Need a Cat Cage for 2004 SR5

I’ve spent time searching the forums but cannot find leads to locate a cage or other anti-theft device for the Cats on a 04 SR5. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

 

CatClamp Standard Kit

https://www.amazon.com/CatClamp-Standard-Kit/dp/B00HPZTCMA?ie=UTF8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

 

There aren't a lot of options for our first gen trucks.

Here's a skid plate cover

https://www.pod6products.com/produc...a-transmission-catalytic-converter-skid-plate

Here's another that might eventually happen, or not.

https://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/ORF87041.htm

 

Don't forget about @Classy63 and his "Valhalla's shield" product. https://www.tundras.com/threads/val...ent-skid-plates-info-and-ordering-post.84911/

I personally think it's one of the most tasteful, nicely designed plate products for our trucks. Were it not for the fact my truck spends most of its life inside a garage or moving, this is the route I'd go.

 

I read this one. Unfortunately he begins his thread “....Valhalla’s Shield. I make catalytic converter theft deterrent plates that can also be used as skid plates in the thicker version. I currently only make these for the 2007+ Tundra...”

 

Unfortunately the options are limited. The Pod6 looks interesting, although pricey. My son’s cats were taken while parked on his college campus in Houston. Cut high and everything to tailpipes was taken. Factor in the cats, O2 sensors, mufflers and piping and insurance is “allowing it this time” because they say it is close to the 75% threshold for valuation. I’ve gotten the ear of someone in this rather large company, which I will not identify. But... even though the young low level claim reps have no skills or desire to take pride in their work, this person from the company I won’t name appears to care about the Veterans they serve. After all, serving military members was the original design of this unnamed insurance company.

Anyway, it seems they are going to take a serious look into either covering a cat theft deterrent in these claims OR arranging for a premium discount for those who have them installed.

I’ll look into the Pod6 a bit more. Thank you.

 

Seriously remind me about this in a month and we'll (as in the tundras.com fgt community) make some. I have full projects until mid October, but after that I will need something to occupy my mind and I think that $400+ price tag is ridiculous.

Few questions...

Does aluminum work for this? I have an idea to make aluminum work with steel supports and it would fit in a smaller shipping box.

How far back and forward of the cat do we need to cover?

X-factor... What else am I missing?

 

Aluminum should work fine for guards, for off road use might get expensive for thick aluminum.

Most plates, like the one in my garage, go from cross member to cross member.

 

Agree on ridiculous prices. I suppose it is (to a degree) understandable since they are fabricated with “style” (?). I’m not sure I care too much about looks though, functionality matters. I’m interested in this proposition.

Now, my ‘04 is really my son’s (as I think I mentioned). Signed the title to him for his 18th. Side note: one cool fact in TX is that family - parents/kids/siblings/grands - are able to “gift” a vehicle and the state assesses a $10 gift fee. Otherwise the title transfer will include taxes based on vehicle value. That said, it’s a good pickup, not used for off-roading etc. He has a great heart, takes extremely good care of it and, although it’s almost as old as he is, he is proud of it.

The obvious goal is a deterrent. If someone wants something bad enough they’ll get it. I want them to see this one will require additional risk and move along (or take long enough to be caught).

There is a push with the legislators in TX to have cat theft made a felony. These thieves had been taking the vehicle to a different location in order to not be seen removing parts. But that amounted to vehicle theft which is a felony. As it is, cutting cats is merely a misdemeanor theft based on value of parts. They got smarter on that end and faster.

Thanks for the replies!

 

I'm in the process of coming up with a smaller cat protection plate idea as well. Currently planning on using 10ga steel.

If everyone else ok with adding some rivnuts to your frame, I may make some extras to sell.

 

Not much style to it. They put a logo on it and then hit it with a grinder. The cutout slots are so either so they take less tonnage to bend or so they can get a tighter bend radius. Since the bend radius isn't really important,I suspect it's so they can bend these on tooling that's not designed for the tonnage of a part that wide/thick. I'm not trying to me mean to them, but the presentation looks rinky dink for such a premium price.
If you want cat theft to end. Extend castle doctrine to your main means of transportation. It would take few examples before some guys got the idea.

 

Good on you. I really am not attacking the $400 cat plate guys, but it's a ridiculous price and they obviously need some competition. It's likely a case of not being set up to make a part and passing the hassle of not being set up onto the customer. Been there before and I get it. It's still a tough pill for a truck that can be had in rough shape for 3x the cat plate price.

 

Yeah, somewhat similar to my thought process. I just wish material prices hadn't gone up so much.

Also the majority don't need a full skid that can support the weight of their truck. Something somewhat smaller and much easier to ship would be cool for the rest of us.

 

Is a 2 piece design, maybe aluminum, feasible? Perhaps join the 2 pieces with tamper resistant hardware with locknuts? In my instance, I wouldn't need the skid protection in my 2wd non off-roading application.

 

You and I must be celestially linked or something. That's my thoughts more or less. Material has gone up, but we use so much of it I guess my price might not be too salty.

 

Ok you guys... Get out of my head! Haha we are cooking with gas now.

 

I'm leaning towards steel plate as aluminum can be easy to chew through.

I'm also only thinking about a front plate as there is no point to cutting if the front half of the cat is completely blocked off.

 

I'll show you my idea in a few days if I get time. I was thinking both would work nicely.

 

I just posted my 2003's solution in this thread:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/cat-cages-theft-deterrent-option.95807/

It's not the most elegant solution, but it seems viable, and is by far the cheapest option I could find.

 

How much did that run you, if you don't mind me asking.

 

It was in the neighborhood of $200 for me, but he said it was a bit more work than expected for the first gens and that he'd probably have to charge the next guy a little more.

I don't want to put him in a tough spot, but I'm sure it's still around half of a normal skid plate - if you can even find one for our trucks (that also covers the cats).

Chris at Scottsdale Muffler is very nice and professional, and I can't imagine he'd not be fair.

 

Thanks, I might have to check him out soon, hopefully my truck will be a little easier being a 2wd. The expanded metal cage he did for you is more appealing to me over a skid plate since I don't need off-road protection.

 

Here's an option I wasn't aware of and it's only $100 as an add-on. https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-lunch-table-general-discussion.60450/page-752#post-2454079

No clue if it works for someone w/factory skid plate, and I'd prefer to see more than 2 bolts on each side, or some kind of protection to prevent people just cutting two bolts and removing the plate, but for $100, to save you $1500-2500 from a theft, I mean ....

I'd probably swap out for security hardware, and keep the proper bit to unlock it in the glovebox or something.