Truck Theft deterent

[vipermanden]

I have seen so many articles about how they can read your key Fob or just tow your truck away while you are sleeping, so my question to all of you, is I am not afraid of someone stealing my truck, and getting my insurance to replace it, but man that would absolutely ruin a good RV trip if you are half way across the country! How would you get to your next spots etc. ? So do any of you have simple full proof ways of keeping your truck united with your RV? I suppose backing up against your RV is one way to deter midnight towing, but how about things like the "CLUB" etc.? I just don't want to deal with something like this on my next trip which will be about 7,500 miles staying at 27 different RV parks!

[Montana Man]

I have a viper auto alarm with a fob that alerts me remotely when the truck alarm sounds. The little blue light is a major deterrent in itself. Seems to be a quality product.

[AZ Traveler]

Viper,

I think the chances of getting anything stolen in most good RV parks is pretty slim. Would focus on picking places to stay that have a decent reputation and security. The few places I have stayed that I worry a little, I tend to keep the truck hooked up to the rig - if its not a great place I am probably not spending more than one night.

[Eagleback]

I place a harbor freight drive way alarm point to where i need it and if it goes off it rings in the camper, then its the 9mm.

[1retired06]

Install a secondary ignition switch hidden somewhere under the dash, primary ignition to include hot wiring would not work until the secondary switch was activated. Cheap protection.

[DQDick]

Don't waste the money on The Club. Was good in the old days, but now they come with bolt cutters and cut the steering wheel and off they go.

[vipermanden]

The only reason I mentioned the "CLUB", was i was thinking of a solid visual deterrent so they would skip my truck, and move on to another truck? I am leery of alarms, because they have so many false alarms, and people ignore them anyway, and if they keep going off, then who knows what they will do to your truck? :-)

[Hblick48]

I use a Club as a deterrent. Let them find an easier target. Afraid of someone stealing truck & fiver when we're boondocking while in transit, usually in a Walmart parking lot.

[jeffba]

hang a sign on it that says "Ask me about my lemon"

You might want to read this article about keyfob cloning.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/co...keyless-entry/

[mlh]

The chances are so remote that someone will steal your truck that it isn’t worth considering. A meteorite might fall on your head but that isn’t likely either. Dont worry about it and enjoy your camper and truck.
Lynwood

[BuilderBob]

I'm with Lynwood on this one in 40+ years of camping we have never had any thing stolen and my truck is the last thing I would weary about aspshely with today's key fobs
my new Dodge unless the key fob in the truck you cant even start it.

[vipermanden]

I am not concerned about someone stealing the popular dually 3500 Ram truck, because I can get my insurance to get me a new one, just wondering what I would do when I am thousands of miles away from home? So I guess i will just go with fate like all you salty guys are doing. I guess I could just go into the nearest town and pay cash, but they won't have the color I want! :-)

[packnrat]

if you must.
think layers.
blue led in dash.
club on steering wheel,
club on brake pedal,
hidden ing power switch,
hidden fuel pump eletrical supply cut off( truck starts but dies a 1/4 mile away)
two rotts sleeping in the cab.
rim clamp.
but the pros just use a tow truck. wench it on and gone.

best to have qualty insurance. with a qualty company. yes costs.
but in my 58 years i have only know one person who had a car, truck, motorcycle taken.
most "car" theaves are a crime of convenience.

.

[Carl n Susan]

I have never been concerned with the truck being taken in a RV park. With all the built-in security on the newer models, you really have to plan ahead to get it with a tow truck. The turnover in a RV park doesn't really give them time to scope it out and come back to get it.

The bigger concern is when it is parked at home for extended periods. That gives them opportunity to find it and then sneak in at night and grab it. That is what happened to my F350 in December of 2014. It was there at 1:00 AM and gone at 6:00 AM (never to be seen again).

Today I back the truck up to something solid, put it in 4WD low, crank the steering all the way over to one side, and set the parking brake. They can still get it if they want but it should make a ton of noise when moved.

[Dave W]

On my '31 Ford street rod, I just have a hidden switch - so hidden that I've even had trouble flipping it on. Losing that car would distress me much more then the truck which could be replace in a few days vs years and many more bucks building that car.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by vipermanden

I am not concerned about someone stealing the popular dually 3500 Ram truck, because I can get my insurance to get me a new one, just wondering what I would do when I am thousands of miles away from home? So I guess i will just go with fate like all you salty guys are doing. I guess I could just go into the nearest town and pay cash, but they won't have the color I want! :-)

Viper,

You could just enjoy a longer trip. You can always find a helpful fellow camper to run you to the grocery store.

[DQDick]

The trucks that have been stolen from someone I know were all stolen from home. That said, there have been years at the Q when folks have had generators stolen that were chained to their jacks, in the night, while they slept with others around them. If they're determined, and prepared, they'll get what they want.

[jimcol]

You are right, it does ruin a trip. Happened to us in Peoria Az. mall parking lot 4 days from the end of a wonderful 7 week trip. (RV was not attached.) It was a 2000 ford with no anti theft device. After we got over the shock, and initial contact with the insurance company we just went speed shopping and bought a new truck the next day. Had the hitch and break controller installed the next day and headed home on day 4. Didn't necessarily get the exact truck we wanted but has served us well for 9 years and 140k miles. New truck has some anti theft systems on it but if a thief wants it they will get it. As mlh says the chances are remote but it does happen, but it also is not the end of the world.

[dfb]

I wonder how long it would take to cut a steering wheel off with the club??

[DQDick]

Originally Posted by dfb

I wonder how long it would take to cut a steering wheel off with the club??

Less than a minute.