Does anyone here have any advice on a kill switch??? Home made preferably but I may purchase one if it's not too expensive. My truck got broken into the other night and they ruined my drivers side door handle. They must have jammed a flat blade screw driver in the lock mechanism and pried it out. Now I am also looking for a door handle if anyone has any info on that also.


-Thanks

 

There are battery disconnects that you can buy where you disconnect the terminal and lock it that way. Other than that...there are alarms that have ignition kills.
Your best bet for security is to install scare lights near your truck...or keep it lighted at night, maybe install a camera there if this is more than an occasional problem, an alarm system on the truck with air horns, etc. If you have a driveway where the crooks are walking into, you could install a driveway alert system. The don't cost too much. It's an invisible beam across the threashold of the drive. When someone crosses it, you can set up an alarm inside your house to ring, so you know someone is driving or walking onto your property. You just have to install it high enough so cats and stray dogs don't set it off. Then if it rings you at 5am, you can rack your Mossberg and have a party. Remember to keep your valuables out of plain site in your vehicle, you could tint your windows to make it harder to see in...especially at night...and always lock it. People don't know this...but if you leave your truck open and a thief gets into it and steals stuff...it's petty theft, unless the item is over a certain value. If you lock it and they break in...it's burglary. Big difference.
good luck.

 

Which is it if they just snag the VIN, head down to Ford and get a key made? No proof of breakin since they just unlocked the truck...

 

dogdude thanks for the advice. I have thought about doing a batterie disconect myself with a hidden switch. I will be easy, just like the batterie switch on all of our fire trucks. Do you know of any of the batterie cutt-off switches sold retail??

 

Look at Camping World or a general Google search for good Battery disconnects. You can also benefit from a good alarm system with very loud air horns with the siren. I've chased many thiefs who ran from the scene when they started going off.

I'm not sure a person can just go into Ford and have a key made off of a VIN. You may need to show proof of current ownership, or that you are the lien holder/bank or repo company.
That's a good concern though...and should be looked into.

 

Mowtown - go to WWW.vandalalert.net or call 800-382-7233. I ordered a Cyclops system from them for around $130. You get a relay to put into your starter or PCM circuit and a remote control. When you put power to the circuit, push the remote and your truck will start(must turn the key like you normally do). If the remote is not pushed, the relay will not activate and the truck will not start. I have done this until I can decide what other alarm system to install - it will not keep them out, but at least it will not let them drive off if they happen to have a key, etc.

 

Another suggestion, especially since you're in Houston. You've got your CCH permit, right? Walk softly and carry a big gun.

The battery disconnect switches you see on fire apparatus are typically Cole Hersee units. Google is your friend.

 

If you kill the batts to the truck ....doesn't the tranny have to re-learn every time...?

 

...just kill one battery. The trans will still keep its memory, and the truck will turn over slowly, acting like it has a dead battery. The thief will probably move on to the next victim.

 

If I end up having to use my Berretta 96 it's alot of paper work and one heck of a mess to clean up.