Hida a key? and fire extinguisher type/location

[James Morse]

I was thinking it would be good to have a spare key with me in case I was out in the woods and somehow lost my key or locked in the truck. I've actually never done either of those things in all my recollection, but it's possible. So the question is, do you think it's a good idea, and where would be the likely place to put it? Has to be metal - inside bumper maybe.
Maybe I'd just do it when I'm going off road, I mean, it does open up the possibility if you're in town, someone could search for it and find it then you're screwed. Of course of all the vehicles that get stolen I'm pretty sure my trucks aren't near the top of the list.
Yes I know manual trans is a good theft deterrent these days but I don't have it.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I see what you're trying to do. You're trying to figure out where I have keys hidden on my truck.

Not today, truck thief. Not today.

 

[racsan]

under the lip of the bedrail is a good spot. Under the back bumper you get too much salt & road dirt.

 

[CrabGuy]

I lost a set of keys last year and had new keys made and programmed. I now keep a PATS cloned key in a magnetic hide-a-key and have actually had to use it once after locking my keys in the ignition. It's difficult to retrieve so I doubt anyone else would find it either. I spray the key with WD-40 and put in a small ziplock bag before putting it in the case.

 

[Roert42]

duct taped to the filler neck or frame rail, on top the gas tank.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

If it was a newer truck with the PATS, I’d say keep a non chip blank wherever you decide to hide it, that way they can’t actually start the vehicle. Or with the older 2-key trucks, hide just the door key. But your 97 is likely a one-key truck and I know it doesn’t have PATS so any hidden key will start the truck.

I never hid a key on the vehicle, But I did adopt dad’s solution years ago. Around 23 years ago to be more precise. Back then dad kept a neat ash tray (it’s made entirely from pennies braised together) that contained a spare set of keys to every vehicle we owned and kept it in a secure place at home. All these more modern chip keys have outgrown that but dad still maintains his stash and he has a set to each of my trucks. I also have my own stash of key sets. Then I always carry two sets of keys on me for whatever vehicle I’m driving plus a spare set to everything that is currently driveable or I’m actively working on. I have my primary key set for each truck on a carabiner that gets clipped on a belt loop. The spare set for what I’m driving and all the other spare sets for what’s active go in a pocket.

Lock my primary set in the truck, no worries, spare is in my pocket. If somehow I manage to magically lock both sets in the truck, I can retrieve one from my stash at home or call either of my parents to bring me a key.

Once upon a time I managed to lock my only set of keys in a running dump truck that I was driving for work, when I was getting ready to leave for work. Fortunately it was dad’s dump truck and I was at home so I just retrieved a spare set from the house. I also stopped on my way home that day and had a spare set made for me. That was the last time I went without carrying a spare set.

 

[Josh B]

I just keep two sets in my pocket, thankfully none are oversized behemoths with full orchestra and shopping centers attached.
When I find only one set in my pocket I know one must be in the ignition

 

[James Morse]

All great suggestions! Yeah the off-road truck is non-PATS, the Mazda is PATS, and with these ideas probably I do both of them and just leave them there or maybe for off-road just carry it when I'm leaving town.
The only thing that confused me is for PATS key you said keep a non chip blank @lil_Blue_Ford "they can't start the vehicle" but then neither can I. I mean, it works if you locked the PATS key in the truck otherwise no so it doesn't help me if I lost the PATS key. Maybe I'm just having brain fade.
I do have 2 spares for the PATS, and 2 oem fob keys for the non-PATS and I'm going to get a couple non-PATS extras, $6 each (or $5 is you don't care about the plastic coating, quite a bit cheaper than the PATS keys.
When I got the Mazda it had only one key so that was one of the first things I did, also, it didn't have the key for the spare tire so I got that too.
I might take the advice on having a set of all keys. 4 vehicles here, I keep the keys on top of the fridge but it's not ideal especially there are vehicles all over and I have to move them when they mow.
Thanks much I've been wondering about this for a while.

 

[James Morse]

Thread wander, but while I'm at it - fire extinguisher. Not planning on any fires, but I see it as part of off-road package. I have to get my 10 lb recharged ($40 - seems like they are about $100 new) and I thought I'd pick up a 5 lb for the truck, I think that would be big enough, and good to have if you saw somebody on fire on the side of the road - again not likely but why not just carry one. They have mounts that go in front of the seat rails, I don't like that idea, I think it's in the way. I was thinking probably I could mount it on the sloping inside part of the tool box. So here's the question - is that a reasonable size (5 lb - because 10 lb is really pretty large) and what are suggestions if any for mounting past what I said. I -could- mount it in back (Supercab) but then I have to drill holes and it's still kind of in the way and I like the "nothing to see here" appearance.
The 10 lb got used a few months back because I had a jointer motor fire - sawdust got built up in it and with the oil from the shafts it was really burning and turns out, the extinguishers actually work really well. Of course motor was trash after. It's a good idea to have one at home because you never know and water doesn't do crap for grease fires. I have smoke detectors and CO detector too those are important.
As to the type I'm thinking ABC that should take care of anything.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

All great suggestions! Yeah the off-road truck is non-PATS, the Mazda is PATS, and with these ideas probably I do both of them and just leave them there or maybe for off-road just carry it when I'm leaving town.
The only thing that confused me is for PATS key you said keep a non chip blank @lil_Blue_Ford "they can't start the vehicle" but then neither can I. I mean, it works if you locked the PATS key in the truck otherwise no so it doesn't help me if I lost the PATS key. Maybe I'm just having brain fade.
I do have 2 spares for the PATS, and 2 oem fob keys for the non-PATS and I'm going to get a couple non-PATS extras, $6 each (or $5 is you don't care about the plastic coating, quite a bit cheaper than the PATS keys.
When I got the Mazda it had only one key so that was one of the first things I did, also, it didn't have the key for the spare tire so I got that too.
I might take the advice on having a set of all keys. 4 vehicles here, I keep the keys on top of the fridge but it's not ideal especially there are vehicles all over and I have to move them when they mow.
Thanks much I've been wondering about this for a while.

Well, the assumption behind hiding a non chip key on the chip key vehicle (the Mazda in your case) is that you would be using the key to unlock the door to get your chip key out of the ignition. I still consider it to be a less than ideal solution. I’m not a fan of hiding keys on vehicles and I’ve heard of people that do end up finding the key they hid is missing when they really need it.

Dad’s method of carrying two sets (in different pockets and using one set as a primary) plus having other spare sets at home is, in my opinion, a solid solution. Making a habit of making sure you use the primary set and it’s in your hand or pocket when you lock the door goes a long way. If I’m doing something that I need empty pockets for, I’ll put my keys on the tailgate or in a toolbox or in my go bag (all the random stuff that’s handy to have around, especially if you run a business, everything from band aids to business cards).

Chip keys can be had pretty reasonable if you program it yourself and find the right person to cut them.

 

[James Morse]

Yeah the lock place here is super, I got the PATS, like you say, not that expensive, just more than non-PATS, and was saving some money by programming it in myself (had them clear all the old keys, forget exactly what that's about but you can have like 6 keys programmed or something and I had just the one and theoretically there were other keys "out there" that could start it). Anyway I bolloxed it up to the point I couldn't do anything (I guess theft kicked in) but the old guy comes out and programmed it no problem and didn't charge me. "This is one of the first PATS, they can be slow, you can't rush through it". He did it perfect first try. I go there for all key needs they are super. It's usually those old guys that have seen everything and have the experience, that you want.

OK I get what you say, if you lock the PATS key in the ignition, door key is all you need.

Like I said I can't remember ever locking myself out or losing a key but Murphy said it can happen and probably will especially if you don't have a spare. I mean, I'm sure I have done it but probably I was always home so I just went in the house and got a spare. But it's been a while. With the fob key I usually use that to lock it and with the other I have this thing in my brain that when I push the lock down it says "do you have the f****** key??"

It's possible to hit the lock button (or on the XLT you have the other lock button to on the arm rest) with your arm when you get out and weren't intending to lock it. Crap can happen.

Thanks.

 

[Curious Hound]

Key? Throw the spare out the window and park with a tire on it.

fire extinguisher? I keep one behind the driver seat. Don’t know what size, and it’s actually not handy right now because the lever to tilt the seat forward is broken. Another idea is this;

Fire Safety Sticks

raceandrally.com

and I was just joking about the key

 

[James Morse]

But how do you move the truck to get the key out from under the tire?

 

[superj]

i knew people who kept spare keys in their wallets. i knew people who did those hide a keys on the frame too but i always think those will rust out or fall off so if i had to do something, it would be the key in the wallet.

i only locked keys in a vehicle, once, that i remember. luckily i found a clothes hanger and got in quickly.

clothes hangers and plastic id cards are all you need to get into lots of things i have found out through life.

 

[sgtsandman]

use a small zip tie and strap it to the wire harness somewhere.