Jeep Anti-theft system

I admit I'm a bit obsessive/compulsive about my Jeep getting stolen. (I got ripped off terribly during it's rebuild) Given it's age I honestly see it being spirited away to Mexico or to someone's hunting camp never to be seen again. Given the fact that it has three places to be put in neutral, a starter switch on the floor, and the parking brake is even with the dash when applied has me believing your average teenager/opportunistic car thief won't be able to start or move it. Hopefully I've made it more trouble than it's worth and hope it helps (or at least entertains).

 

ohhh! me likey! That steering wheel dohicky is very clever.

now I gotta ask, does the trap actually work?

 

saw this at a junk yard ,and I would use it on my rig

 

Just trying to be devil's advocate......could someone possibly run a screwdriver up next to the horn button all the way through, or at least part of the way to get on one side of the spokes? If so, you could steer....it would have some slack, but it could be done

 

I'd just hide a kill switch on it were it me............

 

Red,

First off let me say your Jeep looks Bytchin man!

I am getting a grenade shifter and I have two 20mm live rounds I was gonna drill out but that just looks way to wicked.

Secondly may I ask how much you would charge to make one of those steering cover?



Todd

 

I'd like to open by thanking everyone for their comments. I'm retired/disabled so I don't get out a lot and that tends to make me pole vault over mouse turds or invent fascinating solutions to problems nobody has.

willyscjmj:
The trap's bark is worse than it's bite. Hit the trigger and it'll jump, but not much. I had presumed that with the trap closed you wouldn't be able to get to all the pedals. Come to find out you can, but it validated my original idea of putting a row of pointy spikes (not sharp enough to draw blood, but enough to make sitting on em terribly painful, and moving between pedals would be extra painful). I went with the more expensive trap because it has panache'

cj5/442:
I've operated several vehicles secured thusly as well as the chain through the steering wheel attached to the steering colum and seat frame. They worked well enough but weren't subjected to the perils of city life on the pipeline from Mexico to points here in the US and back. I once moved a jeep who's steering wheel was linked to the seat by sitting on the fuel tank and having the seat on my lap. Yes it was a three hundred and twenty-six point turn to park his Jeep across the motor pool and behind some deadlined tracks. The battalion XO was a walking testimonial for retroactive abortions and it was worth the effort at zero dark thirty. An accomplice or two can push the vehicle away from the house while the driver holds the clutch down, then tow it to a safe place to deal with the chain/padlock at their leisure. You would be amazed at how many padlocks can be defeated by attacking them in unconventional means (bending the shackle instead of trying to cut it).

mdmeltdown:
I appreciated the devil's advocate. Everyone here's life experiences gives me an incredibly diverse perspective on ideas. Yes, a screwdriver could be inserted as you mention. However, one would need to work around the turn signal and with the Jeep's Armstrong steering it would be difficult as you loose the leverage provided by the spokes. The Mk II could employ a small cover over the horn.

blevisay:
The shift knobs are held on via a combination of JB weld to keep the adapters in the dummy ammo, and red locktite to keep them from wandering. As soon as I get the time I'm making a 40mm HEDP grenade to go on the overdrive shift.

aallison:
I considered several means of kill switching, but when they stole my last vehicle from my driveway two sixteen year olds simply pushed my full sized F250 down the street and around the corner and hot wired it. I believe the starter on the floor next to the dimmer will a good equivalent to what you suggest.

Todd1973:
Thank-you for the compliment. I cannot make you a clamshell cover, I do not possess the skill. I neglected to say the thing is two inches thick, your local sheet metal shop would be a good place to start. Getting a perfect circle by hand, twice, and the curve for the sides is pretty tricky. I paid $120 for a one-off and will probably go back to have the horn button protected. I was concerned with someone removing the horn button and pulling the steering wheel using the inside lip of the clamshell, but then decided that level of planning means I'm gonna loose it sooner or later.

 

Yep; knew that trick. Many combination locks can be defeated by striking them on one side or the other (brand dependent) while pulling down. I chose shrouded locks and filled the area to reduce one's ability to work a shim for the very reason you showed.

You've gotta love the first amendment, where else on earth can you get this level of "Entertainment" and "Educational" video protected by the courts. Is this a great country or what?

 

looks like i need a new lock for my utility trailer....

 

The only thing that bothers me more about how quick they picked that lock is that you YouTube shows how to make the pick and the pick can be made in less than three minutes.


I already upgraded most of my locks to funny round ones. However I recently found that they don't stand up well to my sawzall either.

 

If the thieves are bringing power tools to take your stuff; it's a gonner no matter what. The goal is simply to encourage the largest portion of the thieving public to steal something easier (someone else's stuff).

 

Yep, all it is about is increasing the time required to make the steal. Given enough time, someone can hang a rip on anything. The trap looks pretty awesome, but a stick, wrench (or wench), or just about any other item will set it off.

 

jeez I never have worried bout my jeep, but I guess I still live in small town USA.
That is an awsome steering wheel lock. I have to lock mine up at work but I use a chain from the bottom seat rail to the steering wheel with a good master lock. they have the double lock inside that prevents the hammer trick.

 

Buddy of mine used to just take the nut off the center of the steering wheel ( he didn't make it real tight ) and pull the wheel off and either take it with him or cable lock to the underside of the JEEP. I guess you could steer it with a vise grip on the splines but that would be tough.

 

I came up with this some time ago. Tell me what you think.

Run the ignition circuit through a series of six or so switches in a line or all over the place. Label them defrost, heater, radio, lights, etc, etc. Youd have to have the right combination for the ignition switch to work (up, down, down, up, down, up...or whatever you want). This would finally give power to the ignition switch, but I like my second part better. The ignition switch wouldn't actually be wired to your ignition. Its a decoy. To start the jeep, you'd have a push button hidden under the seat (or wherever your heart desires).

So you get in the jeep, you flip the falsly labeled switches to whatever combintion you set up, then hit the hidden push button.

I think its safer then having a key. It be easy to pull the 'push on terminal' wires off the back of the keyed ignition switch and hot wire it.

I also really like not needing a key to start my own jeep.

Obviously, anyone can get under the hood, feed the igniton coil and jump the starter solenoid, but hey. The safest way I've heard of, in my opinion, is taking the rotor, putting it in your pocket, and putting the cap back on.

 

And it would work if your drunk and trying to drive home.





Todd