Anti-Theft Options on our 67-72 GM Truck?

[longhorn70gmc]

Last Thursday I got all my gas siphoned out of my truck. They took a screw driver and pried the locking gas cap off and got it all. There was none left. I wanted to ask you all how you combat this and if there was any helpful hints. I don't want to mod the tank location quit yet, but it may lead to that. I have shopped on line, in magazines and went to all the car parts places. The three types of normal locking caps just do not cut it. They fail to secure entry to the tank. Since then I put my MacGyver skills together to create a special locking mechanism that fits over the whole area that sticks out from the truck where we put our gas in. They will damage the truck if they try to remove this. My next step is too create something to protect the under carriage gas lines. I am sure they are next to get hit and cut. I am only keeping two gallons in the tank until I figure this all out how to keep the gas thieves out. My LONGHORN sits in the Garage, so I can’t put the C/10 Custom in there for added security quit yet. I would really like to foil this from happening again. Any suggestions or story’s with solution to share?

Respectfully Board Brother Billy

[Number98]

Smith and Wesson makes a very nice security system for our trucks I hear....

[longhorn70gmc]

I here ya there!!!!! I would have loved to have caught this guy.

[slug]

tie a pit bull to your truck, and dont feed it for a while

[whatnow123]

Wow, I haven't heard of this happening in a very long time, but I guess it makes sense with the price of fuel anymore.

I think the cheapest solution would be to get a sticker that says "diesel fuel only" and put it on the gas cap.

[Longhorn Man]

They did mine via under the cab on the fuel lines. 60 gallons in 1 week.
At least gas was only $1.50-ish at the time.
I like the diesel fuel sticker idea.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

What about a vehicle alarm system? Some of those aren't too expensive now. All it would take is a little noise to send the sorry suckers packing. What about a video camera, fake or real, mounted where they can see it facing the driveway (video survalence signs too maybe?). A barking dog is great to have too.

Unfortunately, you can't stop thieves. Anything you do is just to make it harder for them to steal.

[cerebus]

I guess it also comes down to if they want your gas that bad, are they willing to damage the truck to get the gas or just move on to something easier.
By not locking it up they may never vandalize (sp?) the truck, but if they have to wreck something to get the gas because you have it locked.... is the gas worth it? Maybe just leave yourself with 1/4 tank always.

[slug]

what you do is install a tank under your bed and have a hidden filler. leave the stock tank where it is, fill it with gas and sugar and let them suffer

[Sir Fisher]

Originally Posted by whatnow123

Wow, I haven't heard of this happening in a very long time, but I guess it makes sense with the price of fuel anymore.

I think the cheapest solution would be to get a sticker that says "diesel fuel only" and put it on the gas cap.

that would be funny if the idiot trying to steal the diesel and took your gas and put it in his diesel truck... i can see some moron doing it...

[Longhorn Man]

thats why I never lock my doors anymore... I got sick of replacing windows.
just in the last 7 years, I've done one window on my old lincoln, one in the old GMC, 3 in a square body S-10 blazer, one in a dodge minivan, and a ford festiva.
I told everyone in the family (only 2 of those windows listed were mine) if there doors are locked, I won't be doing the labor on the glass replacement.

[69halfton]

if your really into this, park REALLY close to the house or another car when you put the truck away at night, it might make them just not be bothered if they have to be contorsionists (sp?) to get the gas out. when you do this, you' obviously have to get out the passenger side

...a late night with a shotgun works too

[texanidiot25]

Older motor craft locking gas caps fit on REALLY tight. I had used one temporarily on my truck once I drilled out the locking cap I didn't have keys to. Very tamper proof. Just paint it so no one sees that it's a F*rd product.

[Orange]

Someone mentioned an alarm - but I don't think that would help much. I have one, but unless the sensitivity is set really high, it only picks up on "major" disturbances, or open signals.

As far as alternate caps...
I have one of these.
http://www.ridetech.com/products/Coo...p-1409-73.html


So far so good.
It'd be pretty tough to get into without the key. It seals really tight with an O-ring.

DLB

[desertPOS]

I would think the best way would be to put another tank somewhere else, with hidden acccess. Just be sure to leave the stock tank where it's at and fill it with water...

[Dingfodgy]

.....meet my home and "surrounding area" theft deterrent system.

[463]

you have to pay close attention to WHO, WHAT, WHEN & WHERE take on fuel. you would be surprised at whats going on. the thieves all have the ways & means as well as eyes and ears to get what the need. if they can't find it they can't get it.

[griesel72]

Originally Posted by Orange

Someone mentioned an alarm - but I don't think that would help much. I have one, but unless the sensitivity is set really high, it only picks up on "major" disturbances, or open signals.

As far as alternate caps...
I have one of these.
http://www.ridetech.com/products/Coo...p-1409-73.html


So far so good.
It'd be pretty tough to get into without the key. It seals really tight with an O-ring.

DLB

any chance a guy could take a hammer and punch or screw driver to "drive" this cap open, or does it guard against that?

[463]

can you say "detonation cap"

[griesel72]

Originally Posted by 463

can you say "detonation cap"

Very true, but even i'm guilty of driving the ring around that holds the gas sending unit in place, even though you are supposed to use a block of wood.

[89 crew]

If the problem is happening at home try a camera system. You won't stop them the first time but it will give you a picture of the sob. My guess is they know you. know you keep gas in your truck and probably when they can hit it and not get caught.

[joedoozer]

Locks only keep honest people honest. If someone wants something bad enough they will steal it. I suggest chaining a dog to the bed haha.

[hootz]

Originally Posted by Orange

Someone mentioned an alarm - but I don't think that would help much. I have one, but unless the sensitivity is set really high, it only picks up on "major" disturbances, or open signals.

As far as alternate caps...
I have one of these.
http://www.ridetech.com/products/Coo...p-1409-73.html


So far so good.
It'd be pretty tough to get into without the key. It seals really tight with an O-ring.

DLB

I'm with ya' on alarms, very few people even pay attention to alarms going off. I like the look of filler caps such as yours but it looks a lot like the cap on my boat and those keys are easy to get if they are similar to marine use.

[stonewall618]

heres what i would do if i started to notice my gas being "missing"... you can get an old under the bed gas tank and mount it right on the frame... the place you would but the gas in would come out in side the wheel well... i was thinking about doing this so i can stop sitting on the "BOMB" and its a cheap solution to a big problem...oh... you also get about 6inches of leg room if you play your cards right

[jimfulco]

Originally Posted by desertPOS

I would think the best way would be to put another tank somewhere else, with hidden acccess. Just be sure to leave the stock tank where it's at and fill it with water...

Leave a layer of gas on top of the water so the smell, or lack of it, won't give it away.

Or, leave it partially full of half gas and half used motor oil. Won't rust out that way, either.