Securing keys for tractors, utility vehicles, gates, etc.

[PILOON]

Since alarms, cameras and other devices only provide costs to me I decided that insurance is the way to go.

If the insurance firms were to allow some credit or reduced premiums for any monitoring devices I might change my mind.

On my tractor I have a simple 'disable' device that deters casual borrowing or joy riding.
(It consists of manually modifying the seat safety circuit.)

In my case my house insurance actually covers my CUT as long as it is on my property.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Keys belong in the thing that they start, they don't get lost that way. I don't even have a key for my shop door, it got misplaced sometime ago. House is never locked unless we are visiting our next door neighbor, we lock our 125 pound German Shepherd dog inside otherwise he opens the door, goes to the gate and squeezes thru and comes next door. He can hear a cricket walking done the road outside and lets us know about any strange noise so nothing sneaks up on us.
I have learned that most folks who live nearby don't know me by sight but they do know where I live when I say " I live with the big black dog". No one comes inside uninvited.
So far in the 8 years of living here, nothing has ever been bothered other than wildlife sneaking in and getting a chicken now and then.

 

[oosik]

I'm of the exact same mind as Piloon and my operation is almost identical. So you have a very sophisticated monitoring system that records and notifies and shows a view on your smart phone. You are miles away from your house - what will you do - call the authorities - at my location it will take the County Sheriff or State Police at least 35 minutes to arrive after being called - and that's if they are in the immediate area. Not quite long enough for the robbers to enjoy a bar-b-q on my grill - - but sure long enough to gather what they want and leave - long before anybody arrives.

And then there is the joy of endlessly watching the recording of somebody??? stealing all your goodies. Who are they ??? nobody will ever know because the ski mask covers their faces. They have cased your place - have seen the video cameras - have come to "visit" with their finest ski masks on.............

NO - I will spend my $$$ on a superior brand of homeowners insurance.

 

[PJSprog]

I only carry the few keys I use every day. Everything else stays in a lock box mounted on the wall in my Wife's office at home until it's needed.

We live in a relatively low crime area. However, just this last summer there have been bank robberies in two towns around us, both about ten miles away. Yesterday, there was an armed robbery of an individual in the parking lot of the gas station in Trenton where I get gas (was just there this morning).

We keep stuff locked until we need it.

 

[PILOON]

One deterrent that works is to have a car parked in the yard.
I know of many that keep the old unplated one parked there just for that reason.
In my case I have a second 'fun' car and since I can only drive one at a time there is always one parked by the door.
I have lived here since 1960 or so and have never had a problem while generally we have some 10-12 invasions every year.
Break ins have occurred on both sides of me but so far (touch wood) I've been passed by.
Must live right. LOL.
On the other hand I have always used local help and never outsiders plus have typically referred locals to work opportunities so as I have always suspected locals are the most suspect. To the locals I'm the 'good guy'. Shucks over the years I've bailed some out, fed them and got many of them 'good deals'.
Also I have never looked down on them while others have snobbed them.

 

[4570Man]

I usually hide the key somewhere close to the equipment. Most equipment uses standard keys so it’s not a very secure means of security anyway. I usually pull the starter fuse which would be a little harder to get past. One thing that a lot of people do that really pisses me off is they lock the deadbolt and the bottom lock. They’re never the same key either.

 

[HCJtractor]

I had some dozer work done on my farm by a local heavy equipment operator. One day he called me and said that he got his dozer stuck and that he hoped I didn't mind, but he borrowed my tractor. When I asked him how he got it started without the key, he just laughed. He said having been around heavy equipment his whole career, starting anything wasn't a problem. My point is, unless you have a sophisticated ignition requiring a chip, (which I doubt any of our tractors have) the security of the key really isn't that important.
I had my Polaris stolen a few years back. They just drug it off.

 

[Zebrafive]

I usually hide the key somewhere close to the equipment. Most equipment uses standard keys so it’s not a very secure means of security anyway. I usually pull the starter fuse which would be a little harder to get past. One thing that a lot of people do that really pisses me off is they lock the deadbolt and the bottom lock. They’re never the same key either.

When I added deadbolts to my barn walk doors, I changed the knobs to non locking lever style knobs. No sense locking and unlocking two locks (unless you were to install two deadbolts, one high and one low, but key them alike)

 

[flewism]

Keys for tractor, trailers, ATV's, mowing equipment, outbuildings, boat and pickup are in a key box on mudroom wall. Spares are in a mini safe in my bedroom.

I only carry, keys for my SUV, pickup, work, house, outbuildings and lock boxes, which is still too much.

Wife just carries her SUV and house.

Grown kids regularly come over to grab a trailer or something out of outbuildings, **** they store their own ATV's at our house.

We have never been broken into and the place is alarmed and with two large dogs, but I starting to think to many people might have access.

 

[Dneel81]

on my motorcycle and mower there is a hidden switch that breaks connection between the ignition relay and the battery source. My new tractor will have one as soon as I get another tiny switch to hide. it's one layer that may slow someone down if I'm not around to send some shots their way to discourage them.