Question from a friend -- engine immobilization

mlts22 wrote:
As a followup to this, I managed to get the owner of the rig to do a very simple fix. Said motorhome is now in storage behind a barbed-wire fence, and a couple large dogs, Kangal mixes (each weighing about 150-200 pounds) will ensure that the motorhome doesn't get moved or broken into.

Problem solved. Thank you all for the posts. There are a number of ways to skin this cat, but ultimately, the only real answer is to move the MH somewhere secure.

Thank you for the followup

Pull the fuel pump fuse out and put a bad one of the same rating in. Most thieves don't carry vom's and diagnostic tools with them.

If you do use a "club" use the one that attaches to your brake pedal not the steering wheel. The steering wheel club can be defeated in under a minute by simply making one cut thru the steering wheel. The brake pedal is much harder steel and very awkward to get to.

As a followup to this, I managed to get the owner of the rig to do a very simple fix. Said motorhome is now in storage behind a barbed-wire fence, and a couple large dogs, Kangal mixes (each weighing about 150-200 pounds) will ensure that the motorhome doesn't get moved or broken into.

Problem solved. Thank you all for the posts. There are a number of ways to skin this cat, but ultimately, the only real answer is to move the MH somewhere secure.

mgirardo wrote:
Finding a new place to park would definitely be my first choice. I would think putting a cover on the Motorhome would also protect it from theft. Too much trouble for a thief to have to take it off.

-Michael

A thief won't even think about taking it off, they'll use a razor knife and be inside within 30 seconds. If they just cut open the door, no one can see they're inside going through things. If you really expect problems, save the cost of the cover.

Bill

larry barnhart wrote:

D.E.Bishop wrote:
We have a S&B that is about 6 miles of a minor highway and about half of that is some very rough desert roads. We have been robbed so often that I am planning that when we finish repairing the vandalism to leave it unlocked with door closers that hopefully won't be stolen too.

We had 1/4" steel shutters bolted through 8" cinder bloc on windows and 1/4"X1 1/2 square tube jail cell looking doors over the entry doors. The thieves cut the through bolts with a torch and stole all the steel for scrap value.

My point being, extreme security items won't stop thieves given enough time, they will steal those too. Having an item visible and normal security will help from having thieves steel from you. There just isn't a fool proof system.

Minimize valuables in the rig and don't take extreme measures for security, pulling the high pressure fuel pump relay along with the removing the batteries will stop almost indefinitely any theft of the rig. I think that's the best you can do. Unless you can find a storage yard like ours, IR detectors, Laser trip beams(smoke won't help you evade them like Tom Cruise does)hi-def cameras and random visits by a security company that monitors the cameras from afar with mobile response always close at hand.

Not fool proof but it's good.

I would think you would understand what bullets are for by now. It sucks for you to have this problem but I see more of this happening in our future.
chevman

Using bullets to protect property can get you in big trouble!
Your person yes, but not property.

There are several things that can be done to make it harder to just Drive off with the vehicle. For example simply disconnecting the engine and house batteries (label all wires, label the battery and remove to locked storage and apply Battery Tender/Minder (Both TM))is the easiest.

Disconnecting of ignition wiring may do the trick... But This is not 100% protection.. (nothing is) as the thief may just decide to tow.

(Short story: They kept steeling my partner's car battery, so since the car was something of a "Beater" he chained and padlocked the hood so they could not get at the battery... They hooked up with a tow truck and took the whole car.. Oh, we caught 'em. but hey.. You are laughing just now right).

Back to topic.

Now this takes some battery power.. Not a lot but some.

There are some OBD-II code readers which have multiple connect.. They connect via Cell Towers to the internet, and can relay that to your Laptop via either Blue-Tooth or Wi-Fi, they also can send engine info to all of the above.

THEY ALSO CONTAIN A GPS CHIP

My phone has all those features save it's not an OBD-II adapter (It can read one though) And I have a "Find my 'Droid" app (NOT that specific app)

It will tell me where my phone is.. the OBD-II may also be able to disable the engine depending on the device you get.. MOST cellular providers sell them.

And yes.. I've seen them work (Well something like them) 2 Punks in a fairly new Mustang hard top going down the lodge "Man how Stooopid can the owner be, you'd think he wanted us to steel this car leaving the keys in the ignition like that". (You can guess how we know what they were saying.. Yes, We did want them to steel THAT car as opposed to the others in the lot.. ON-Guard (Ford's answer to GM's ON-Star) sent us the audio, latitude, longitude and speed.. When the time was right it also shut down the engine. and locked to doors (Child proof latch) doors opened real easy from the outside though. >Nice man ask if he and his friends could be of any help "Uh, We seem to have run out of gas".. No.. I don't think so.. Car has a full tank.. You ran out of freedom, Oh and by the way you have the right to remain .......

Yup, nice guy was a State Trooper.

D.E.Bishop wrote:
We have a S&B that is about 6 miles of a minor highway and about half of that is some very rough desert roads. We have been robbed so often that I am planning that when we finish repairing the vandalism to leave it unlocked with door closers that hopefully won't be stolen too.

We had 1/4" steel shutters bolted through 8" cinder bloc on windows and 1/4"X1 1/2 square tube jail cell looking doors over the entry doors. The thieves cut the through bolts with a torch and stole all the steel for scrap value.

My point being, extreme security items won't stop thieves given enough time, they will steal those too. Having an item visible and normal security will help from having thieves steel from you. There just isn't a fool proof system.

Minimize valuables in the rig and don't take extreme measures for security, pulling the high pressure fuel pump relay along with the removing the batteries will stop almost indefinitely any theft of the rig. I think that's the best you can do. Unless you can find a storage yard like ours, IR detectors, Laser trip beams(smoke won't help you evade them like Tom Cruise does)hi-def cameras and random visits by a security company that monitors the cameras from afar with mobile response always close at hand.

Not fool proof but it's good.

How do you live there? I know in KS rule areas have more theft then city. Would security cameras or monitoring system help?

Pull the battery's out, they will be no good after one year also use some fuel stabilizer do not put broken tv and lap top, etc leave shades up cover furniture with old bed sheets, pull fuel pump relay and the fuse.

As long as the idiots can see that there is nothing of value they will move on, take the unit to a Ford dealer and have them pull the radio out, 2 wires in a u shape and 2 plugs and antenna, he can also pull the front seats, four bolts per seat.

I would find a more secure place.

navegator

Seriously, I live 9 miles from New York City, where muggings, murders, vandalism don't even make the news these days. My camper is sitting outside unlocked, with TV and solar equipment in it. Both cars are also unlocked. My tool shed is as well. Nothing ever tampered with. Locks are to deter honest people. Criminals find a way if they really want it. I have good neighbors and good luck I guess.