RAM exhaust skid plate?

[deleted-2]

Since catalytic converter thefts are up in our area.

I was wondering if anyone here may know of an exhaust skid cover that is available for bolt on?
Google didn't show much.
If not I can take other measures to slow these bastards down.

Welding some type of shielding or tacking angle iron onto the exhaust pipe might make cutting more of a job.

I'm told if a thief can't have the converter off in 5 minutes or less they move on.
I had the CC etched last week, yet the police said that only helps after the fact of course.

We are noticing strange people around eyeballing vehicles on the street we live on.
Two Toyota's on our street had their CCs stolen about 2 months ago.

Dodge RAMs seem to be popular now because of ease of access.
Four RAMs plus numerous other vehicles were hit last week here in town.

TIA
jim

[restlesswind]

From another thread.

http://www.catclamp.com/

[recycler]

the cat problem is big ..couple of contractors i know of had to have belly pans made from expanded mesh built for their trucks..the rebar may make theivies move on to easier pickings ..just be careful to unhook everything electronic if you do it..

[6_7_tow_rig]

#40Fan wrote:

6.7 tow rig wrote:
That wouldn't do anything to stop them. Two months ago I drove through a parking lot on third shift and happened to see a glow coming from under a truck. Lit the car up with my spotlight and take downs to find a guy with a plasma cutter going to town cutting off the exhaust off a Tundra. The plasma cutter doesnt care what is in its way. We have caught people doing the same to metal utility poles.This is so common in our area. He had a whole trunk full of exhaust pieces.

Whoever said the comment above about insurance is dead on.

What were they using to power the plasma?

A GENERAC generator that Im sure was stolen but we could not prove it. The serial number was clear. The area is in an industrial complex so the noise is normal. Not to mention the train tracks in the area that help mask then noise

[_40Fan]

6.7 tow rig wrote:
That wouldn't do anything to stop them. Two months ago I drove through a parking lot on third shift and happened to see a glow coming from under a truck. Lit the car up with my spotlight and take downs to find a guy with a plasma cutter going to town cutting off the exhaust off a Tundra. The plasma cutter doesnt care what is in its way. We have caught people doing the same to metal utility poles.This is so common in our area. He had a whole trunk full of exhaust pieces.

Whoever said the comment above about insurance is dead on.

What were they using to power the plasma?

[agesilaus]

Well you could attach a tear gas capsule that would be breached when they cut the exhaust pipe. You'd have to hide it above the converter and attach it to the inlet and outlet pipes with some small gauge flexible steel cable. When they pulled the pipe down it would pull a pin from the gas bomb and set it off.

Just remember you heard this first here....heh.

BK

[sljkansas]

Trail-Mate, is there anything to stop them taking them out of state to scrap?

To the OP, the only thing I could think of would be to weld a plate under the CAT. But they still could cut off the exhaust pipe at both ends and pull it out. If they really want it, no telling what damage they will do to get it. A big German Shepard sleeping under it may work. A shot gun is also very persuasive.

[6_7_tow_rig]

That wouldn't do anything to stop them. Two months ago I drove through a parking lot on third shift and happened to see a glow coming from under a truck. Lit the car up with my spotlight and take downs to find a guy with a plasma cutter going to town cutting off the exhaust off a Tundra. The plasma cutter doesnt care what is in its way. We have caught people doing the same to metal utility poles.This is so common in our area. He had a whole trunk full of exhaust pieces.

Whoever said the comment above about insurance is dead on.

[Trail-Mate]

IN Wash DC area we had a lot of these but MD over did their legislation on this. Now you have to be a Certified Mechanic to get rid of an old one at a scrap yard. I had a car that was being parted out after a crash and I could not even redeem it even with a salvage title in hand. Or any other documentation I might have had. Considering I have scrapped about 3 cats in the last several years and never had an issue. This did stop a lot of the thefts in commuter parking lots where many were happening.

[Cummins12V98]

Thats_Ok wrote:

#40Fan wrote:
This is a good question. My solution was to remove it. 😄

But, since you are from California, you don't really have that option. And honestly, I can't think of anything that would help that wouldn't be an issue with heat and the rest of the vehicle.

Keep parking next to Toyotas. Their cats are worth more.

Wish I could remove it, but we started equipment checks for diesels sometime ago $50 bucks to open the hood...sheesh!

Looks like I'll be welding 3\8" re-bar or 1\2"" round stock onto the exhaust pipes.
CC thefts have been rampant in this area.
Them battery powered saws make theft so easy nowadays 😞

That is why you carry insurance. Don't worry about it!

[deleted-2]

#40Fan wrote:
This is a good question. My solution was to remove it. 😄

But, since you are from California, you don't really have that option. And honestly, I can't think of anything that would help that wouldn't be an issue with heat and the rest of the vehicle.

Keep parking next to Toyotas. Their cats are worth more.

Wish I could remove it, but we started equipment checks for diesels sometime ago $50 bucks to open the hood...sheesh!

Looks like I'll be welding 3\8" re-bar or 1\2"" round stock onto the exhaust pipes.
CC thefts have been rampant in this area.
Them battery powered saws make theft so easy nowadays 😞

[_40Fan]

This is a good question. My solution was to remove it. 😄

But, since you are from California, you don't really have that option. And honestly, I can't think of anything that would help that wouldn't be an issue with heat and the rest of the vehicle.

Keep parking next to Toyotas. Their cats are worth more.

[Old-Biscuit]

Most any auto parts store (Auto Zone, Napa, Pep Boys etc.) will have heat shields for mufflers.
Various sizes/widths.

Your RAM should even hae a shield above muffler.

Or fab one out of piece of sheet metal