Preventing Theft of Any Tow Vehicle

[Streamer1]

I'm glad you mentioned that Chipster. I was thinking along those lines, but could not remember where I heard/saw that braking system. Also, I wonder if Sears still sells that battery that you could remotely disable which kept your vehicle from cranking? It seemed like a good idea, but maybe not enough folks were that interested in it?

[Denis4x4]

Using Vice Grips as a steering wheel can alert the cops to a possible car theft!

Most of my cars have hidden switches that disconnect the battery and/or the fuel pump.

Watch a real good wrecker remove an impound car from a tight parking place and you'll reach the conclusion that nothing you do will prevent a determined theif from accomplishing his goal of stealing your vehicle!

[dbradhstream]

All this talk about electricity and gas thieves has me worried about blowing up some low life who will then sue me for his injuries ...

IMO, tow vehicles are replaceable. My AS is not. I've searched but I can't find a good string on how to keep it from getting stolen. Can someone direct me to a good string on that topic or give me your thoughts?

I keep it stored in a secure storage facility so I'm too worried about it then. When camping, though, all I have so far is a Master Lock that goes through the hitch lever.

Do you run a cable through the wheels, use one of those U-lock bike locks or anything else in addition to a hitch lock?

I once bought a heavier duty clamp type lock that had a ball that fit up into the hitch but the bar that would have surrounded the entire hitch wasn't big enough and didn't fit.

Just tossing it out there for your thoughts ...

BH

[dbradhstream]

I meant I'm "not" too worried about it when stored ...

[jimmickle]

I use the Master type lock that is a large, heavy casting that covers the ball opening. The only way to get it off is to drill out or pick the key cylinder.

Just locking the release lever doesn't do much. I used to lock my Coleman that way when I had it stored at my parent's home, about 40 miles away. One time I went to pick it up, and found when I got there, I had left the key at home. All it took was to remove the adjustment nut for the part that captures the ball, remove it, drop the coupler on the ball and reintall the removed parts. Another way to bypass te lever lock is to have a ground down ball on the tow vehicle, that will allow the coupler to slip over without opening the lever. Then just wrap a bungie cord around it to prevent it from jumping off on a bump and the thief is on his way.

[Frank S]

Hi debradhstream--My tongue jack is not electric, and has a handle. I removed the rivet on the handle, and substituted a locking pin, which I remove along with the handle when I'm parked. I have a small tomato paste can, sprayed silver that I slip over the end, which makes it look like an electric jack, without electric. Will this keep it from being stolen? No, but it will slow down potential A/S robbers.--Frank

Range Rovers had a roll-over switch under the drivers seat ( designed to shut off fuel in a roll over) you could just reach under the seat a pull it up and that disabled the vehicle. All cars and trucks have them you just have to find out where it's installed in your vehicle.

[AirConditioner]

99% of all late vehicles use electric fuel pumps and fuel injection. It's easy to find and wire a switch in series with one or both of these. I remember a few year ago the most effective anti-theft device was the fuel turn off that allowed the thief to get about a block. then it shut down. I use an inexpensive cipher lock in series with my ignition hot wire to starter relay. It will crank, but it won't run. I installed the touchbutton lock in the ashtray and use 4 digits. If you try and err more than 4 times in 30 seconds you have to wait 5 minutes - also acts as a built in sobriety tester!

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, Just curious. Are you all paranoid, live in a bad area, or already had personal experiences with theft of your vehicles?

Bob

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, Just curious. Are you all paranoid, live in a bad area, or already had personal experiences with theft of your vehicles?

Bob

I agree, I never have had any indication of a theft attempt of my vehicle. But, I have always lived in a small town where the best security measure is the guy next door with a gun.

In reality, I agree with other posts, if they want your car, they will get it.

Lastly, I have owned vehicles with a battery disconnect (when I lived in ItalY) under the dash. Stay away from the fuel lines - electrical interuptions going down the interstate would be BAD on a selenoid on the fuel line. The battery disconnect is cheap and a do-it-yourself job - just use heavy enough wires and mount in a remote location..

[dbradhstream]

I'm not paranoid about my truck. I probably am paranoid about the "other woman" in my life, Silver Sally. I'd hate for her to end up as a construction trailer on some dirty, dusty building site.