Security measures

What measures do you take to ensure your truck doesn't disappear?

So far, I can only think of a fuel cutoff switch, locked the shifters together, and maybe ... The club?


What else is there?

 

Leave it parked in the garage . Honestly I do not fret over it, the fact that it is a manual protects it from the largest percentage of auto thieves out there

 

What part of the country do you live in? Just curious.

 

East of DFW surrounded by country clubs and beef pastures. I do travel often though, and an in the city for work some days.

 

A battery disconnect switch with removable key would be pretty easy to install. I like the club, because anyone who looks into your truck can immediately see it and will probably go look for something easier to steal.

 

If it has the rear sliding window, but a slim piece of metal in the track, so it can't be opened.

Lock the doors.

Install an alarm if it makes you feel better.

I don't believe just having a standard transmission helps with theft. At least when I lived in California, tons of Honda Civics were being stolen at the time, and most were manual.

Honestly if you're gonna steal a car, I don't know why they wouldn't go for a more expensive car.

 

Having two sticks may confuse the younger crowd enough though. They may be familiar with a stick shift but they might have no clue what the other shifter is for.

 

My clutch switch is broken and I have to press the over ride button every start. How many crooks know about that button? Only thing broken on my taco and I choose not to replace it for that reason.

 

I am partial to the concealed fuel pump cut off switch. To a thief that endless cranking sounds like this "wakeupsmithandwessonwakeupsmithandwessonwakeupsmithandwesson". Also comes in handy diagnosing fuel system problems.

 

License plate "Snake"

 

Seriously though, car theft is a big problem in the Southwest. They're stolen, and either taken across the border, dismantled at a chop shop, or taken outside of town and burned. One reason I sold my '93 after buying a 2015 was that it would be sitting outside and eventually burglarized or stolen. A manual transmission is not a deterrent.

Thieves are now targeting keyless start & entry (I know - not a 1st gen issue). They use code scanners in parking lots to capture the signal when you lock your vehicle, then replay them to steal it. There are also amplifies that can activate your keyfob remotely - as in when it's sitting on your nightstand! The current low dollar solution is to store your keys in a paint can to emulate a faraday cage.

The most basic step is a hidden or disguised kill switch. I'm considering an alarm or a Revelco device to keep the truck from being stolen. The factory Toyota alarm does not include lift/tilt alarm that will go off if someone tries to steal your wheels. A good aftermarket alarm installed by a trustworthy shop that does good work may help here.

GPS & LoJack systems may help once your vehicles stolen, but can be defeated by jamming systems or by just parking your stolen truck inside a garage that can block the signal.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

 

You can't stop anyone with a flatbed and some time.

You can deflect joy rider kids with a flashing LED on the top of each front door panel like a high end alarm.

On a manual, switching the clutch interlock circuit is easier than the fuel pump relay. Or you can do both, with different switch locations of course.

On an auto, switching the brake/shifter interlock would keep them from getting it in gear if they got it started.

The best plan is good insurance, photo documentation of the current condition of the vehicle, and leave no personal items you can't live without inside.

 

I have the dealer-installed alarm on my truck, supposed to disengage the starter if it's broken into and started without deactivating the alarm system so the truck can't be driven. But like @Clearwater Bill says above, that can't stop someone with a flatbed that's determined to get your truck.

Ultimately this...

 

I knew Jim Winner. He invented "the club".

Cut off switches make me think of mad max (C4?).

If not C4, what about a 10 guage saluting round (like the bike mine) or firecracker under the seat? Would probably have to have your driver seat/interior replaced afterwards, but would literally scare the crap out of them.

Theres also products like ravelco but its just a glorified plug that acts as a switch.

 

Lock your doors, dont leave the keys inside. doing that would have eliminated 98% of the stolen vehicle calls i had to take.

 

I've never understood why people leave their keys in their vehicles, I mean who does that? Makes no sense at all

 

i just leave the keys in and lock the doors

Knowing people that make their living doing repo work.

They can make gone in 60 seconds a reality !!

So why do anything fancy

 

*Most* of the thieves aren't pros. If a pro, including repo men, wants your car you should kiss it goodbye every time you park it just in case.

The idea - in most cases - is to get them to move on to something easier, or delay them by using layers of protection and hoping they give up.

 

Viper 2 way alarm system set on silent so I can surprise the person(s) plus it stays inside my garage