Manual rear-window security

[SkylinePCG]

Has anyone put anything on their manual rear window to keep, say, "urban campers" from rolling it down in the middle of the night, and using the Jeep for a bunk/bathroom?

Im thinking of copying a roll-down security gate system; welding a ring just outside the swing of the crank, and drilling a hole within the crank-swing to hold a pin; the pin having a similar ring to the welded one, and a lock holding them together to prevent the window from being rolled down.

But Im thinking that might be a little unnecessary and frankenstein-ish, so Im hoping to hear some Good ideas...

[Gambler68]

Well um..mine has a lock with a key that fits it :D

[SkylinePCG]

A lock and... key?!

Ya know, as sensible as that sounds, mine has a... screw. I guess I was under the impression 1980 must have been a safer, more respectable time. Its just been a while, and Im having a hard time remembering (because I was 2:rolleyes: ).

[Gambler68]

Perhaps that screw is holding on the cover plate that rotates to show the lock cylinder.. :D

Is yours a crown replacement crank or something? Pretty sure they all are lockable.

[Stuka]

Every manual window has a lock under a cover thats held on by a single screw on the top ;)

[skeletor]

Pretty sure they all are lockable.

they are unless the head on the lock cylinder breaks inside the crank, then the lock would just spin inside the crank handle.

[georgiajake]

Me thinks he is standing at the rear of his jeep, looking at this newly discovered rotating lock cylinder cover and saying "Dang, no way was that there the whole time".

I discovered mine late in the game to, but it doesnt matter. Mine wont even stay closed when locked. Mr Newtons gravity and AMC's vibration lower mine for me. Finally, with the window all the way up and the Mrs pressing it from the outside to keep it from falling, I jammed a sheet metal screw in whats left of the teeth of my gears. I have to put lots of planning into using the cargo area of my fsj because of my fix, but at least I no longer arrive at all my destinations unexplainably sleepy.

[drlocke]

OK. Lemme tell ya a story...

I pulled into my brother's driveway in Springfield when I drove there from my small town where the key is usually left in the ignition lock.

I was driving my old Merz 300SD.

He was there to greet me as I stepped out. And asked "Aren't you going to lock your car...? Someone could steal your radio!"

I simply replied, "No; my "radio" (Pio CD indash) cost me $100 at WallyWorld. The piece of glass some backside decides to break if they find my car locked is gonna cost me several hundred to replace. Waddaya want?"

Try to find a driver's or passengers window for a Mercedes Benz for a hundred bux at Wally's....

I'd just let this rest if I were you. My Jeep I could lock up like Fort Knox. And I'd likely have to damage something later to get back in. I want no part of that, and I'm glad to live in a town where there are better types that leave other's property alone.

[SkylinePCG]

Kinda feel like a dope, knowing now it could be keyed into and I didnt even realize it... Still though! its good to know.

The radio/window story makes a lot of sense. I too have a radio I could live without- especially considering there are currently no speakers for it to play out of- but, if I may, Id like to share a story of my own:D

A few years ago, before I came up here to this bigger and busier city, I was working for an FD about 30 miles outside of Tampa, FL. The downtown section was loaded with transient citizens, and one night, the rigs all went out on a run. Unfortunately, no one put the bay doors down on the way out. When the run was over, and everyone returned to quarters, some neighborhood skell had found their way into the Chief's BED, pissed in it, and was STILL SLEEPING when everyone came back. Fortunately, I wasnt working that night. I can only imagine the aftermath, as its one of my favorite stories of things Im glad I missed.

Im just trying to avoid a sequel happening in my back seat.

[Serious Johnson]

Yeah Dave, that's pretty much my thinking too, but it doesn't always work. I leave my convertible unlocked, and came back from a hike one day (never had a problem in town -- only in the woods) to find the top slashed, the unlocked console busted, and my pack of gum gone.

S.J.

[stangfather]

i hate to throw this thread even more off topic but i never lock my jeep, the way i see it anything they find inside it (never leave a pistol in it tho) is cheaper and easier to replace than a window or lock cyl

[CutterN55]

Buddy's 90 Burban was just busted into. Ripped out the driver's lock cylinder and jacked up the power locks bad, they didn't happen to see the little wing window was unsecure with no lever/locking mechanism in it.

What's with crooks always stealing the gum? Everybody that gets their "la""la""la""la""la" jacked always loses their gum or breath mints too. I don't get it...

[30-40krag]

Back when I was at college and lived in the dorms I had to park in the parking garages. Now with a soft-top baby jeep I naturally never locked any doors or the tailgate or console-nothing. Better them just steal it than cut through a top/window and and then steal it. Well in the two years I was there I must have been broken into 4 or 5 times as evidenced by all of my lose stuff tossed everywhere. One time I was not thinking and left my backpack in there....that was a bad -read expensive- mistake. Well the most interesting thing was one time I came to the vehicle to see my rear window section undone from the channel and almost sipped completely off and from the way it was shaped someone clearly went in through there. I still wonder about that as the doors and tailgate were still unlocked.:confused:

[SkylinePCG]

I suspect the majority of people who would make good thieves, choose to not be lowlife skells. That leaves a manpower-vacuum in the 'profession,' which your common Datar's then fill in.

[BBB]

I frequently have to use street parking in downtown DC, am inclined to agree with the "don't lock it" solution. My driver window didn't work for several years and I would often leave it down because I was too lazy to find the piece of baling wire normally used to hold it up. The only thing that was ever missing was the change out of my ashtray. I presume it was appropriated by homeless folks and since they were nice enough to leave my stereo (and briefcase once when I forgot it) I won't begrudge them the donation.

I did run into a separate problem though. I work for the Senate and have a permit to park on the street a block or so from the Capitol. I left town for the weekend and returned on Independence Day last year, leaving my Wagoneer at work. I woke up to a Capitol Policeman on my porch asking me to call their headquarters. After a series of random questions about why I don't lock my car I assumed it was stolen. Instead, they had seen the open window, portable air tank, and gallons of assorted emergency oil, antifreeze, etc and decided I was a terrorist. I showed up to move the truck and the Capitol Police had it surrounded and were keeping tourists away from the area.

Turns out the Parking Office didn't understand older VIN numbers and thus it came up non-existent when they tried to run it through their systems. Thus they decided Al Queda was attempting to sabotage our nation's Capitol using an '84 Wagoneer loaded to the gills with antifreeze.

Suffice it to say I am now well known amongst the Captiol's security forces.

[dlowrance]

I frequently have to use street parking in downtown DC, am inclined to agree with the "don't lock it" solution. My driver window didn't work for several years and I would often leave it down because I was too lazy to find the piece of baling wire normally used to hold it up. The only thing that was ever missing was the change out of my ashtray. I presume it was appropriated by homeless folks and since they were nice enough to leave my stereo (and briefcase once when I forgot it) I won't begrudge them the donation.

I did run into a separate problem though. I work for the Senate and have a permit to park on the street a block or so from the Capitol. I left town for the weekend and returned on Independence Day last year, leaving my Wagoneer at work. I woke up to a Capitol Policeman on my porch asking me to call their headquarters. After a series of random questions about why I don't lock my car I assumed it was stolen. Instead, they had seen the open window, portable air tank, and gallons of assorted emergency oil, antifreeze, etc and decided I was a terrorist. I showed up to move the truck and the Capitol Police had it surrounded and were keeping tourists away from the area.

Turns out the Parking Office didn't understand older VIN numbers and thus it came up non-existent when they tried to run it through their systems. Thus they decided Al Queda was attempting to sabotage our nation's Capitol using an '84 Wagoneer loaded to the gills with antifreeze.

Suffice it to say I am now well known amongst the Captiol's security forces.

:funny: Our tax dollars at work!!:thumbsup:

[TK421]

get some aerosolized nerve agent, like in the Jackal...Bruce Willis sprays the vans back door latch...the thug gives it a try and BAM! I love that scene.

How about hooking a heavy duty car battery to the latch, this way they pee before they get inside...

[CJ the noisemaker]

I have wedges holding up my windows, and an ELECTRIC tailgate window!
:thumbsup: