Prep for cross-country trip with security in mind...

[JediNut]

At 60 years old, I am selling my house in California and heading back East. I'll be loading up what I need to live on in the back of the truck, point it East and go. Since I'll be staying in hotels & AirBnB's for a few months, I am a bit concerned on the security of my truck. Now, I know that there is no way to stop someone from smashing a window and grabbing anything in the cab, or taking a pry bar to my tonneau cover to crack it open... but I don't want to make it too easy for them. (Although, there is the school of thought that says "take everything inside with you and leave the truck unlocked. Then the thieves don't break anything. That's what some people are doing in San Francisco now.)

Anyway, I was wondering what I could do to protect my truck and it's contents as much as possible.

Stuff I am wondering about...

• I have the UnderCover Amor Flex tonneau cover, but to be honest, I feel like someone might be able to slide a slim jim or even a coathanger under the weather stripping and hook the release cable. Has anyone here had that happen to them?
• Is stealing tailgates still a problem? Is there a way to secure it?
• Would the skid plate from Talons really slow down a catalytic converter thief enough that he'd move on?

If YOU were making this trek... what else would you consider?
(Please... no "My truck is protected by Smith & Wesson" comments. Transporting weapons across state lines comes with a whole set of problems.)

Thanks in advance!!!

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[sbi]

I really don't have a good advise to you other than congratulate you on leaving CA and wish you good luck! I just hope you don't end up in the Northeast which is a mirror of CA, only on another shoreline

I will move my daughter to school to CA in the summer , can't say I look forward to the next 4 years and the 8 days drive back and forth.

 

[JJ_Tex]

If you want security, my neighbor just got a diamondback cover and it seems to be about as secure as you can get with a bed cover.

Also make sure your security alerts are active on your FordPass app so you when someone opens your door or tailgate. No ideas on the cat converter or fuel tank, but hope this helps. Good luck.

https://diamondbackcovers.com/colle...zrjyzR7sw2xMG8yGSqgIALLKUmykuHgBoCeykQAvD_BwE

 

[JediNut]

I really don't have a good advise to you other than congratulate you on leaving CA and wish you good luck! I just hope you don't end up in the Northeast which is a mirror of CA, only on another shoreline

I will move my daughter to school to CA in the summer , can't say I look forward to the next 4 years and the 8 days drive back and forth.

Thanks... I'm headed back to the Southeast... TN, GA, SC or FL.

As for your daughter and the 8-day roundtrip drive to CA... (1) when she's in the truck with you... it's fantastic bonding time (we used to sing songs from the 80's at the top of our lungs!), and (2) it will be the quickest 4 years of your life! (Except when you have to fill out the damn FAFSA... then it seems like an ETERNITY!)

 

[sbi]

Thanks... I'm headed back to the Southeast... TN, GA, SC or FL.

As for your daughter and the 8-day roundtrip drive to CA... (1) when she's in the truck with you... it's fantastic bonding time (we used to sing songs from the 80's at the top of our lungs!), and (2) it will be the quickest 4 years of your life! (Except when you have to fill out the damn FAFSA... then it seems like an ETERNITY!)

Glad to hear where you're heading, we left the commie state of MA last summer and we are in SC now and we do NOT look back.

It will be 2 cars - me towing her stuff with my truck and her driving her car. She is going to grad school so no FAFSA for me anymore ?

 

[bigjim22]

We had a welder create a custom cage over our cat converter and it has seemed to deter the thieves after we had one cut off last fall. They are looking for a quick cut and run so anything you can do to slow them down helps. Good luck! Unfortunately it’s quite common. Personally, I’d rather go northeast where there are more brain cells but if you’re familiar with those states you already know what kind of people you’ll be dealing with in the south. Safe travels!

 

[PA Lightning]

If someone wants to break into the truck, they will. Hide items from view, and make sure you have the appropriate contents coverage under your insurance policy.

When staying at hotels spring for the nicer ones and park your truck front and center.

Happy travels, you should not have a problem.

 

[Battalion3419]

I really don't have a good advise to you other than congratulate you on leaving CA and wish you good luck! I just hope you don't end up in the Northeast which is a mirror of CA, only on another shoreline

I will move my daughter to school to CA in the summer , can't say I look forward to the next 4 years and the 8 days drive back and forth.

I love California...

 

[Battalion3419]

It would be best if you left your snide comments of negativity off this forum...

 

[TaxmanHog]

Yes, let's keep this thread on a positive note, BTW, I moved the thread to General Automotive & Other Vehicles NODE because the OP is driving a 21 F150 (ICE), though his questions about vehicle security are important to everyone, we soon to be Lightning owners have advantages with the FRUNK.

 

[Nick Gerteis]

Maybe buy or rent an enclosed trailer? Secured to the truck of course.

 

[PV2EV]

Put your vaulable junk in the frunk!

 

[rlbussard]

At 60 years old, I am selling my house in California and heading back East. I'll be loading up what I need to live on in the back of the truck, point it East and go. Since I'll be staying in hotels & AirBnB's for a few months, I am a bit concerned on the security of my truck. Now, I know that there is no way to stop someone from smashing a window and grabbing anything in the cab, or taking a pry bar to my tonneau cover to crack it open... but I don't want to make it too easy for them. (Although, there is the school of thought that says "take everything inside with you and leave the truck unlocked. Then the thieves don't break anything. That's what some people are doing in San Francisco now.)

Anyway, I was wondering what I could do to protect my truck and it's contents as much as possible.

Stuff I am wondering about...

• I have the UnderCover Amor Flex tonneau cover, but to be honest, I feel like someone might be able to slide a slim jim or even a coathanger under the weather stripping and hook the release cable. Has anyone here had that happen to them?
• Is stealing tailgates still a problem? Is there a way to secure it?
• Would the skid plate from Talons really slow down a catalytic converter thief enough that he'd move on?

If YOU were making this trek... what else would you consider?
(Please... no "My truck is protected by Smith & Wesson" comments. Transporting weapons across state lines comes with a whole set of problems.)

Thanks in advance!!!

I think the best advice might be to just stop in small towns along the way where these types of criminal activities are less common. It won't make it 100% proof, but a much better chance than stopping in larger towns or cities.

 

[GarryJ]

Glad to hear where you're heading, we left the commie state of MA last summer and we are in SC now and we do NOT look back. I even wrote some Caltech internship essays while trying to understand why so many people are fleeing California top article In time, I went to University in Massachusetts and went there, but I'm glad that my daughter will study in California, although many people do not think that this is a good option.

It will be 2 cars - me towing her stuff with my truck and her driving her car. She is going to grad school so no FAFSA for me anymore ?

Wow! Postgraduate study is a serious achievement, congratulations! There are good universities in California and it's a great choice for a graduate student, so it looks great. A few years ago I refused to enter graduate school, now I think that it was not the right choice (

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