Boosting Security

[Jajle]

Hey guys, I've searched around all day on here and explorerforum.com to find ways to boost my trucks security. This morning I walked outside to warm my truck up for work and noticed it had moved about 6ft. from where I had parked it. Walking up on it I noticed the door was unlocked and it was obvious someone had tried to steal it. When I got in, there was a few things missing, glove box wide open, and the ignition was jarred a little. Anyways, I've never had to deal with security on my vehicles, for they've all been shitty leading up to my Ranger. So I was wondering if anyone has any good suggestions on this topic. I lock my doors and roll up my windows every night before I go to bed, without an alarm, is that all I can do? I'm guessing the suspect got through the back sliding glass... I know that's easy to open from the outside, are there anyways to keep the functionality of it but keep outsiders... outside? I'm also thinking a fuel cutoff switch will be added. Any other suggestions?

 

[cody93]

splice in a hidden kill switch just after the fuel cutoff inertia switch, on my 87 without AC, i plan on getting one those HVAC control panels from a ranger with AC just for the little AC switch so it blends in.. be creative on were you put your kill switch, mabey wire up a dummy switch in plain sight thats wired to your horn, incase someone starts to feel smart..

 

[Twister]

You could buy a cheap security system, i got a nice DE one on amazon for $100, that is 2 way and has remote start. It took me 2 hours to hook up, and that was me going slow and taking time to test each wire.

 

[Snoranger]

splice in a hidden kill switch just after the fuel cutoff inertia switch, on my 87 without AC, i plan on getting one those HVAC control panels from a ranger with AC just for the little AC switch so it blends in.. be creative on were you put your kill switch, mabey wire up a dummy switch in plain sight thats wired to your horn, incase someone starts to feel smart..

I'd wire the dummy switch to the driver side air bag.

 

[doorgunner]

Get a good DIY alarm system.....less than $200 with remote start...alarms are a lot cheaper than the DAMAGE that a would-be thief would do to your vehicle....

I bought an alarm/remote start that also had the key-chain warning buzzer built in....(of course you have to be within 50 yards of the vehicle for the key-chain alrm to sound off...

BUT...a blasting alarm by itself will scare off any thief that IS NOT drugged out of his mind.....

 

[chrwilkins30]

I'd wire the dummy switch to the driver side air bag.

Best idea ever

 

[cody93]

i wonder what happens if you have a curious passenger pressing buttons...

 

[4.0B2]

kill switch to the fuel inertia switch, like mentioned above, with that.. the truck w/ turn over but not crank.

kill switch to the neutral safety (clutch start cancel) w/ make the truck do nothing, making it obvious to a pro thief that something is up.

dummy kill switches are nice.. one of my friends has his killswitch on his seatbelt... if the seatbelt is not connected, it won't crank. kinda annoying at times but could be worth it.

wire in a switch to an old alarm speaker and the ignition. that way if the key is in the start (springload) and the switch is not off-- it makes the alarm go off.

a kill switch somewhere not in the cab is a good idea to.. or make it camo in real nice.

i've wired one once where it was a "garage door opener" in the overhead console (ford f150).. when in all reality it was a door opener hardwired into the fuel inertia switch.

that's just switch ideas. there's other options to.... alarms are good, about $250 for most name brand alarms installed... and some insurance companies offer theft insurance cheaper if you have a viper or other name brand alarms....

motion lights over where you park... one bulb outside, one w/ an extension cord coming inside to your bedroom, so it'll light up inside when there is motion around your truck outside.

video surveillance is cheaper than it used to be.

could just put up signs saying "Property under video surveillance"..?


working in a semi-truck shop i've seen some crazy stuff. i've seen switches to where the door has to be open to crank it. i've seen a secret switch that was a second keyhole... need 2 keys to crank it. i've seen electric door handles, only 12 volts but it'll make you think twice about what else would be wired weird. i've seen air horns that automatically sound when you turn the key on. i know one guy that wired his seat so if you didn't flip the right switch you got shocked in the butt when you cranked it.. the shock would blow the fuel pump power all in one step.. funny stuff! lol

 

[CHKNFKR]

There's a guy in town with a doorless, topless jeep, its a stick. He's got a fork that folds over the trans shifter and t-case shifter in the neutral possition, he keeps a padlock on it when its parked. He also drilled a hole through his steering shaft just below the wheel and runs a padlock through that with the wheel turned all the way to the left. It's not fool proof but most thieves to be would say f*** it before wasting time trying to steal it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Leave the one door unlocked, glove box and console open and dumped all over, visors down and overhead console open.

Then they are like "crap, somebody beat me to it" and leave.

I do like using the AC switch, make sure it can take whatever you are running through it though. On my truck it is kind of a delicate looking switch, it would kind of counterproductive to burn it to the ground so somebody wouldn't steal it.

The more hoops you make yourself jump through, the more likely you are to tell yourself "I will only be any a minute, it won't matter" and then something happens.

There's a guy in town with a doorless, topless jeep, its a stick. He's got a fork that folds over the trans shifter and t-case shifter in the neutral possition, he keeps a padlock on it when its parked. He also drilled a hole through his steering shaft just below the wheel and runs a padlock through that with the wheel turned all the way to the left. It's not fool proof but most thieves to be would say f*** it before wasting time trying to steal it.

I know of one guy he welds hasps all over his equipment. The throttle, shifters, hydraulic levers, brakes, clutch, battery boxes, hood... everything is padlocked.

 

[4.0B2]

The more hoops you make yourself jump through, the more likely you are to tell yourself "I will only be any a minute, it won't matter" and then something happens.

yep, agreed...

which is why i like the "turn signal must be on left" one.
or "must push in brake, to make the brake light come on"

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The problem that occurs with some of this newest crop of thief is that if you make it too difficult on some of them to steal something, they will just trash the vehicle so that nobody can enjoy it. I think we just need to start catching some of these lowlifes and beating them to a bloody pulp until they start getting the message that it's a stupid thing to do.

I'm downright devious when it comes to playing with electrical wiring. Although there have been times when I've outsmarted myself and been the dummy sitting there trying to figure out why I can't start my truck....

 

[Ozwynn]

Chain a pitbull to the brake pedal.

 

[Jajle]

Already a fan of this forum! Didn't expect answers as quick as I did, and I appreciate everyone's input.

be creative on were you put your kill switch, mabey wire up a dummy switch in plain sight thats wired to your horn, incase someone starts to feel smart..

I love the dummy switch idea. That'd definitely give me a good warning, and there's the perfect spot for that right next to my fog light switch.

You could buy a cheap security system, i got a nice DE one on amazon for $100, that is 2 way and has remote start. It took me 2 hours to hook up, and that was me going slow and taking time to test each wire.

I'm definitely going to be looking into alarms. I have one on my parts truck(99 Explorer XLT). Would that be possible to wire to my Ranger, you think?

a kill switch somewhere not in the cab is a good idea to.. or make it camo in real nice.
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working in a semi-truck shop i've seen some crazy stuff. i've seen switches to where the door has to be open to crank it. i've seen a secret switch that was a second keyhole... need 2 keys to crank it. i've seen electric door handles, only 12 volts but it'll make you think twice about what else would be wired weird. i've seen air horns that automatically sound when you turn the key on. i know one guy that wired his seat so if you didn't flip the right switch you got shocked in the butt when you cranked it.. the shock would blow the fuel pump power all in one step.. funny stuff! lol

I was thinking of hiding a kill switch under the lip of the bed on the driver side, I have a drop-in bed liner, and it would be completely hidden until you push the bed liner in.

Chain a pitbull to the brake pedal.

I actually have a pit, but he's just a cute puppy pit, he's big-ish. But he wouldn't intimidate a cynophobic baby.

 

[4.0B2]

you can remove an alarm and reinstall it, i did it ONCE and will NEVER do it again.... its not worth it IMO.

yours being a parts truck, you wouldn't have to make sure everything works again on both vehicles like i did.. seriously tho, IMO-- buy a new alarm.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Python-513-..._0&vxp=mtr&hash=item53ea09dd0b#ht_2113wt_1185
is a very basic python alarm. i've installed one and know of someone who also installed the same kit.. works great.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTOPAGE-RF...ultDomain_0&hash=item43aaa72cca#ht_2091wt_952
autopage.... very very cheap alarms. i've only dealt w/ one; and its still working today.. almost a year and only $37. however it does feel really cheap and doesn't perform up to a viper or python.

i have a viper on mine and love it.. thinking about adding the remote start to it. there are also options like; headlights come on when cranked, windows roll up when you set alarm, and other "cool" things like that. i don't install alarms anymore b/c the newer vehicles are a PAIN.. and one of my friends owns Tri-State Auto Acc just across town from my house. so i let him do all my alarm needs now.