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Securing Your Stuff While You're Cruising

2K views 21 replies 6 participants last post by  ibikee 
#1 ·
I enjoy driving my TJ without the hardtop & the full doors. Problem is, I now reside in a RV park. I guess I'm just paranoid, thinking that someone will steal my doors & top while I'm cruising without them.

Any ideas as to how to secure them, without having to put them inside?

I can see rolling down the windows,
& putting a cable through there. But, I don't have an idea for securing the hardtop.

BTW, my hardtop is a 2-piece hardtop. So, I could put the front piece inside (wife would not like that), but there is no way that the rear portion would fit inside. And, even if it WOULD fit, she would never allow it.

If the hardtop was a 1-piece, I would probably drill a hole in one of the locking clamps that lock above the windshield, then padlock it to my other vehicle, but it is not a 1-piece hardtop.
 
#2 ·
When I left my hardtop in an rv park I put two padlocks in the bolt holes that held it to the tub

You could also fiberglass on a steel plate w a link of chain welded to it.
 
#10 ·
...
You could also fiberglass on a steel plate w a link of chain welded to it.
With all of the jeeps that DO drive without their hardtops, you'd think that JEEP would come up with a design that would allow you to secure the hardtop when it is off of your vehicle.

I like your idea of fiberglassing a metal plate to the top. If someone wants to steal your hardtop, they would pretty much have to break it.
 
#3 ·
Kevlar rope, looped on both ends, wrapped tightly around the top locked to your other vehicle with a padlock.
Go ahead laugh, rope, really? It’s soft and won’t scratch the top. You can’t cut it with a knife very easily. A small diameter is like 2000 pound break strength. Bolt cutters won’t cut it. Research it before you say no.
 
#8 ·
Well heck fire I gave you one idea and it sounds like you just ignored my suggestion. Can’t cut it with a knife, can’t cut it with bolt cutters, only way to cut it is one tiny strand at a time with a razor blade, or with special shears. I guess if the thief brought his $30 Kevlar shears with him, or maybe a torch to melt it maybe he would break it? Oh, maybe his cigarette lighter.


:atomic:
 
#5 ·
Probably 1 in 5000 Jeepers pulls their hardtop off anywhere except the garage...
 
#7 ·
You don't think they mostly leave them at home?
I don't know I don't do Jeep events or any other events for that matter because I don't like masses of people.

Either way it's pretty simple, you need to add some sort of attachment point or build a device that clamps around and locks. Maybe the manager will ok you to build a small plywood locker (tiny shed) just big enough for your top and doors....

Give some feedback on what appeals to you and we can fine tune it
 
#12 ·
That would be a good idea for not wanting to use it for a few months in the summer, but if I just wanted to remove it for a day drive, that might be more of a pain. Of course, storing it, at least you'd know that it's still there when you get back.
 
#14 ·
I enjoy driving my TJ without the hardtop & the full doors. Problem is, I now reside in a RV park. I guess I'm just paranoid, thinking that someone will steal my doors & top while I'm cruising without them.

Any ideas as to how to secure them, without having to put them inside?

I can see rolling down the windows,
& putting a cable through there. But, I don't have an idea for securing the hardtop.

BTW, my hardtop is a 2-piece hardtop. So, I could put the front piece inside (wife would not like that), but there is no way that the rear portion would fit inside. And, even if it WOULD fit, she would never allow it.

If the hardtop was a 1-piece, I would probably drill a hole in one of the locking clamps that lock above the windshield, then padlock it to my other vehicle, but it is not a 1-piece hardtop.
We have been full time RV'ers since 2004 when we bought our Holiday Rambler. We have stayed in many RV Resorts (our preferred) RV Parks, Trailer Parks, friends property and BLM Lands over the last 15 years. Where we are now is the least desirable of any place we have ever stayed. It is a Mobile Home Park. Everything from single to double wides, to RV's. Without a doubt, I am the most fearful that I have ever been that ANYTHING I leave out, WILL BE STOLEN!!! Lots of undesirable's around here. The one thing I have going for me is that I have been a VERY GOOD NEIGHBOR to all of my neighbors. I watch all of their places when they are away and they watch mine when I am gone. That is my first line of defense. That being said, NOBODY can watch 100% of the time. SO, I never leave anything outside in plain site that might even be 1% of interest to anyone else. I put everything inside my 25ft. fully enclosed car hauler, AKA my garage.

BUT, If I were in your predicament and had a second vehicle, I would try to place the doors and the smaller piece of the hard top inside the 2nd vehicle, and wedge the hard top between the 2nd and a hard place, ie: tree, shed, RV, or something unmovable. The shed thing would only work if you are going to be staying at that RV Park for an extended length of time. Maybe the Kevlar Rope (along with GOOD friends for neighbors) might be enough.

Just my 2 cents worth from one that has been a full time RV'er for 15 years.
 
#17 ·
Just grab any epoxy you like... make sure to use sand paper to rough up both surfaces and wipe down w solvent...

I would suggest only 1 link of chain on only one plate.... then use a chain or cable and a padlock to that one link...
 
#18 ·
... I would suggest only 1 link of chain on only one plate ...
I like the idea of having only 1 link of chain attached to that plate. That way, when you're driving around with the hardtop on, you don't have a lot of chain to carry around with you when you don't need it at the moment.
 
#19 ·
another option just occurred to me that you might want to consider.

If you were to fabricate a rack for the top of the back half out of decently strong material and attach it in a way that it is not easily removed you could use it to lock the top up and it would serve double duty as a place to transport your targa or a canoe or whatever.
 
#21 ·
I would install high-quality security camera to monitor your belongings. Things like locks and cables are great deterrents, but if a thief is really intent on taking your things... They will find a way to do that.

Use locks, cables or whatever else you think might help.
But...

I would use a good camera to help identify the person(s) and/or vehicle(s) involved. At least you might be able to help police get some information to help lock up the dirt bags who messed with or (if successful) ended up stealing your stuff. being able to identify individuals, license plate numbers or what vehicle they were in would be a huge help in the investigation and might help lock some people up.
 
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