this system, it would take a VERY smart guy a long time to drive it off. I think if I were to try to steal it myself, I'd try to get a correctly coded remote, because getting up into the electronics would take too long (and I know every wire). And then I'd have to have the bypass "key" or the fuse would blow and disconnect the battery when the starter engaged. As well as properly connecting or disconnecting some toggles.
A smash-and-grab or quick tow would seem more likely, since nobody really reacts (except with annoyance) to a siren. Hopefully, you'll be close enough to hear it. And the trouble with Lojack is the cost and now its already gone. But it probably does deter. And reinforcing the handles sounds like a good idea. I did a little reinforcement around the steering column (metal under the column shroud).
As a practical matter, any add-on you make will probably cause the bad guys to move on. You just can't leave it stock.
Oh, yeah--there's also Louis (that's "Louie", my Dobe)!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
Club?
I noticed no one mentioned a steering wheel club. Are they any deterrent to the average theif?
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Area
Anything that delays the bad guys is good, but the steering wheel clubs are not high on my effectiveness/ease-of-use scale.
Last edited by MrBSS; May 25, 2004 at 04:09 PM.
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