New Mexico here

We have been truck campers for many years. Our 2002 F350 crew cab 4x4 dually diesel was stolen from our driveway in January of this year. Knowing that truck was a hot item I always kept a club on the wheel, the alarm set and I even put a wheel boot lock on the front tire every night, the kind the cops use when they are going to tow your vehicle so you don't move it. I thought they would move on to another vehicle instead of messing with mine, I was wrong. So 10 weeks later we have a 2001 F350 crew cab diesel SRW short bed and a 2004 Wildcat 24RL that we just picked up in the Denver area. Other then some graphics fading on one side, the unit is in very good condition. Thanks to the previous owners for taking great care of their stuff. We have a few things to do. Original tires need to be replaced. I have to get a hitch installed in my truck. The previous owner gave me their 15K hitch and I just started installing bed rails last night, which I do have some questions about. We hope to hit the road down to the lake in just a few weeks. So many projects going on over the last two months. We extended our block wall down the side of our house and I welded up a very nice gate, so now the new truck is parked behind the gate every night. I hope that does the job. Next, pulling the engine on the boat to replace the engine coupler. Whew, I'm going to need a relaxing weekend here soon.

Welcome, and congrats on the new to you purchase. Glad you found a Cat in such good condition. Sorry to hear about the truck, but was it made out of gold?? How did they get the boot off and more importantly, where did you get one to put on it in the first place?

This is the lock I used:

http://www.alphalock.com/

Yes, the truck was made of gold. Not really, but from what I hear the old 7.3L diesel is extremely valuable in Mexico because it can still run their high sulfur fuels, that and the 4wd and crew cab, they can run a lot of stuff across the borders on the back roads. We are within 5 hours of the Juarez crossing and my truck was probably in Mexico before I even noticed it gone.

It is a sad thing. Looking at the boot, I wonder if they pulled the whole wheel off and put another one on.

I really don't know. I had to stop thinking about it. I bought that truck new, it was a huge stretch for us, but we got it paid off in three years. I maintained, modified and set that truck up for 7 years in order to make things easy to get the camper on, hook up the boat and get out of town. Walked out one morning to go to work and its just gone. It felt like a sucker punch to the gut. I know it was just a truck and over time I will forget, but that baby ran sweet, pulled like an ox got 12 mpg hauling a 4,000lb camper and a 4,000lb boat. We will see how the new truck does.

I wonder if a hidden battery disconnect would have worked better ?

The " Boot" looks easy to get around as mentioned above, just replace the wheel. Did you have lug locks ?

But I guess in that area its pretty much the " Wild West " anything goes.

WELCOME TO THE FORUM . Sorry about your truck . Jim

Welcome, Newbie here as well....Two things I hate...Liars and Thieves. Had a tool box stolen from my garage after swapping trucks, and the one night I FORGET to lock my truck, some one stole work meters from the back floor board...(my Fault). Glad you got your truck replaced! and Congrats on your cat!
Robert

Welcome to the forum Copycats.

We have a 2007 Wildcat 30BHSE and we love it Haven't noticed anyone else on the site who seems to have this model Is it a Canadian thing By the way I love reading about all the modifications everyone has done & I have quite a few projects lined up for my husband as soon as we can get the trailer out of winter storage

Copycat, Welcome to the forum. We have a 2008 F350 diesel and a 2007 24RL and love it. Sorry to hear about the truck, but glad you got it replaced.

Here is something that I found a while ago:

http://www.emergingent.com/subpage3VandalAlert.htm

I don't have one, nor do I know anyone that has used it.

But it does look interesting.

That looks like a really good idea.

A friend of mine has that on his truck. Basically comes with a separate Key FOB that needs to be pushed in order to start the vehicle. I think its a good idea. Check this out too:

http://www.zoombak.com/

its pretty affordable

Welcome to the forum. Good to get some others from the area; we live in Farmington. Sorry about your truck; guess I better keep a close eye on mine. I have an ignition disconnect, but I usually forget to turn it on.

Hey, Scott. We get up to Navajo a couple times a year. I'll keep in touch when we do. You have done a lot to your truck. I just dropped my fuel tank yesterday in did the in tank mods. If you have an ITP reg return, you probably know what I did. I have a ton to do to get this truck where my other on was.

to this great forum.

from Ft. Worth!