How to keep a tractor from getting stolen?

[bmaverick]

I rarely think about such things as getting equipment stolen. One. it's all insured and two, I have lots of firearms and I'm a helluva shot.

Insuring is like car insurance. Some areas got great prices and other areas take you to the cleaners.

Who would insure a 1981 tractor? A 1963 tractor? And would you get a replacement in equal condition or better? Usually not.

 

[DarrellSimpson]

I agree insurance is a great idea and is something I will do , But with that being said , I live in Texas and there is no shortage of people ready to steal your things then resell them 4 hrs later in Mexico . I had some gang bangers rob my home while a few stayed outside to keep watch , the neighbors were so intimidated by them that they did not call the cops for fear of retaliation , I know myself and many others would love to take an eye for an eye but its not practical when you have loved ones and don't know if you could get em all at the same time , Between the cops lack of interest, the insurance company depreciating the guns and stereo , TV and everything else , not even counting the mental anguish of my home being so brazenly assaulted I would like to make it difficult on a thief as possible and avoid the heartbreak . Its a ugly world at times and the less I experience the bad the happier I am . I have moved to a better area but I bought my house from a local cop and he shared how many Meth heads are in the area and always thieving .

 

[downsizingnow48]

I know all about insurance even have it. Don't need schooling on that. Still don't want the tractor stolen. Simple precautions might make a thief go look at someone else's machine.

 

[5030]

The keys are usually in both my units in the barn so if you want to swing by and take a crack at heisting them, by all means so. Be apprised however that life is cheap today. They ain't hydro's so you'll have to figure out where the gear levers go to make them move.... by that time your arse will be grass and I'm the lawnmower.:cool2:

 

[bmaverick]

I agree insurance is a great idea and is something I will do , But with that being said , I live in Texas and there is no shortage of people ready to steal your things then resell them 4 hrs later in Mexico . I had some gang bangers rob my home while a few stayed outside to keep watch , the neighbors were so intimidated by them that they did not call the cops for fear of retaliation , I know myself and many others would love to take an eye for an eye but its not practical when you have loved ones and don't know if you could get em all at the same time , Between the cops lack of interest, the insurance company depreciating the guns and stereo , TV and everything else , not even counting the mental anguish of my home being so brazenly assaulted I would like to make it difficult on a thief as possible and avoid the heartbreak . Its a ugly world at times and the less I experience the bad the happier I am. I have moved to a better area but I bought my house from a local cop and he shared how many Meth heads are in the area and always thieving .

Exactly. Thus, why even have the insurance? I do find it better to disable the tractor so as the thief would find an easier target elsewhere.

Hey, rather than debate to have insurance or not here or to cut the grass, let's all get back to the OP's topic here at hand. .....

How to keep a tractor from getting stolen?

So to rehash a bit ...

1. Disable something electrical to prevent from starting.

2. Have a fake switch/button as a kill switch.

3. On older tractors, the throttle level can be placed in the fuel off position and then use a spring attached to nothing to prevent the fuel from being activated. Thus a fake feel for fuel throttle.

4. Lock the tractor in a barn/shed/vault.

5. Turn the backhoe sideways and the FEL facing down.

6. Block it in using other farm trucks or equipment.

7. Cameras and motion sensors for alarms or notification.

8. etc.

 

[joefromga]

How about a stink bomb activated my a switch that you know to turn off but others won't? Bad sulfur smell in a cab would run you out if there fast. You could also use a smoke bomb with a cigar lighter coil that would scare the crap out of a thief. Stuff in a smoke bomb and tape over. When ignition is turned on it gets red hot thus burning the smoke or stink bomb and smoke would blast out. Would last 5 minutes at least and they'd be gone.

You could have a hidden switch to turn off beginning of the day and back on at parked. Even if you forget it wouldn't damage anything and would be funny at first.

No thief would hang around a smoking cab or even open tractor.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I live on 10 open acres with a main road in front and a housing addition behind me. My house is about 800' off of a street that gets some traffic. I plan to buy a new tractor and later build a barn but for a while the tractor will be out in the open next to the house, about in the middle of my 10 acres. How can I make my tractor reasonably secure from theft under these conditions?

Insurance.

CNH Industrial Insurance
866-559-6887

Ask for Karla, tell her Eric from Minnesota says hello.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

So, the containers are the best. I live near the ports so containers are 1000 bucks and delivery is maybe 200 if that. I might buy another one since they are perfect garages, sheds, etc. They have heavy thick wooden floors are actually are vented but barely. Those vent holes make good wasp nests. Mine's painted forest green so it doesn't stick out. You could easily camo it and you wouldn't see it from 100 yards away if you didn't know it was there.

Agree. A 40' High Cube container makes the best, boring, easy-to-ignore, secure storage.

 

[joefromga]

These are some containers at the local port. Sometimes they are stacked 9 high. And you thought your forklift was big.

 

[kevinwak]

I know this is a old thread but I cant figure out how to implement my idea to a diesel tractor . My dad would run a wire from the coil to a ground on the chassis with a round male/female plug so when it was plugged together the coil couldn't function . You had to unplug the wire to make it start, so thief's would see wires connected and be fooled as to why there was no spark . How could I try this method on a diesel ? . I am very limited on my imagination and I think I am trying to kill the fuel supply but I cant quit figure it out .

I like the idea of a wire that has to be unhooked to allow the tractor to start. That would fool most people. You could possibly install a reverse acting relay ( not sure what it should be called, but one that needs the power removed to energize the circuit, as opposed to a normal relay that needs the power added to energize the circuit) (did that make sense, a normal relay fails open, remove the power and the circuit it controls de-energizes, and you would be wanting one that fails closed, so remove, unplug, the power to it and it will energize the circuit). Then put it in line on a circuit that needs power for the tractor to start, such as a fuel pump or starter solenoid circuit, or possibly a seat safety switch.