How to keep a tractor from getting stolen?

[aczlan]

DUH!!! Very valid point, I forgot they were plastic. Looks like Id be taking a tire is I needed a method. Putting the loader down and tilting the bucket back a tow truck will still be able to take it away.

I don't see the benefit to taking off a tire. If its a front one, a comealong (or a jack and some hardwood wedges) will make it unnecessary. If its a back one, it will be a pain in the butt to remove and store (especially if loaded).

Aaron Z

 

[Sysop]

I had once upon a time been considering a Magnum Remusshield Finger Touch Immobilizer. It's not going to stop someone who wants the machine, but it would slow folk down who would pop a key in a drive off.

 

[TripleR]

Part of your homeowner's policy or a separate policy?

Our properties and equipment are a combination of LLC, trust and personal, so a combination.

 

[TomSeller]

Slap a few stickers on it, (get some made up )......

Better yet, put a GPS device on the tractor, they look like just another module under the hood. I don't know what the monthly cost is. Your wife can also use it to find out which field you are in.

 

[KenB2920]

I don't see the benefit to taking off a tire. If its a front one, a comealong (or a jack and some hardwood wedges) will make it unnecessary. If its a back one, it will be a pain in the butt to remove and store (especially if loaded). Aaron Z

That's my exact point. "IF" I wanted to take a preventative measure, Id take off a (front) tire. It's easy enough and will prevent most potential thefts. If someone wants something bad enough, they will take it. A come along and dragging 6000 lbs is funny. That's a good sweat. Come alongs are for amateurs. A tow truck will make quick easy work.

I've seen many cars towed with out tires. The only vehicle I've ever seen that required a little extra work was the Dodge Ram. There are bolts that become the lowest point on the truck that would gauge cement and when getting on the flatbed required a board or some boost or it would get snagged. So towing any tractor would be would be easy. The point of taking the wheel off is to prevent someone driving it down the road. (May stick out to even the most clueless person, a tractor riding on its bucket going down the road looks odd).

 

[Sysop]

What Aaron was getting at, with a come along to hold the axle/hub off the ground, or a jack to lift it and some wedges driven into the pivot of the front axle; a tractor can easily drive on three wheels. Removing a front tire doesn't prevent the tractor from driving away under it's own power and it will not drag the hub the tire was removed from when done anywhere near properly.

If the tractor has a loader, they can use the bucket as a "skid" and get it onto a trailer with only the two rear wheels installed. Only way taking a tire off helps is if it is a rear one, and that is too much like work...

 

[KenB2920]

What Aaron was getting at, with a come along to hold the axle/hub off the ground, or a jack to lift it and some wedges driven into the pivot of the front axle; a tractor can easily drive on three wheels. Removing a front tire doesn't prevent the tractor from driving away under it's own power and it will not drag the hub the tire was removed from when done anywhere near properly. If the tractor has a loader, they can use the bucket as a "skid" and get it onto a trailer with only the two rear wheels installed. Only way taking a tire off helps is if it is a rear one, and that is too much like work...

Wow!!! Excellent explanation!!! Ok, all my tires will stay on. I agree with scraping the bucket and the lack of tires. Been there with flats. (Not my tractor but my father inlaws ford before my tractor days. This obviously works but would be odd going down the road and I'm sure a thief wouldn't do this. But again, the mighty tow truck takes all.

 

[williaty]

I'd still take a tire, though I'd take a back one. Mine aren't huge though (26-12-12).

Remember, you're not trying to make it impossible to steal your tractor, because you can'. If they want your specific tractor they'll bring the right tools and they'll get it no matter what. All you're trying to do is make it more of a pain in the *** to take than the tractor two fields over to deter the guy who set out to take any random tractor tonight. All you want to do is to get him to move on to your neighbor's.

 

[aczlan]

What Aaron was getting at, with a come along to hold the axle/hub off the ground, or a jack to lift it and some wedges driven into the pivot of the front axle; a tractor can easily drive on three wheels. Removing a front tire doesn't prevent the tractor from driving away under it's own power and it will not drag the hub the tire was removed from when done anywhere near properly.

Exactly. It might be a little tippy, but it should work to get it up on a trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[GManBart]

Better yet, put a GPS device on the tractor, they look like just another module under the hood. I don't know what the monthly cost is. Your wife can also use it to find out which field you are in.

Most seem to run about $25 per month...give or take. They're surprisingly accurate as well. With reasonable satellite coverage they'll pinpoint your location within a hundred feet or so (usually better than that) and many have the ability to triangulate off cell towers as a backup, but that will increase the error to more like 1000' out in the country where there aren't many cell towers.