I've been thinking about a security system for a while now, the crime rate seems to be increasing around here all the time. there have been several strings of breaking into cars for change and small electronics. Someone even stole two dogs out of a cage on the back of a guys truck while he was in a fuel station. I don't keep any money or electronics int he truck, but my dog does stay in there so its time to do something before anything happens to her.

I took a quick look on ebay and see those 2-way systems with the lcd monitoring screen, they seem to have some great features with remote start, and turbo cool down options. Another neat thing is the proximity sensor to automatically lock and unlock your doors when you get close to the vehicle without having to push any buttons.



A few options that I like and would make it worth the investment for many of us are:

turbo cool down
remote start based on temperature
automatic lock with proximity
truck lid open- I want to use that on my toolbox so it sets off the alarm if someone opens it.




Anyways, I wanted to check and see what you guys are using for systems and if you have any recommendations or comments.

 

When it comes to vehicle security, I think simple is best. All of my vehicles have an ignition kill switch hidden in a location accessible from the drivers seat. It is a well hidden wire weaved into the harness that runs from the fss, through the switch to ground. Off, no start, on, she starts. It takes some self training to get in the habit of shutting off the switch EVERY time it is shut down, but it is very effective...Mark

 

Mark, I'm not so worried about someone taking the truck, more so of what is in it. The thieves around here are lazy, usually not looking to work and many are already felons so tools, guns and vehicles are usually safe. Most of the car break-ins in the area are unlocked vehicles with change or small electronics in them, usually at night with the car in the driveway!

I want noise from the door opening or if they look in the toolbox for something to pawn. With the auto lock/arm feature you don't have to worry about forgetting to lock up. I'd also feel a lot better with the dog in the truck if it would arm itself and go off if the door opens, with a window down its easy to reach in and unlock the door. but if the door opens and it set off the alarm they would most likely just take off.

 

 

The problem with security systems is that they don't work. I've had people smash my glass and my security system never went off. They got everything they needed from the window or crawled through it. If you're serious about it, the best security system is you. This is what I would do, I would call up http://www.texasarmoring.com/ and get a low level type 1 glass from them. It's not bullet proof and a sludge hammer will not go through it.

I would just do the door windows, the front window would be to much to bother with. The back window could be locked out by installing a back rack or a toolbox.

This will take care of the thieves from walking up with a hammer and taking out the window(s). The hammer will just bounce off no matter how hard they hit it.

The next thing is preventing the door from a slim jim. A cheap piece of plastic that goes over the locking bar (or just remove the bar) would do the trick. I would just reomve the locking bar

You can get the film on ebay, I believe it's $60 a roll. The glass runs about $178

That's what I would do, if you remove the locking bar then make sure you weld a key box to the frame with a spare key or something. With the said combination.. you can't get back into your truck unless you cut a hole in the door

 

gyman, I like it. that might work, I always wanted to wire in one of those solar electric fence units to the door handle. Figure the fire would be a bit too much of a liability.

Bannerd, We are not in a bad location, most people leave the keys in the car. I don't leave much in the truck, no electronic stuff to take so there isnt any attraction to break into an old truck. The kids around here are too lazy to use a hammer anyways, its more of a free for the taking thing, if the door opens then fill your pockets with whatever shiny objects fit in. That and when the dog is in there the windows are down anyways so even bullet proof glass isn't going to help when they can reach in and unlock. Although it is interesting to look into if I do break a window.

For security I wanted a deterrent more than anything, really just a red blinking led in the dash and a security sticker so they keep walking to look for an easier target. Now after looking a these new 2-way systems I want to add all the neat features for automatic and remote functions. Like the timers and stuff. I got spoiled with my Chrysler 300C, it has auto everything and at some point I will add all those features to one of my trucks, seems like these systems might be a good place to start.

 

Fancy alarm systems are over rated. I spent hundreds on a system for my last truck - it had glass breaks sensors, shock sensors, and - coolest of all: proximity sensors.
The glass break sensor would get false triggers if I left my phone inside the can and it rang when armed.
The shock sensor would go off with passing traffic shaking the ground
The proximity sensor was actually pretty cool - if I left the windows down, and system armed, if you reached your hand in the window it instantly triggered the alarm. If you moved around the exterior it would re lock and chirp as a warning.

I ended up bypassing most of the sensors and using it for a remote to lock/unlock doors and a flashing light on the dash.

 

Hahaha. So many alarm haters. A good system installed well will keep your truck safe from 90% of thieves out there. The ones that would just walk through a well installed alarm wouldn't want your truck anyways (no offense). As for glass braking, with an auto punch or other things that can put pin point pressure on the glass without a lot of force, it will not set off a standard alarm sensor, but then again, a thief would be able to just steal your truck either. If you are looking to protect the interior along with the truck it self, I suggest a glass brake sensor add on. It is a high pitch frequency microphone that will set off the alarm when glass is broken.


That being said, I recommend DEI/viper/Clifford remote start alarms. That's what I run in my 1st gen

 

I have the viper system in my truck, I love the remote start feature and push button door locks, as for the alarm system I couldn't tell you if it works, I have not had a break in. If I shake my truck it will go off though when its armed. I had best buy install mine so the install is lifetime warranty

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

 

Taterfarm,
The dog in my truck IS the security system, you have seen my girls.
She even growls and gives the stink eye to the toll booth operators on the highway when I have to give them money.
Sorry to here about the local petty thieves.

 

Here is my anti theft system, works for the truck, but not the contents

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...e-t309809.html

OOPS, pics don't seem to work

 

Bryson, What model is your viper system? Is it one with the lcd screen or not? I might try one of the cheap ones on ebay and see how it goes. I'm thinking the remote monitoring with start and unlock is going to be the main reason for buying it anyways.

Oliver, I know your security system works. Unfortunately the intimidation thing wont work for me, we have a goldendoodle. She looks like a life size teddy bear so we have the opposite issue where people say they want take her home. She doesn't offer much protection alone but if when we are with her, then no strangers are aloud to get too close and touching is out of the question, that will get you a quick 1-2 punch to the gut from her front feet. If that doesn't work then the teeth come out.

Jim, I like the nail. that is a great idea, think I will do that for my plow truck as it sets out back over the summer. Would be great to know it wont be easily started.

 

I still think this is the best, and cheapest set-up out there.....

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...e-t309809.html