cat theft protection for 1st gen Tacomas?

I don't see a similar post, but please let me know if I missed it.

I've been seeing reports in my area (DC metro) about increased thefts of catalytic converters. Several friends have gotten anti-theft shields on their cars. I have a lifted '95 Tacoma and am concerned it'd be easy to get under, but don't see a bunch of shields/cables geared at older models (and the threads on here seem to be on the newer trucks).

Is it something to worry about on the 1st gen? I am fine spending a few hundred dollars vs. the cost/time/headache of replacing the part.

I'm interested in the consensus!

 

Older vehicles aren't normally targeted because they have less of these precious metals left in them versus new cars. Hybrids especially which is why you'll see a Prius more often with a missing cat than anything else.

Either you or a friend should just fab up a plate and mount it over the cat if you're really concerned.

 

Sadly it comes down to where you live! I wish I knew some place local I could sell my scrap converters if stealing them pays that much.

Then are you dealing with amateurs or a career criminals?

You can put on a shield to stop the amateurs but a pro will have anything needed to remove your shield in hand.

You can weld the shield in place or weld the bolts if your doing the work yourself .Even that can be removed in a few extra minutes.

I have made and installed a few I guess it comes down to the cost to replace your cat or cats

There is no simple answer.

 

Time to build yourself a full belly skid for the undercarriage and hide the cat.

 

I appreciate the feedback, all good points, thanks!

 

I hadn't thought about the older vehicles having less metal in them... thanks!

 

I had one stolen on a old '02 Tacoma years ago.

 

Those shields are, at best, a slight deterrent. So a thief might take 90 seconds instead of 30 to make off with it.

A saws-all or angle grinder will get through anything in hardly any time at all.

Maybe park over a cactus patch?

 

It's been a huge problem out in this area too, I have a couple neighbors on my block that have had theirs stolen in the last 2 years. My truck is lifted as well and parked outside every night, still has its cats.

I'm also of the mind that they usually don't target older vehicles because they're less likely to get good money for the risk/trouble. Cutting the cats off a newer truck is just as easy and a better guarantee for value. Our neighbor's Prius got hit and the damn thing sounded like a straight piped Harley going down the street

 

If you did want to protect it then you could just do a full skid plate underneath. Something like the Budbilt skids that go from the IFS down to the back of the trans. That would cover everything and make it a pain to cut the cats off (not impossible though).

And your gas mileage will tank because those skids are heavy AF.

If you have to park outside, just lay some barbed wire under your truck every night and wait until you hear someone scream at 2am

although that might fall under the booby trap laws and then you'll get in more trouble

 

There's a video of this guy who set up a motion activated sprinkler in the bed of his truck. The video is just a dude riding up and being all shady and gets sprayed and runs off.

Maybe something like that set up under the truck. If you park in the same spot in your driveway, it's be pretty easy to set that up and aim it under the truck. If you park on the street it might be a little harder, still doable tho...

 

I don't know about that. Most pre-OBDII cars, especially euro cars, had very valuable cats. I have owned several older BMW M3s and 10 years ago the cats from a '95 M3 were worth nearly $500 while factory cats from a '96+ OBDII M3 were not worth half that via legal buyers (as in you had to prove you owned the cars, give a license, etc). But I would tend to think that a Prius would have an exceptional cat that is worth more than most these days. And I guess they are super easy to get at, so that doesnt help.

I don't really worry about the cat on my Tacoma. I don't think its a good idea to enclose a cat unless it gets great airflow especially on an off-road vehicle and a replacement isn't crazy money. Might even make me run a test pipe for a while. These days I am much more worried about my Tacoma being stolen. A monkey with a screwdriver could take it...so I am literally in the middle of installing a Trak-4 GPS tracker! Pretty sweet little device.

 

I beat the burglars to it. I haven't had a cat in years.

 

Boom! Thread closed

 

Neighbor's 1995.5 Taco had the cat stolen and another with a 1990 ish toyota pickup had it chopped off. Mine was spared due to a Cat Clamp, I was also street parked near them. They go after easy ones here.

 

They got my daughters 2002 double cab a little over a month ago at a party during daylight.

 

Have a plate custom-made for your truck, like this guy did.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-stashing-the-taco-away.718251/#post-25574091

 

Small condolence but at least they cut it on the better side. Looks clean under there for a 2002!

 

I hope he didn't pay someone for that travesty. You could probably hit it with a hammer and break all those "Harbor Freight" flux core welds. Unless you are in a super high crime area I don't see the point, you can slap a new cat in these (at least the 4 cyl) for $150 no problem. But of course that differs from state to state.

 

well, it may not be the prettiest thing but at least it's a deterrent. Catalytic thieves go after the quick and easy targets, so the thief won't even think about how he can break or get around the plate, he will just move to another car