Houston- catalytic theft heads up

Only the exit side of the right rear cat is accessable, you still do not have enough room to get at the front of it with the DE plate on. The tech today told me the rear cats do not have a lot of the metals in them like the front cats do.

 

I can reach over the cross bar and get a small sawzall on the pipe just in front of the right rear cat, at an angle. It’s not the easiest thing, but possible.

Unfortunately I doubt these thieves know that the rear cats aren’t worth as much.

I’m on the list for a DE plate, for the record.

 

It's one of the nicer areas around Houston.

 

I called Desert Eagle this morning and left a message. They called me back a few hours later - really nice guy. He said he's about 8-10 days behind on his orders because of our winter storm but said he'd put me on list to call when he's ready to ship again (about 10 days).

He said he expects to have a design for the Tacoma and 4Runners in about 40 days.

 

Here is a diy job from a member on tacomaworld. I might give this a shot as I can extend it to cover the rear cats a bit too.

 

**EDIT TO ADD** @Haiiro98 - just saw your post about getting the DE plate; 'grats on the score. they are hard to come by these days!


sorry to hear @Haiiro98 . mine were cut on feb 12 in the sugar land town center parking garage, 4th level.

don mcgill toyota in katy is where i purchased my DE shield. they had 11 on hand when i entered and 10 on hand after i left. i negotiated the price down from $369 to $256, security hardware included. i hear they keep placing orders of 50-100 at a time.

i recommend giving them a call and pay over the phone to reserve. but, unfortunately, you have time.

my pickup has been at sterling mccall fort bend since that evening. i hope to be back in my Tundra by end of march. i started missing her day ONE!

i stop by the dealership and visit w/ my cemental every other week. she misses me, and i do her.

best of luck to you. thieves make me want to stomp skull!

 

New to the Tundra scene, living in Houston so I am definitely going to have to figure something out. Does that price include the install?

 

Welcome! That price is just for the plate. The install is fairly easy to do yourself.

 

Okay, thank you for the reply! This may have been answered but does anyone know the dimensions of the skid plate? I’m not sure if it will fit onto my truck with a dual exhaust from the previous owner.

 

Just bought the DE Skid from ole Don in Katy. $289 with security hardware and tax. Parts guy said houston and dallas were getting hammered with the thefts still.

 

I just ordered a Skid Plate for my Tundra with 6" Pro Comp lift from Tyler with Valhalla’s Shield in Cypress TX he has a Facebook. Makes steel and aluminum, mine will be ready in a week.

 

Is that a pic of the Valhalla shield on a Tundra with a Pro Comp 6" lift? Will you post a couple of pics once you have yours installed? I would appreciate it. I am very intrigued!

 

I sure will, can't wait to get it. After I found out about a Tundra that got hit for its cats at the theater I take my boys, we haven't been to the movies since. Also my Dirty Deeds 10" BAMuffler gets here tomorrow too.

 

Gonna pick up one of the desert eagle skid plates after work today, they said they have about 30 in stock at the Toyota of Katy.

 

How much are they charging you for it? (The cats shield, not the DD exhaust)

 

$400 for the 1/4" aluminum and well worth it.

Tyler...816-438-8156. Valhall's Shield is the name of the company in Cypress, he offers protection for front and rear cats and either in steel powered coated or aluminum in 1/8", 3/16" or 1/4" thickness. Instead of calling he ask that you text and he will respond back.

 

Does he do the install?

 

For $25 but I am installing myself. He said its no drilling, plate is cut to fit in existing hardware.

 

Cool thank you! I’m in the Cypress area, so I’ll contact him.

 

My DE skid just arrived. That thing is a solid beast! Now to order the rear plate from Tyler.

 

For you Florida guys....just got a notice from local PD that the theft on commercial vehicles and repair shops has hit the area.

 

Excellent! I am down in Freindswood, so not that far from me.

 

DE drilled and installed with the RCI. Just waiting on the rear plate now.

 

looks great

 

I drilled the forward holes instead of notches. All together unbolting the RCI, marking and drilling, an installation took about an hour and 15 minutes by myself. I was able to reach both forward bolts from the driver's side.

 

I wrenched my arm into the RCI skid plate’s notch for the oil drain and was able to turn my wrench on both nuts from that side. My arms are pretty torn up. I could only barely get my arm in on the driver’s side. Just enough to start threading one nut. Glad it’s done!

I’m not sure I need another plate. I don’t think the rear driver side cat is accessible with the DE skid installed. And I’m not sure anyone is going to think the rear passenger cat by itself is worth the trouble. They’d need a pretty small saw to get at it anyway.

 

Told you you could do it...


Now for the odd part, I swear that truck has less drag under it and handles different.

 

Most likely does on both.Look under most new cars today.Almost completely sealed underneath

 

I ordered the rear cat plate from him yesterday to "extend" my DE plate.