Alarms for a 72?

[72str8flush]

So I thought I would have my first post be about not having my truck be stolen. Does anyone know how difficult it is to install an alarm in my 72 pickup? I was thinking about this model This one Any help will be appreciated... thanks.

P.S. Just bought the truck and excited to start working on it.

[boraxman]

I just use my Club

[hilljob26]

thats a nicve setup,not only do u get security,but also power locks and keyless entry,i love my keyless entry,and they are a snap to install

[Jakes-66-K10]

I just yanked out a Viper alarm system from a truck I just purchased. I shouldn't say "yanked" - I was carefull to remove it. It came with a remote and all the harness stuff, if you want an alarm system you can have it for $15 - I won't use it. I'm sure you can find online instructions, and plug this system into a new truck with little effort.

[LUV2XCLR8]

If someone wants your truck / burb / blazer there is nuthing on the market
that will stop them from getting it, a alarm is a deterent, just like the club,
flashy pistolas, guard dogs, etc..... Just get agreed value insurance and go
out and drive it and enjoy it while you own it & don't sweat the small stuff.

AND

2 the board from west 10-uh-c

[72str8flush]

Originally Posted by hilljob26

thats a nicve setup,not only do u get security,but also power locks and keyless entry,i love my keyless entry,and they are a snap to install

Thanks, I was most interested in the power locks keyless entry aspect of this system (esp. at just 115). Plus I figured the alarm would maybe give me a break on my insurance as my company considers that sort of thing. As I know an alarm doesn't mean too terribly much as GQ said. I was just concerned about compatibility of those things with a 33 year old truck and its old wiring and wanted to hear from someone who had done it.

BTW, Vortex I'll think about that $15 Viper system... let me get back to you on that one.

[SK1970]

If you have an electric fuel pump install a hiden switch or put a hidden switch in the starter wiring. The alarms with kill switches are useless because unlocking the doors deactivates the alarm and kill switch and it is very easy to unlock one of these trucks with out the key. It would also be very easy to raise the hood and disconnect the siren. The bottom lines is that if a thief wants it bad anough no means will prevent it. You also need theft insurance for the actual value of your truck.

[Jwill41]

I think the hidden switch is about the best way to go. They can still tow it away though.

[86swb]

I have the electric fuel pump by the gas tank on my Burb. I am thinking of putting a switch on mine. Just not sure where to put it.

[4x4Poet]

To some degree, I disagree about the effectiveness of alarms. They stop the largest category of thieves out there: Novices (like kids, joyriders, etc.). How many times has a professional eyed each of our trucks with intent to steal? Far, far less often than ubiquitous young and dumb thieves.

As I've oft posted, lock down the hood with a simple chain or wire rope to stop the vast majority of underhood, alarm bypass efforts. How many car thieves carry bolt cutters compared to those that don't carry such things. Bicycle thieves routinely carry lock, chain, and wire rope defeaters (cutters, LN, etc.), but do most car thieves? Not to mention a hood lock can slow down all but those that transport one of our trucks away.

I prefer alarms that notify, rather than blast a siren/horn. The horn/siren is great for when you are near the truck (like asleep at home) but not so useful for when away from the truck. It depends on what you need. Some sunday trucks are never out of their owners' sight when out of the garage, so the audible alarm would help notify them that thieves are in the garage (trigger happy time). I've noticed that some alarms have a feature that allows the siren to be locked out when desired. Best of both features? Just some thoughts.

[edmonton72]

Chain your truck to something solid, that would work really good. I have also seen those little lights that make it seem like you have a security system and those might scrave some theives away.

[screamin_c102]

Vortex, PM sent

[Low68]

I will share my experience with an alarm in my truck. I wanted to get a good alarm, so I got a really "good quality", "top of the line" alarm. So we went around and found a clifford alarm that I was told was a good alarm. I had it "professionally installed" at one of the stupid electronics chain stores. I ended up redoing everything. Their definition of making a wiring connection was to strip the wire the two wires twist them together and tape them with junky electrical tape. Ha, that will not do. After I redid everything, it only worked for maybe two years before the alarm crapped out. For no reason it just stopped working. the valet switch stopped working, I could not turn it off with the remote. So I ripped out the alarm and bought an autopage car alarm for around 100 bucks and put it in myself. Never had a problem with it and it came with a cool remote starter hook up. That has been on for about a year and a half, but I don't drive it much these days. I also just bought an autopage alarm for my other car. It is one that has one of the lcd pager remotes. I like it a lot. Like someone above mentioned, you can have a silent alert so it will not flash the lights and the siren will not go off, but it will sent a message to your remote. It has a bunch of other cool features.

So if you want an alarm, I would say that the so called "top of the line" brands are not necessarily the best to get. I would also recommend doing the install yourself if you are reassonably knowledgable when it comes to that. I have had my dad help me on some of the stuff since he was an electrical engineer.
If you don't want to do it, take it to a shop that specializes in alarms or mobile audio/video.
Just my opinion.
Low68

[4x4Poet]

Another good idea for our trucks is a remote solenoid set up:
http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/st-1.shtml

Since thieves can easily crawl under our trucks (if not drop'd), they can easily short the battery from the positive batt cable at the starter-mounted solenoid. If the shorted starter battery also supplied juice to the alarm...

Great product for headers or other exhaust heat at starter issues, too.

[86swb]

A big mean German Shapard.