Secure Hard Door Locks

Maybe the guy just wanted the a new duffle bag!

If you don't have a hard top then you'll find that it won't matter about your locks. I would just sit with the standard OEm ones....go to the junk yard (not sure if you'd find 'new enough' ones there for you year/model).

I've got a steel tool box (used to be used to mail documents with my work...back in the day)....it's not huge...but definately would cause them to make more noise to get in to. And they sure as hell won't get far running with it (it's about 100lbs--hate it!).

After attempting to get the carriage bolts out from my rear seat to take it out and realizing that carriage bolts are now my least favourite thing in the world, it gave me an idea for making a very theft-resistant security box. I'm using a giant military ammo box and bolting it through my stock rear seat holes. The carriage bolt rounded end is going to be on the underside of the Jeep and the nut will be inside the box ...making it pretty much impossible to take off from the outside. The box is secured using a locksmith padlock and there is a titanium cable wrapped around the box as well for extra measure. It sounds extreme but my city has the highest rate of property theft per capita in Canada ...mostly vehicle-item theft. The stuff in the box is only used for offroading (essential tools, etc) so it's rare that I'll need to get into it (hopefully! ;p). It would definitely take awhile to break in ...one would probably have to steal the Jeep and take it to a garage to get in there. I'm thinking of actually putting a CD player in there as well with a remote. Haven't fully figured that out yet but I have an idea how to make it work well.

But ya ...Jeeps are so easy to break into. I'd worry more about securing the items in the Jeep rather than trying to keep people out. I can get through the back window of a hardtop in under 60 seconds with a portable drill and a titanium bit while making VERY LITTLE sound. I know from experience (didn't get the damn key when I bought my hardtop ;p)

Good luck. Sorry about your loss.

Where do you live? Surrey BC? I thought they had the highest per capita! I lived in Vancouver and they sure as hell advertised as much.

I drilled a hole in th ebottom of my box too and had it bolted through my and in to the captive nut for the seatbelt. But, I found I was removing the box to put in the rear seat and it started becoming a PITA (had to empty the box and then work the bolt...not sure if all this cranking/uncranking will weat the nut).

How big is your "big" ammo box? I've seen the .50Cal boxes (~6" wide x ~20"long x 10" high). Don't seem big enough to be really handy.

Ever since some scumbag crackhead broke into my Jeep in Washington DC, I've wanted to get a set of these:

broke into my Jeep did it for a less-than-$10 hydraulic jackfrom Pep Boys. My work paycheck was in the cupholder (I was only gonea few minutes) and they didn't take that! One of these days (when it'stoo old to use anymore)I'm going to fill it with cyanide gas and leaveit in SE DC.

Matt

I'm in Winnipeg, MB. Last I heard we were the worst ...altho maybe not anymore? Either way ...we're definitely in the top 5.

I'd say the box is about 3-4' long, 14-16" wide and 10-12" deep. Stores a LOT of stuff. No idea what it was used for but it's in mint shape. No rust ...just a few scratches. It's not quite as heavy duty as the actually "ammo" boxes, so maybe it was an army storage unit. But it's strong enough to keep quick-thieves out.

Use grease on any bolts you install, especially through the frame. It took me an hour to get my two front seats out. After greasing the bolts when I reinstalled them, the job takes less than 2 min per seat. Grease is my friend.

That only prevents door theft via removal of the doors. Still easy to get into the Jeep via the lock.

griffin did pass the time by typing:

Well, not that I'd do anything like this but you could hook one of these up. It serves two purposes. Keeps dogs from pissing on the rims and thieves from prying the doors.

:)

Try this :

Dave Milne, Scotland '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Dave Milne did pass the time by typing:

I remember seeing that. :O Probably best if you don't have a soft-top. ;)

Definitely one of the fastest ways of finding out if you have a fuel leak. "OK John, turn them on!" *KABLAM* "Yup, guess you had a fuel leak afterall."

I think securing the contents is the best idea--no matter what, the bad guys can get in by breaking glass. I've got a Tuffy console and glove box after getting broken into at an airport parking lot. I need something bigger for more storage--like your ammo box or a bigger Tuffy box. The Bestop Extendatrunk looks good, but it relys on the tailgate lock and can probably be broken into as easy as the door.

To help prevent the jeep from being stolen, I've looked at getting tabs welded on the brake, clutch, and shifter to lock them all together. I'll need a custom bar made to go between the brake/clutch so I can padlock them together and that extends to the shifter. I thought about a chain, but it needs to be solid. Anyone done this before?

I also like the flame thrower/shocker approach. Or a paper bag full of fire ants above the door that rips open when the passenger door is opened!

Tony

Don't bet on crooks not breaking the glass to get what they want. My XJ was broken into for a beat-up old XT I was donating to a church (12 years ago). I've personally seen a crook break the glass to get into a car and then calmy go thru the car while the alarm was blaring away -- I yelled at him (from across the street on the third floor of a parking garage) he didn't even look up.

-Bill (remove "botizer" to reply via email)

I've always thought there wouldn't be anything wrong with setting up some sort of electrical current to shock the spit out of any would-be thief. I've heard, though, they won't make it due to fear of lawsuits or something like that. What a bunch of crap. "You hurt me when I was breaking the law". What the heck is that?