The Rodding Roundtable
Motorhead Message Central => Rodder's Roundtable => Topic started by: sy454 on March 01, 2006, 09:08:54 AM
What kind of things do you do to keep your rod from being stolen when your at a motel for the night besides sleeping in it.I'm buying my first rod don't want to see 50 grand drive away in the night. :(
I never park it off by itself, try to be where I can see it. Have a battery disconnect in the car and lock the doors.
First thing...Insure it well with an agreed value so if it is stolen, you will get a nice check.
If you are at a motel where a car show is taking place or a host hotel, they should have security throughout the night keep an eye on things. Ask if they do.
Park in well lighted areas of the parking lot.
Cars do get stolen, but don't let that stop ya from going. Does the car have a security system on it?
Last option: Put it inside a locked trailer with the words: "Alagator & Snake Farm" written on the outside.
I wired mine for an alarm that has it's own power source and disables the ignition when it goes off. And yes, it has gone off at two different motels. One in Albuquerque and one in Victorville, CA. Both times the people were drunk and the alarm scared them off. I don't know if they were trying to steal it or just falling on it.
That's a big concern for me because I travel alone a lot and am always in unfamiliar territory. I try to get a ground floor room and park as close to the room as possible. I've heard that some people also use a baby monitor so that they can hear things going on around the car.
Travelling with a Harley causes many sleepless nights at motels too. If the door is big enough, it goes in the room with me.
It's too bad you can't LEGALLY carry a gun and just shoot thieves.
Quote from: "sy454"What kind of things do you do to keep your rod from being stolen when your at a motel for the night besides sleeping in it.I'm buying my first rod don't want to see 50 grand drive away in the night. :(
You can pull the ignition fuse and the fuel pump fuse if you have the electric pump. No one would steal what I drive so it is not a problem. I once thought about making a device that I could lock the front hubs but knowing me I would probably try to drive off without removing it. I though that maybe a hole through the rotor that a pad lock motorcyle wheel lock would work.
I have heard of trailer cars that were stolen by taking the truck, trailer and streetrod as a package. Another reason not to trailer a car.
John
First if they want to steal it bad enough it is gone. Guys (one of my wife's sons) make a living repossessing cars and do it all the time.
Two and this one is for you John, thinking no one wants your ride doesn't take care of it either. In college, in Wyoming, I had a $75.00 1946 Matchless motorcycle stolen from the dorm parking lot in the middle of winter one night when it was -20 below. I don't know how they got it started as it was almost impossible to start even when it was 20 above. Obviously the guy must of been drunk to want to ride it in the night in 20 below weather. It couldn't of been a gal, they are smarter than that 8) . It was recovered a couple days later in a different part of town. Also some people will just steal it for a joy ride and end up wrecking it. The worst thing is when they steal it for a few parts they might be able to sell and destroy the remainder of the car.
Since I travel a lot by myself like George I've worried a lot about it also. I have insurance, but worry it might not be good enough. I tried the alarm thing and still have one in the vehicle (unhooked), but it was always going off with false readings and I got tired of going out of the motel room at 3 in the morning to turn it off.
I have a keyed battery disconnect that gives me a sense of security for those that don't have a roll-back at their disposal. I usually leave the dog, Shush, in the cab. She likes to sleep in there, but I worry about somebody doing her in to steal the truck and that would be hard to live with.
The other option I use a lot is that I don't sleep in it, but behind it and hooked to it in the teardrop. I feel safest this way and it is a lot cheaper than a motel room :D .
But if I'm traveling without the teardrop I get a motel room and try and forget about it. If I can I park where I can look out the room to see it. That way when I get up in the middle of the night to pee and see it is gone I'll be rewarded with just 1/2 a nights rest :cry: . I also try and park it right next to the office if a clerk is on duty all night.
So in the end you are at the mercy of some * you never meet and if you did you would like to kill them :x .
c ya, Sum
I have a switch that shuts off the fuel pump.
besides using ignition, battery, fuel pump or whatever shut-offs also back in as tight as you can to the building. This way they have be noisy and take the time to bust a window or drag it as they can't just hoist the back up and tow it away
Quote from: "sy454"What kind of things do you do to keep your rod from being stolen when your at a motel for the night besides sleeping in it.I'm buying my first rod don't want to see 50 grand drive away in the night. :(
I don't sleep well,but i try to park it outside the window to the room,The battery is in the trunk and A know disconects it,but if some one wants it they could just push it onto a trailer or a tow that they have standing by.
I could always have Irene sleep in it(she's always sleeping when it's on the road)!
I have remote battery shut offs, with the switch well hidden and switched fuel pump shut offs. I also have them well insured. I figure I can either drive them and take the chance, or park them. I will drive them. Years ago, when NSRA had the Nats in Columbus, I stayed at a place with all nite security. Two rods were stolen the first nite. Best to have your own security with good insurance coverage. Boy it would hurt to loose one though. Joe
Quote from: "purplepickup"
Travelling with a Harley causes many sleepless nights at motels too. If the door is big enough, it goes in the room with me.
It's too bad you can't LEGALLY carry a gun and just shoot thieves.
That's another nice thing about riding a Honda, it's still there in the morning :D
John :)
Quote from: "purplepickup"
It's too bad you can't LEGALLY carry a gun and just shoot thieves.
Move to Arizona, I carry daily. Open carry is still legal and concealed carry is legal with a permit that requires a two day course.......you still cant shoot them though, that would be excessive.
I use a kill switch with a key, a battery disconnect switch and with the air ride down the frame sits on the pavement.....addd a cover to keep nosey people from getting nosey.
Thanks guys some great ideas.I like the shoot them idea but at my age Jail isn't in my future.Maybe a battery shut off and a chain around my ankle attached to the car. :) Thanks for you input.
Quote from: "sy454"Thanks guys some great ideas.I like the shoot them idea but at my age Jail isn't in my future.Maybe a battery shut off and a chain around my ankle attached to the car. :) Thanks for you input.
That gave me an idea. string attached to car, runs into room and tied to a bell. I think I"ll sell them on E-Bay.
Quote from: "purplepickup"I wired mine for an alarm that has it's own power source and disables the ignition when it goes off. And yes, it has gone off at two different motels. One in Albuquerque and one in Victorville, CA. Both times the people were drunk and the alarm scared them off. I don't know if they were trying to steal it or just falling on it.
That's a big concern for me because I travel alone a lot and am always in unfamiliar territory. I try to get a ground floor room and park as close to the room as possible. I've heard that some people also use a baby monitor so that they can hear things going on around the car.
Travelling with a Harley causes many sleepless nights at motels too. If the door is big enough, it goes in the room with me.
It's too bad you can't LEGALLY carry a gun and just shoot thieves.
i USED to worry, now i don't.
'course i don't seem to get to go anywhere.... :cry:
about the harley, i just carry good insurance.
it can be replaced...
most of the time i just drive crap that nobody WANTS to be seen in...
I've heard of people pulling the coil to distributor wire, that would be easy enough to do if you don't have a hood.
I don't figure anybody wants my jalopy so I really don't worry about it.
As was mentione above, I always take an old car cover to cover the car. I hope that what they can't see won't tempt them. So far so good. Parking in a well lit place is a good idea. Discussing the situation with the night clerk helps, at least they might take a peak at the lot during their shift. Once in a while they will let you park under the awning area next to the front door. Good insurance is a good investment just in case.
Don.
A few years ago,someone drove a Tilt and Load truck into Lead East,
in the middle of the night,loaded up a chopped Merc and disappeared.
Lots of lights,people around,24 hour show security,GONE. :shock:
How many times have we seen a car being towed down the street,
with the alarm screaming away? :roll:
If the wrong people want your car or bike bad enough,
you are not going to stop them;unless you sleep in the back seat,
with a gun,and they don't shoot you first. :idea:
I saw a product that lets the air out of your tires if someone moves it. YOU just have to remember it's on there. I think I'll run 2 on my 'T'.
That's what dollies are for. :roll:
If they can raise one end,they put stands under the middle,
lower it back down so they can put a dolly under the other end,
and they are gone.
If you had a Lead Sled,sitting on the ground,so they couldn't
get under it at all,then you might stand a chance.MAYBE.
Watch the Repo Men shows on TLC,car theft raised to an art form. :idea:
Darn It; They think of everything. I had our family car stolen last Summer. They had a Chevy key(with chip) made and drove off!
Quote from: "sy454"Thanks guys some great ideas.I like the shoot them idea but at my age Jail isn't in my future.Maybe a battery shut off and a chain around my ankle attached to the car. :) Thanks for you input.
But just think, if you did jail time you could make us some great No plates :lol:
I was told of a bloke that loaded his own shotgun shells with rolled up paper had the opportunity to test it on some underprivileged low life and fired a couple of shots off at him as he was fleeing. He said the sight of small bits off burnig paper stuck all over the suckers back was the funniest thing he had ever seen. And no he never come back again. :lol:
But on the serious side I have a fuel shut off,pull the coil wire,disconnect the battery and just hope it's still there in the morning.
But if a thief really wants it nothing will stop them.
Sadly we had someone lose a 34 coupe,a 57p/up.57 belair and a Nissan 4wd.
The low lifes simply broke into their house took the keys,opened the garage and pushed all the cars out into the street and drove them away.
He was lucky in the sense that his 34 chev was in a friends garage.
Do you ya reckon that's made us think a bit differently about security.
Hook up 2 wires from the hotels fuse box to yer car. Theyll get the shock of there lives. LOL Hg :lol:
Thanks for all the reply's I heard that 30 to 40 cars get stolen every year at the hot August Nights alone.I just brought my first hot rod a 35 Chevy Coupe.I will put some of your ideas to use.
Thanks Alot :D :D