Truck / Camper Security

[craig333]

I disconnected my alarm on my truck because I feared that might leave me stranded out in the middle of nowhere much like the Ravelco could. Pulling a fuse is easy but I suppose any smart thief has learned to carry fuses. On my Jeep, besides the transfer case in neutral, I can pull the rotor, no one is going to have a spare rotor. I mostly cross my fingers and hope they just take my stuff, not my old truck. I can replace the stuff they're most likely to steal.

 

[Kolockum]

anyone else have a Ravelco? I am seriously thinking about it.

I am looking at getting a Ravelco put on my new Tacoma. I know Ravelco has a reputation in Mexico of being impossible to steal. Unfortunately RFID chips in keys are getting easier to bypass (technical term is hack). Granted they are still tricky and require a little computer know how.

 

[rando]

I honestly think the Ravelco is mostly about slick marketing and reputation management - all it is an obfuscated kill switch and it can be defeated with a multimeter in a matter of minutes or they blow your EFI fuse in the process leaving you stranded. You could also just add a 'stealth' kill switch on your own for much less money.

It is true that the RFID keys can be spoofed using a relay/repeater:
https://www.wired.com/2017/04/just-pair-11-radio-gadgets-can-steal-car/

But this sort of attack is easy to protect against and won't work when you are parked at a trailhead. The thieves need to be both close to the key (either in your pocket or sitting in your front hall) and near the car. If you are a long way from the car it won't work, or if you are worried you can either turn your key off, or put it in a faraday cage, which will prevent this attack:
https://www.amazon.com/Faraday-Blocking-Keyless-Antitheft-Protector/dp/B077XTMHZW

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I have the Ravelco system on my truck. It might be there for purely psychological reasons. Before I retired and bought my truck, I had gotten by picking up ex-police cars and such at county auctions, usually for two three thousand dollars, driving it for two to four years, then scrapping it and buying another one. All done without ever taking out a car loan.

So when I spent forty thousand dollars on my truck, I went all out keep some SOB from stealing it from me. I don't regret the money I spent on the Ravelco at all.

BTW, If you have a truck camper, the keys won't always be in your pocket or front hall. See this article from Truck Camper Magazine:

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/camper-tech/keyless-tech-warning-for-truck-campers/

 

[AWG_Pics]

Interesting. After reading Optimistic Paranoid's linked article, I am now even more glad we drive a Tundra, with old style keyed start and no auto-detect of the fob by the truck. Our daily driver sedan, a Honda CRV, does have auto detect and keyless start but that seems to operate only at very close range. Even a couple of feet is too far.

 

[LosAngeles]

We'll have a very nice truck camper on our very nice new F350... and for the price of the Ravelco..... (I got a military discount from my local installer to make it $550) pretty much knowing that it very likely wont ever be stolen is likely worth the admission.

Plus we'll get an added discount on the truck insurance. (dont know how much of a discount, yet)

and with the Ravelco stickers on the truck windows... perhaps it is less likely that a thief would break the windows and try to hot wire it. Added bonus.

Supposedly thieves know what a Ravelco is (makes sense) and would just walk on by.

They dont want to take the time to get out a multimeter I dont think......

there is a reason so many Ravelco's have been installed. Passive, reliable, effective.

just my 2c.

 

[PaulT]

--snip--
and with the Ravelco stickers on the truck windows... perhaps it is less likely that a thief would break the windows and try to hot wire it. Added bonus.
--snip

Perhaps, you could just buy some of the stickers and apply them?

Paul

 

[Markgyver]

Good point. Here in CO they don't use salt. And I really want one! Hey it is only 43 bucks on Amazon. Maybe I'll grease 'er up good and go fer it!

CO uses magnesium chloride which is still a salt and is corrosive.

 

[buckland]

Thanks for starting this thread. I hope to be traveling in winters soon .... please oh please soon... This would give me some real feeling of security. I have a Hide-a-key waterproofed and very well hidden in the frame of my truck ... actually have used it once.
But if I was on the road for awhile I'd like to do this. I suppose the FWC Eagle door can't be anymore secured as they can just smash the windows. But the truck....sure hate to come back to an empty space. I definitely will look into this.

 

[buckland]

Update... I decided to do this in the Spring... my closest install will meet me half way ...so for me 2 1/2 hours to get there and 4 hour install and return.... a long day to veg out and just do it. I'll sleep better I think ... (I've always been too wound up!)

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Rob, on your camper deadbolt, you could convert it to one that requires a key on both sides, or one that doesn’t unlock from the inside.

 

[camelracer]

I remove the inside knob on my deadbolt and put in a cabinet when parking in questionable area.

 

[buckland]

I take it removing the inside knob would keep perps from getting out stuff thru door after breaking in the window? I guess I’ll just let go and trust... hope for the best. I do have a sign a guy sent me a copy of... it is a mean-ass dog with a spiked collar.... beware guard dog. That and keep curtains closed.