To cat shield or not to cat shield?

If they don't have the correct bits.I haven't read much about all the noise they'd have to make, with all the extra grinding and sawing to remove these plates, verses a few cuts with a sawsall.

 

Exactly right. I have not seen a single confirmed case on this forum of someone with a sheild getting ripped off. Also, grinding makes a hell of alot more noise than sawing.

 

I was one of the naysayers, but if these are really proprietary heads and not security torx, hex etc some bs you can find at home depot, then right on. I'll probably get one too since they work as a skid plate and would like the protection when off-road

 

Well I just got mine installed. Taco Tunes was able to deliver it in 3 days. 2023 Tundra.

 

Those are security torx it seems. Unbolted in 3 minutes

 

You got a better idea? You know a better screw/solution?

 

A good start would be non-standard hardware, that's kinda the whole point of security fasteners.

Or. Mod plate with access points/cutouts for servicing transmission and weld to frame.

 

Is torx not non-standard? Im actually asking, for real.
What other kind/type should I be lookin for then?

 

not "as" standard as hex, but very common. 8 bucks gets a set, prepares a thief for most sizes

$8 LEXIVON 13-Piece Tamper Resistant Star Bits, Premium S2 Alloy Steel, T4 - T40 | Impact Grade Security Torx Bit Set, 1/4" Hex Shank (LX-301)

https://www.amazon.com/LEXIVON-Tamp...RKHN?keywords=torx+bits&qid=1671637811&sr=8-5

 

He's just saying security torx and hex are pretty Common in most stores and bit sets. Searching online you will find all kinds of more obscure hardware with corresponding bits or sockets.

My plates came with some weird shit, so I have not had to source other hardware or I'd point you toward a retailer.

I would NOT recommend welding ANY plate to the frame unless you completely hate yourself or want to make servicing anything impossible.

There as such a thing as going TOO FAR guys. Hopefully the welding comment was some kind of dumb troll.

 

Who says they won't just steal bits?

Fair enough, if you Google tamper proof security fasteners you'll see lots of weird non standard fasteners. Mudge Fasteners look pretty slick. That's where I'd look. As a litmus test, if a compatible driver for a bolt can be found outside of the company supplying the bolt, it's probably not a good choice

 

You didn't see the "access points/cutouts for servicing transmission and weld to frame", did you?

Obviously it is not the ideal solution, but if you want the plate to stay put, a weld is harder to undo than any bolt.

 

solid point, thieves don't gotta pay for no dang tools

 

Maybe you haven't seen there are more than just fluids under there which may need to be replaced over the life of the vehicle.?

What if you need you replace a joint in your drives haft? OR need to remove the transfer case. Or repaired an exhaust leak or rusted weld??

Welding a protection plate is just a bad idea.

 

I wonder if any of the shields and the truck frame above would allow reversal of fasteners, driving them down from above, weld the nuts to the bottom of plate. Aim to make impossible or at least difficult to use a power driver, force removal by hand tool only. Of course that would make installation difficult, also any future removal/reinstall difficult, but should not be needed often.

 

See "Obviously it is not the ideal solution"

 

Screwdsecurity.com

Brycefastener.com

Pentagon bolts are probably the lowest level of the high security bolts that are non standard in most places.

If you wanted to go super cheap and make it hard on yourself in the future, you could get a torx bit and fill it with silicone or epoxy, or just shear it off yourself lol

 

I am of the opinion that the ideal solution (short of one focusing on the thief) is a rigid barrier to obscure the catylists, which is attached (and left removable by approved persons) with difficult to find security hardware.

It's not 100%, but nothing is. Like mentioned, they could just take the whole truck if really that motivated.

 

I'm of the opinion that if a thief looks under your truck while holding a sawzall and sees a cat shield, he's more likely to move on to another target than go digging around for the right screwdriver bit, security or otherwise.

 

I haven't installed my RCI plate set yet (truck is buried in snow) but I know that the security type screws just add another level of deterrent. The reality is if the crooks want something bad enough, they will get it. The goal is to slow them down or get them to go elsewhere. If they are determined to take your cats, they will cut and bend until they get what they want, potentially causing more damage to the truck. I like the epoxy/silicone idea and will try that too.

I have done security upgrades on my Airstream by adding a fancy hitch lock, custom made wheel lock, removed my safety chains and put an Air Tag on it. If the crooks want it bad enough, they will get past all my deterrents. However, if the crooks show up with just a bent screw driver and a rock, they will probably move on to an easier target. My cordless tools will cut up my new covers pretty quickly but the noise will certainly be heard.

 

Of course. Agreed

 

The catalytic converter shields I make use carriage bolts from the bottom. The nylock nuts on top must have a ratchet wrench from above. The two rear nuts have about 1” of throw each time it ratchets. These take forever to tighten, and therefor should take an equally long time to remove.

 

I'll need to wait till there's a model that doesn't require removal for transmission service. For the way I use this heap, I'm not a very good candidate for cat theft, I know; I'm gambling!

 

Security Fasteners ooo boy! I love this topic.

Here are my opinions. I have a pretty good sample size now. Granted this should all be taken with a grain of salt as it is mostly my opinion.

I tell most people that they do not need security bolts. If you are trying to protect your truck at the store, the movies, or other places where you are worried about leaving your truck in the public for just a few hours, the shield being there is going to be enough of a deterrent. I call these crimes of opportunity. We do have a few reports of thieves trying to cut the shield off in these situations, and they ended up giving up. That is a big reason why I have only sold 1/4" aluminum, and not a thinner aluminum plate. Steel 1/8" and thicker is going to be just as good as a deterrent to the thief who tries to cut it. I also feel most thieves are not going to come back to a residence with the proper tools to remove a plate. Same with a apartment complex. They are just going to go to easier targets.

Where I think security bolts make the most sense is park and rides, fleets, and dealership parking lots. Lots of trucks, left unattended and plenty of time. Enough for a thief to consider coming back at a later date with the proper tools and taking the time to remove the shields. For some places this could be a big payoff.

To date, we have not had a single plate unbolted front a truck. Even some of the fleets we service locally who do not use security bolts have not had an issue. Most of those are Tacomas, and that plate is much easier to remove then the tundra's. Our tundra plate use a combination of metric and standard allen bolts, and are through bolted so it makes it a bit more involved to remove.

Our security bolts are a proprietary bit that we can only get through my supplier. which is why they are so freaking expensive. I could go an extra step and get one that is custom keyed for our company, but that would just increase costs for not a lot of gain. Ultimately, they are a great idea, but optional in my opinion. I don't even have a set on my personal truck.

 

If I buy a plate for my truck, it'll most certainly be a Talon. I've learned in 7 decades on this planet, that price and value are two different animals. Case in point, my Mechanic of 30 years can't sell me tires at Walmart prices but I'd trust him with anyone I care about or anything I own. This Talon bunch might be cut from the same cloth!

 

I asked the parts guy at my Toyota dealership today about a cat shield for my 2022 Tundra. He said thieves won’t bother as it is more difficult to cut out and its materials aren't nearly as valuable as older vehicles’ type and quantity of heavy metals in the cat. Can anyone corroborate this info?

 

I just found this Carfax list which didn’t include my friend’s older model Tundra. And this Kilmer channel said Tundras are the most sought after. What to believe?https://youtu.be/11bT1V57xCE

 

Crazy times we live in that's for sure.

 

So on this topic about Cats being stolen and pretty much off any kind of vehicle. I just found out from a buddy that works for Lowes that the delivery company they use had a CAT stolen off one of the diesel delivery trucks while it was parked in their DOCK!! I mean damn, if thieves are desperate enough nothing stops them from stealing them. I mean that takes Balls to go up to a truck at the dock of their delivery company warehouse to steal the CATS. Crazy what people will do.

 

It’s done 90 minutes, $350 and peace of mind.