My journey to securing my truck

[jgrote]

My truck sometimes has to sit outside, and Denver has become a car theft hot spot. So, I'm going to try to make it harder to steal. My plan is as follows, and I'm up for any other ideas.

• Quick Release steering wheel
  hidden ignition kill switch
  hidden air tags
  maybe even GPS

What else should I add to my list? If anyone is interested in my journey, I will document it here (without specifics or course).

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by jgrote

My truck sometimes has to sit outside, and Denver has become a car theft hot spot. So, I'm going to try to make it harder to steal. My plan is as follows, and I'm up for any other ideas.

• Quick Release steering wheel
  hidden ignition kill switch
  hidden air tags
  maybe even GPS

What else should I add to my list? If anyone is interested in my journey, I will document it here (without specifics or course).

I've never had to do anything like that here in central Iowa. I realize they can get stolen anywhere, but I have everything well insured. They also make a clamp on wheel/tire lock that would make it hard to move. There is a thread on the board about installing an inside the cab hood release for our trucks.

Here is a thread that covers some of the ideas:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=696808

LockDoc
.

[my67c20]

Why bother will all that stuff, just change it to a stick shift.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by my67c20

Why bother will all that stuff, just change it to a stick shift.

Bingo

[72SB]

While just about anything can be defeated, doing what OP notes helps slow down a theft or deters it because of the obstacles (no steering wheel or kill switch for example)

You can also add a tire boot

[tutone]

I have a good friend who is a deputy sheriff. He says nowadays that 80-90% of vehicle thefts are done by wrecker or rollback. With that in mind, the steering wheel is not effective, and as long as your truck rolls, it is in danger. On the good side, GPS has helped them recover several newer trailers as the thieves are unaware that they are on there. The cops call the manf. and they turn it on and it shows up sometmes several states away. If a rotten thief wants something bad enough, they will figure out how to steal it. Good luck.

[don t. - 72gmc]

Here's another thread from the past on this topic.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=517525

HTH...Don

[72SB]

one thing not noted in this thread but in link above is a line lock

I have one in another car, for drag racing, which I also use when I park it. With key off it stays "engaged" so the front tires will not roll.

You could mount the switch discretely

Bottom line is if they want to steal it, they will find a way. Yeah, several things can be done to slow thieves down which can stop them because of time involved or doing whatever to remove a tire lock or something else they get discovered mid steal

Secondary deterrents like Mr Smith & Wesson are very persuasive and extremely effective when used but not worth their involvement over a vehicle as the BS one is faced with employing their services gets very deep and $ costly

[jgrote]

Originally Posted by my67c20

Why bother will all that stuff, just change it to a stick shift.

You're absolutely right. Mostly, because I'm getting old, and don't want to drive a stick anymore. My other toy has 3 pedals, so I get my mountain driving fun fix in that.

[jgrote]

I like the idea of a line-lock too. Most of the car thefts in my area are kids busting windows and popping ignitions. If I can make it to where it won't start, then I'll probably still have the truck if they do bother. And to answer the "why bother" question, it's because I can, and it's cheap insurance.

Wheel - I was going to replace anyway, so a the quick release adds $100 to it.

Ignition kill - I'm going to use a flasher switch from a 66 Mustang that I have laying around, so $10 worth of wiring.

Air tags - $100 for 4.

GPS - $150 plus ~ $10/month. Not sure if I'll go this far.

Spending a couple hundred bucks to make it difficult to steal, it seems like a decent idea. I don't see any reason to spend much to make the door locks harder to get into since they're just smashing windows anyway. Same with the ignition switch. If they're going to hammer a screwdriver through it, I'd rather they not FUBAR the rest of the dash doing it.

[rockyrivermark]

Multiple things. Gas shut is very effective. If they get it they will run out of gas and abandon it.
Fake locJack vinyl stickers for window
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[Steeveedee]

Fake LoJack stickers and some other method. I have cameras recording the activity in front of my house because I have a cray-cray neighbor who liked to vandalize around the neighborhood. Putting up cameras stopped that, cold. If you have a protection service, put up signs for their competition, because people know how to defeat them, and if you LIED about which service you use, they'll take longer to get your stuff. I have a friend who is a retired LAPD lieutenant. He's told me horror stories about shooting people who get in a person's house, how much trouble the people get in. I told him that if it came to that, I'd deny hearing gunfire. Meanwhile, I'd have a lime pit working in the back yard. What body?

#BetterLivingThroughChemistry

[jgrote]

I got the steering wheel swapped out. That was a fun little project. And now, I have a working horn!

[Palf70Step]

I have heard of someone using a bluetooth kill device in the HEI. It has to be activated with code from phone before vehicle will start. Never heard of it till I was talking with someone a few months ago.

[leftybass209]

Progression Ignition has a bluetooth distributor with some pretty sweet benefits. I can't speak to its reliability, but I plan on giving it a shot.

It's got some awesome vac advance programming too.

[michael bustamante]

park it up against a wall nose in and then put a wheel clamp on the front tire so it cnt roll if they use a tow truck to haul it away, then a quick release steering wheel

[72SB]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

park it up against a wall nose in and then put a wheel clamp on the front tire so it cnt roll if they use a tow truck to haul it away, then a quick release steering wheel

yep, got one on mine

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by jgrote

I got the steering wheel swapped out. That was a fun little project. And now, I have a working horn!

Very nice! I like it.
What brand quick release did you use, and did you pick your own wheel, or choose one that fits their system.
In other words, can you install your own wheel? Or is it part of a package?

[87Skier]

I would like to put a GPS system on mine. Have it text me anytime it moves, or the ignition is switched on.

Right now I have an starter interrupt button. It must be pushed after the ignition is turned on or it will not start. I also put in a fuel pump kill switch.

Next thing I will probably do is a locking or remote hood release.

[special-K]

Since a thief can find a way around any anti-theft device, I'd surely go with a GPS to give a chance for recovery.

I feel safe where I live, but a vehicle can be stolen from anywhere. With the inflated value of these trucks and the widespread knowledge of that, I do find myself more concerned with theft from anywhere. My trucks stay "parked-in" most of the time. I feel safer with that. But these days I only have one driver, so when I'm not home the truck isn't blocked in. I've thought about a steel gate as a deterrent.

[jgrote]

Originally Posted by sfont66

Very nice! I like it.
What brand quick release did you use, and did you pick your own wheel, or choose one that fits their system.
In other words, can you install your own wheel? Or is it part of a package?

I went with NRG for the quick release and the adaptor. The truck already has an ebay aftermarket column. I can run any steering wheel with a 5 bolt or 6 bolt mounting style. The wheel is a $100 Amazon special. There are many cheaper options, but there are a couple places I don't think steering is a great place to skimp out. I originally bought a $37 hub adapter, but it was way deeper. That caused the wheel to be ~6.5" from the column end. I would like to find a 0 offset wheel in the future, but haven't found the right one yet. My current setup is ~6.1" total spacing. The factory wheel is ~4.75". A 0 offset wheel will get me back to 5" or so.

[jgrote]

Thank you everyone for the ideas. I didn't know about the bluetooth ignition kill. I kind of like that idea. I know that I'm only going to keep out people with less knowledge and will than I have, but that's ok. I have good insurance, and my target thieves are dumb kids and meth heads. I'm not worried about the pros with flatbeds and stuff.

[FleetsidePaul]

Works for me.

[jgrote]

LOL. When you're around, it's easy to protect your property. My concern is mostly in the middle of the night. My dogs are mostly idiots, and probably not going to bark. And I don't think I could take a life over a property crime. If it's a question of my life or yours, I won't even hesitate. That said, I also hold no opinion on another person's right to protect themselves and their stuff. You do what you feel you need to. The only way to truly believe in the freedom of choice, and to also protect the choices of those you disagree with.

[sfont66]

Originally Posted by jgrote

I went with NRG for the quick release and the adaptor. The truck already has an ebay aftermarket column. I can run any steering wheel with a 5 bolt or 6 bolt mounting style. The wheel is a $100 Amazon special. There are many cheaper options, but there are a couple places I don't think steering is a great place to skimp out. I originally bought a $37 hub adapter, but it was way deeper. That caused the wheel to be ~6.5" from the column end. I would like to find a 0 offset wheel in the future, but haven't found the right one yet. My current setup is ~6.1" total spacing. The factory wheel is ~4.75". A 0 offset wheel will get me back to 5" or so.

Thanks for the info, I will look at the NRG hub and quick release again.
They seem to have good reviews