Catalytic Convertor Protection?

[jage]

Cat theft is still on the rise and I'm thinking about the best way to protect the van, which has easy access of course. Anybody done a cat theft prevention? They sell ready made plates for my Toyotas, but I couldn't find anything for the van. I have a DIY no weld idea but I'm curious what if anything people have done. And I've seen the generic straps and cables with clamps etc.

 

[Twoxentrix]

Couple good threads here outlining options (DIY & Retail purchase):
https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f19/catalytic-converter-guard-30475.html

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f9/a-fight-to-protect-my-catalytic-converter-28126.html

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/f...rter-solution-for-ford-e250-2001-a-30181.html

 

[simplesez]

Search noob!!!

Sorry couldn't resist

 

[jage]

Search noob!!!

:b5: I've been here since April!

 

[JWA-SMB]

:b5: I've been here since April!

April of 2007 though!

Any idea you have would be welcome Jage, the less work required to implement your ideas would be very much appreciated I'm sure.

The only downside is we really don't know how effective some preventative ideas are though---few follow-up reports of thefts being stopped.

 

[BCam]

Here's a link to a discussion on Winnieowners.com, a sportsmobileforum sister site about the Catstrap:

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums...0-motorhome-chassis-364130-3.html#post3926153

I kind of like the idea of the "Catstrap" vs. the cages but I have no personal experience with it.

JWA is right about the lack of follow-up reports. Part of the problem is that we'll never know about a successful deterrent unless other nearby vehicles were hit, like in a storage yard or if there's other evidence of an attempted theft.

I think effectiveness depends on where the vehicle is located and the availability of other targets. From what I've read, a thief isn't going to spend an extended period of time removing a protected cat when others are available nearby for a few minutes work. If the thief has all the time in the world and isn't worried about being caught, nothing is going to help.

After I had a cat stolen from my motorhome, I asked my my insurance company (Progressive) if they had any suggestions regarding anti-theft devices and they didn't. This makes me wonder about effectiveness.

 

[jage]

Donut Media has a pretty decent video and their conclusion is basically a plate is the best deterrent. If I still had a welder I'd probably just tack some rebar off a few places and take it back to the frame. I think the diesel cats are beefy enough to tack to.



For SMB specific I'm tempted to clamp two halves of a old propane tank over it and call it a day. I also thought about just mocking up some old pipe and the shell of something that looks like a cat that's easier and more obvious than the real cat. A tin wrap set away from the cat with propane stickers might work for the less intellectual thieves.

Alas these are just daydreams since I've gotten rid of my tools and don't have a place to work. At the end of the day finding a local welder to just tack scrap and rebar all over and up and down might be the answer but letting some random under the SMB is not ideal.

 

[JWA-SMB]

JWA is right.....

One can never hear that too often!

Here's a link to a discussion on Winnieowners.com, a sportsmobileforum sister site about the Catstrap:

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums...0-motorhome-chassis-364130-3.html#post3926153

I kind of like the idea of the "Catstrap" vs. the cages but I have no personal experience with it.

I also like the idea of the Catstrap too but more for that sensor trigging an alarm. As a stop-gap measure that alone might provide enough deterrence to run thieves off should they venture under a vehicle.

I would install a second sensor and/or alarm system in case one is somehow defeated or misses the miscreant.

 

[Courtney-SMB]

I had the catalytic convertors stolen the same night on my 2013 e350 and my tacoma parked next to it.
I've added aluminum (to keep the weight down) bolt on custom "skid plates" to hide the convertors.
They also pulled out the O2 sensor and wires to the board which blew that added to the problem and costs.
I'm hoping they wont want to take extra time for ones that are harder to see.
A--holes

 

[NRL]

Of all places, I got hit at the RV storage yard with 24hr security and cameras. They hit 20 vehicles(Gold mine at the RV storage yard, I think they hit every Ford RV/truck).


For both of my van and truck, I had the muffler guy put in a new Cat but with a 3 bolt flange on both ends, flanges on the van too.



I'm either going to remove the Cat when in storage or put my own straight pipe that matches the 3 bolt flanges. And put the new cat back on when I need to smog it.


nothing to steal, move on.

:l7:

 

[BCam]

The thieves only stole one of my two converters from my 2002 motorhome (in an RV storage yard) which has a Workhorse (GM) chassis. I wonder if the thief stole it and an accomplice told him to leave the other one and go for a Ford.

 

[JWA-SMB]

The thieves only stole one of my two converters from my 2002 motorhome (in an RV storage yard) which has a Workhorse (GM) chassis. I wonder if the thief stole it and an accomplice told him to leave the other one and go for a Ford.

I don't think thieves are that discerning when it comes to plying their trade.

 

[BCam]

I don't think thieves are that discerning when it comes to plying their trade.

I was keying off of NRL's post #10: "Of all places, I got hit at the RV storage yard with 24hr security and cameras. They hit 20 vehicles(Gold mine at the RV storage yard, I think they hit every Ford RV/truck)."

I've read elsewhere that Ford trucks have a richer amount of rare metals in them and are more popular with thieves.

 

[JWA-SMB]

I was keying off of NRL's post #10: "Of all places, I got hit at the RV storage yard with 24hr security and cameras. They hit 20 vehicles(Gold mine at the RV storage yard, I think they hit every Ford RV/truck)."

I've read elsewhere that Ford trucks have a richer amount of rare metals in them and are more popular with thieves.

Never heard that Ford's cats were more valuable but then my 2000 E-250 got hit right in front of my house parked on the street.

I'm not trying to be contentious or contrary but it seems we need a system or strategy to stop the thieves even before they begin cutting.

Cameras are all well and good however most aren't monitored in real time, at best they catch the action as history, scant chance of anything useful coming from the recordings. As we all know most often the undersides of our vans is left vulnerable, very few if any alarms other than the Cats Eye device ever address that.

I don't see too many reviews or such on the Catstrap in general so once again we have something that's possible but not yet proven to stop the thieves before they're done their damage.

Perhaps the underside plate is the best way to disuade them?

Once we've rounded that corner though we'll have be driving EV's anyway it seems.

 

[ScrapIron]

I was wondering if a metal strap could be welded or clamped on both ends of the convertor, then a trigger wire attached to the straps if either trigger wire loses connection via being cut and breaking the wires ground it will trigger an alarm system and lights. Worse case, the theif cuts one end of the cat breaking the ground and the alarm sounds before he can cut the other end off.

Basically using the metal cat as a ground wire to complete a circuit to a relay which triggers whatever anti theft system you install. You could have it trigger a flame thrower aimed at that area under the vehicle... lol

 

[JWA-SMB]

Basically using the metal cat as a ground wire to complete a circuit to a relay which triggers whatever anti theft system you install. You could have it trigger a flame thrower aimed at that area under the vehicle... lol

Well that's one idea huh? Unfortunately in today's litigious world the criminal would have grounds for legal action against YOU for such a thing.

That's an intriguing idea though. Whatever wiring you'd use as the trigger signal would want to be hidden so it wouldn't be snipped before they started cutting the converter out. Even though the trigger would engage whatever alarm etc installed thieves might still be quick enough to remove the cat and inflict damage to the exhaust system.