RTV/UTV theft deterrant

[Stoweski]

Hi.
I met with a salesman today for Kubota RTV's. He said that people have stolen quite a few RTV's, zero-turns, and tractors around the Northeast in the past few weeks. He then held up a few keys and said that all of the keys (6-8 total) will run every motorized unit on their lot.

That being said I was wondering what people do to prevent theft of their utility vehicles. More specifically, those that are kept outdoors or not in a secure building. I plan on keeping mine undercover in a 3-walled building and want to make sure nobody can just come in and swipe it.

A couple ideas that I've come up with are wheel locks or some kind of remote controlled switch on the battery that cuts power when not deactivated.

Anyone have another idea of what they use? Oh, and a Smith & Wesson doesn't count.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

A cut off switch hooked up and put in a hidden place would be a good option. However, if someone is really intent on stealing something they will do so.

I don't make things easy for people to steal but I also don't lose sleep over worrying about it. I park my tractor out in the field and its worth around $20k but what I worry about is someone stealing the tools I keep in the little tool box, stupid as it is but I figure those tools are more likely to be stolen then the tractor. So far I have never had anything of mine stolen. When I got hurt and was in the hospital for a couple weeks someone stole some air tools out of my fathers work truck. We figured it had to be someone who knew us as he was driving to Buffalo (an hour away) every day to come see me. So they had to know no one was home and that was the only time we had anything stolen around here that I know of.

 

[stuckinnj]

2nd the remote cut off switch. I use a battery cut off w/key. Same style you see on race cars. The 'key' is removable. just take it in the house with you. In off position, battery is disconnected. Keeps the kids from turning on the ign switch and running up the hour meter or discharging the battery. If you have a radio w/memory, you need to run a 12v feed from the battery to the radio memory wire.

BTW - my cut off is wire on the negative battery circuit.

 

[grouseridge]

Just park it in the garage

 

[timswi]

Just park it in the garage

That's what I do.

 

[Stoweski]

2nd the remote cut off switch. I use a battery cut off w/key. Same style you see on race cars. The 'key' is removable. just take it in the house with you. In off position, battery is disconnected. Keeps the kids from turning on the ign switch and running up the hour meter or discharging the battery. If you have a radio w/memory, you need to run a 12v feed from the battery to the radio memory wire.

BTW - my cut off is wire on the negative battery circuit.

That's what I'm thinking. Where did you get such a thing?

As for the parking in garage idea, that's not an option. With two vehicles, a tractor a workshop, and various other large items (that could potentially walk if left outside) I do not have additional room for a utility vehicle. Well, I do have room for the 500 but not the 900. The 500 I'm afraid will be too small for my needs.

Thanks!

 

[Ken45101]

You can put a heavy chain and lock around the wheel to something on the frame. Park it where it can't be seen.

Make sure it is covered on your insurance.

Ken

 

[teg]

...I plan on keeping mine undercover in a 3-walled building...

Finish off the open side with large doors...

 

[MMagis]

Insurance. I’m not about to wrap chains around mine every time I park it. I’m not even going to mess with hidden switches or anything like that. I’m just not willing to inconvenience my life because someone MIGHT steal something. Take the keys inside and don’t spend time worrying about it. At the most, put a locked door or gate on the open side of the building. Seems pretty simple.

 

[jbarker855]

That's what I'm thinking. Where did you get such a thing?

Harbor Freight.
Heavy Duty Battery Cutoff Switch

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

i got a 90lbs lab and 6 chihuahuas that watch over my rhino .they love riding in it and when it fires up they start barkin like crazy .not to mention it's parked right outside my bedroom window. all my friends and neighbors know i have atleast no less than 25 assualt rifles and a good bit of handguns and i do have a ccw permit . nuthin has been stolen yet .lol the place i keep it park would have them going forwards and backwards a few times just to get it out of it's location. but if a good thief really wanted it he probably could get it they do have some pretty smart thiefs out there.they would have to take it when i'm not home and thats impossible because i'm pretty much up early in the mornin and the wife doesn't really go to many places and stays up late workin on 3d art.


some one had a good idea one time to just get a extra cellphone and put it inside a water proof case and wire it directly to the battery with a hidden wire that looks factory.put the cell phone on silent mode and then hide it somewhere's in the framing of the utv. every cellphone can be tracked by the phone company all they have to do is keep calling the number and it will transmit a signal they can then triangulate about where that utv is .and if you really wanna know right where it is just get a smart phone .the gps in the smart phone can be tracked by you right down to the very house from another smartphone .you can do this with cars and trucks too they don't call them smartphones for nuthin.

 

[Tkblacktail]

I like the cut off switch idea also; I would go one step further and get one that looks like the other toggles or label it with a phony title like "AUX".

 

[DIXIEDOG]

The amazing thing is the salesman is ignorant enough to be telling people that the keys are interchangeable. Obviously alot of folks already knew it but there's no need to continue spreading the word.:confused2:

I have mine next to the 4 beagle alarm system..pretty effective.:laughing:

 

[MikeD74T]

The amazing thing is the salesman is ignorant enough to be telling people that the keys are interchangeable. Obviously alot of folks already knew it but there's no need to continue spreading the word.:confused2:

The salesman is just saying that ignition keys are not secure so don't rely on them. Thieves already know that, new buyers may not. MikeD74T

 

[Stoweski]

What I found interesting is that he had no suggestions for securing the vehicle. After searching the forum and then doing a few online searches I found a lot of deterrents. Note - Not theft prevention, just deterrents. Personally I like the 2" steel pipe in the ground with a trucker's chain wrapped around the frame and the pipe. That along with a wheel lock may be enough for them to say it's not worth it. Rather that then leaving it w/o a key and just having it walk.

It's not that I'm that concerned about it but my neighbor's house just got broken into. They were after gold (worth more than a utv anyway). Makes me think twice about leaving things unlocked. A couple scouting cameras around the property helps just in case too.

Now to go jump on a 900XT.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

What I found interesting is that he had no suggestions for securing the vehicle. After searching the forum and then doing a few online searches I found a lot of deterrents. Note - Not theft prevention, just deterrents. Personally I like the 2" steel pipe in the ground with a trucker's chain wrapped around the frame and the pipe. That along with a wheel lock may be enough for them to say it's not worth it. Rather that then leaving it w/o a key and just having it walk.

It's not that I'm that concerned about it but my neighbor's house just got broken into. They were after gold (worth more than a utv anyway). Makes me think twice about leaving things unlocked. A couple scouting cameras around the property helps just in case too.

Now to go jump on a 900XT.

The chain will be more of an inconvenience to you each time you want to use it than it would be to a thief

 

[kude]

I got a Merlin alarm kit (Directed Electtronics) It has a key fob and is like a car alarm except for atv, utilities, motorcycles. Without the keyfob the unit won't start.

I can lock the doors, so it would be harder to roll off.

 

[whistlepig]

If you live in a place where they may steal your UTV/ATV you need to keep it inside a fence with big dogs.

 

[equipman]

Pull the fuses out of the holder under the bed. Not perfect but will at least require some additional time to steal it.

 

[nickel plate]

Out of sight, out of (thief's) mind.