tried to steal my truck

[rubberneck]

Yep you heard it right, have only had it for 2 1/2 weeks, and last night some miserable excuse for life tried to steal my truck while i was at work. They were brave, it happened somewhere between 1pm and 7 pm when security found it. The alarm went off and scared them away, but not until they had done 2,000 worth of damage. they pried the door handle plate out of the door, and used the rod inside to open the door. The body shop said the only way to fix it is to replace the door skin. I want a whole new door. What do you guys think. has anyone had a car that has had just the door skin replaced? did it come out ok?? It will also need a new rear slider and repaint the on the quad door, as they scratched the cr*p out of it trying to get the pop out window open. this brings up another question, anybody got a good aftermarket alarm that will work with the stock keyless entry?? I think had the factory alarm had a motion sensor, they would have quit before destroying the truck... just had to vent... phil

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2001. 5 ETH, DEE, LB QC sport red/tan cow, no badges/stickers, what silencer ring? edge EZ, cummins red valve cover.

 

[csutton7]

bummmmmmmeeeerrrrr!!!! I know there was a post about alarms on one of the forums, just don't remember which one, but the Dodge EVS(I think that's what it's called) got some good reviews--I'll be looking to do an alarm soon also--if you find one that you think is better let me know and maybe we can get a pkg deal---chris

 

[illflem]

After reading many alarm reports my conclusion is the type with GPS tracking are the only good ones. Best to just carry good insurance, the thieves will get you no matter what you do.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

You know what would be perfect, an alarm that just blows your truck up (And anybody standing within a 50 foot radius) If i cant have it, NOBODY CAN!!. If i come outside and there is a crater and a pair of nikes where the thief was standing, i am a happy guy and will just get a new Ram. Life goes on, one less Thief

 

[JHerrlich]

Yeah, just tell your insurance that they tried to plant a bomb (and failed). #ad

 

[JIM S.]

A couple of years back when I had a little rice burner(toyota truck) I had to repace the door skin and as long as the guy doing it knows what he is doing it will be as good as new... I would do it again if I had too. bummer about the bad luck... who ever it was must have been a brave or stupid sucker!. . I vote stupid!

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1995, 2500, 4x4, 3. 54, auto, custom fuel plate, boost and EGT gauges, 215 HP injectors, RE-0880, custom 4" from down pipe.

 

[rubberneck]

Yeah, i kind of started thinking that as long as the guy doing the work is good, then a skin would be fine. I guess i will have to request to see some of their work. I am still going to take it to a few more shops and get some opinions/estimates. Guess i'll be finding out if my insurance company is worth a hill of beans. 1st time ive turned in a claim. phil

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2001. 5 ETH, DEE, LB QC sport red/tan cow, no badges/stickers, what silencer ring? edge EZ, cummins red valve cover.

 

[dasyure]

IMO you will be allot happier will a new door, skins if done right are ok but as a
body man if it was my new truck and I was going to keep it a while I would put a new door shell on it and make sure its a real factory part to I have never seen a after market part that fit the same. I wouldn't be so sure the shop writes it up for a skin and just fixes the door without putting the skin on. Also the insurance company I used to write for it was industry standard to do allot more like replace the whole door on a truck that is only two weeks old.
Sean

 

[rubberneck]

Originally posted by dasyure:
I wouldn't be so sure the shop writes it up for a skin and just fixes the door without putting the skin on.
Sean

Yeah, i was worried about this also, my luck, a chunk of bondo would fall out a year after the repair job. I think im going to push for the whole door. OEM as you suggested for sure. If they insist on the skin, i will insist on seeing the skin after it has been installed before painting. thanks for the input. Phil

 

[illflem]

My main concern would be having the paint match up. In many ways you are lucky your truck is so new = little paint fade from the sun. If it doesn't match up right you may have to have at least one whole side painted.

I've often thought if I lived in an area prone to thieves that I would hook an electric fence charger up to my truck when I park it. I have one that will charge a 60 mile long deer fence, puts out 140,000 volts. Accidentally brushed my elbow against the fence once, my arm was lame for almost two weeks. Problem with these type of "alarms" is they get the wrong person as often as not.

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 05-04-2001). ]

 

[dresslered]

Real sorry to hear of your misfortune. Replacing door skins, sills, etc. is very common on old English cars as they are very prone to rust. If you get a real car enthusiest, it will be as good or better than factory. UNFORTUNATELY, most body shops work for profit and it won't be anywhere as good as a new door. Hate to say it, but it is a new truck and it deserves a new door (unless you really know your body man and he is doing you a favor).

There was an auto alarm awhile back that allowed the thief to enter the vehicle and then it provided a quaint 130+ dB alarm from the interior. Needless to say, the culprit ended up with fluid coming out of his ears. I think that they got shut down due to liabilities as you may have actually been sued for such a thing. I was always concerned about false alarms, but I think that the theif would have got what he deserved.

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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, HO Cummins ETH/DEE, SLT+, 3. 54 LSD, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Heated Leather, Sliding Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine + diff. temp. ), Autometer Ultra-Lite (electric fuel pressure, vacuum), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, Tork Lift camper tie-downs, Mag-Hytec, Mopar Tow Hooks, SmittyBilt Outland Sport Bumper Gaurd, AND functional Halo light!
Bigfoot 3000 10. 11 Slide-in Camper. "Do it in a Dually"


[This message has been edited by dresslered (edited 05-04-2001). ]

 

[rubberneck]

Originally posted by illflem:
My main concern would be having the paint match up. If it doesn't match up right you may have to have at least one whole side painted.

Yeah, ive already been told that no matter what they do, spot repair, door, or skin replacement, that the spot is big enough, that they may need to do quite a bit of blending. They told me red is one of the hardest colors to match. Hopefully like you said, the thing is so new, i may get lucky with the matching. Man i am so pis**d off, i would love to catch that little punk sob, gauranteed one of us would be going to jail and the other to the emergency room.



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2001. 5 ETH, DEE, LB QC sport red/tan cow, no badges/stickers, what silencer ring? edge EZ, cummins red valve cover.

 

[illflem]

I know how you feel, it's a sick feeling. If you let it get to you then the thief is the one who wins.
As hard as it may be you just have to just let it go, it will help you live longer.

 

[rubberneck]

Originally posted by illflem:
If you let it get to you then the thief is the one who wins.
As hard as it may be you just have to just let it go, it will help you live longer.

Yeah, i know, it just sucks to have to be driving the old car (cant even lock the truck, as the handle assemble is all gone) then it makes me think once i get it fixed do i really want to bring it back here for some other buttt head to finish the job. But then again what the hell is the point of having a new truck if you don't drive it. I think once she is all straight and shiny again i will feel better, just pissses me off every time i pass it and see the new custom wrinkle job they decided to do on her.



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2001. 5 ETH, DEE, LB QC sport red/tan cow, no badges/stickers, what silencer ring? edge EZ, cummins red valve cover.

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by rubberneck:
I would love to catch that little punk sob, gauranteed one of us would be going to jail and the other to the emergency room.

I had a truck (a Toyota) get stolen once and another (an F250) get broken into, so I know how you feel. There once was a time in this country when, if a horse thief was caught, he was strung up on the nearest sturdy tree branch and that was that. I sure wish it was like that today. We wouldn't have as much crime if the punishment was severe enough to make even a complete idiot think twice.
Andy

 

[MikeR]

I don't know what you guys are woried about. I've been around body shops all my life and can tell you there's nothing wrong with just putting on a door skin... they're made to only fit one way. However,it's the color matching you should be worried about. Re-skin or new door doesn't matter when everyone can see two different shades of color!

Which ever shops you'd like to deal with,ask them to show you cars that they have just painted,and be sure to look at them when it's sunny out.
My Purple '99 Ram was broken into the same way you describe... the theif pried out the passenger side door handle. He wrinkled the metal pretty good. The repair came out A-1,and most importantly the paint and blending was flawless.

-Mike

 

[MATT MAN]

There has been a rash of dirtbags stealing our trucks lately. What a world!!

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by MikeR:
ask them to show you cars that they have just painted,and be sure to look at them when it's sunny out.

A friend had some body panels repainted on a red Honda Prelude after an accident, and the blending looked great in the sun. The weird thing was, at night under streetlights, there was a very obvious difference in color. #ad

Andy

 

[dresslered]

My point about the door skins is to make sure that the inside of the door looks as nice as the outside of the door (i. e. welds, alignment, etc. ). Everytime that I have ever had just a door ding repaired on past vehicles, the outside always looks fine, but the inside has been terrible. I have never found even the moisture bearier to be replaced and there are always broken clips, etc. on the door panel. I always have to finish the job myself. Poor welds will break over time. Additionally, make sure that the door is properly painted on the inside as well or you will have rust problems down the line. Like I said, it can be done correctly, just don't count on it.

 

[Dr.Evil]

You guys with your paint color match are right on the mark! How will the repaired door paint look in 5-6 yrs? Will it still match? Been There, Done That. Bet it don't match! Sorry..... Just the voice of experience speaking!
DENNY... ... ... ...