Well after seeing 3 seperate people had tools and vans stolen this weekend I thought I would start a thread and ask how you lock down your tools when they are in the truck?
Whats the prefered method for trucks?
Camper shells seem like they would be easy to get into
Cross over and side mounted Tool box’s also seem like the locks could be busted pretty easily
A soft bed cover is worthless, a hard one is a pain in the rear to get stuff out of the front of the bed
Given that a garage isnt always an option whats the best method of security that you have found.
Replies
I have an A.R.E. topper, which uses a 3-point latching system on each door. Getting through these doors without a key would be very tough, however I've been told (by a member on this board that had his A.R.E. broken into) that A.R.E. uses only a few different key codes.
My topper also doesn't have any windows, which I believe is very essential, an out of sight out of mind approach. I also try to keep the doors closed while I'm working, as to not advertise that I have a rolling TOOL box.
As far as the camper shells having very few key codes, most of the small locks you buy, whether a trailer coupler lock, the rod boxes on a boat, etc are one of either 3 or 5 designs....the key to the storage compartments on my boat will open up the side boxes on my utility body. (I now have a hinged lock bar that flips down across the tops of my side boxes, secured by a master padlock....but then again, my Master lock master key will open that lock, and many other of the mid-size Masters.
Went to a RV show last year....kept my 751 pattern key loose in my pocket -- it would open most of the camper doors and lockers.
Locks just keep honest people from stealing something real easily.
PB
A few people have installed a fuel valve that will shut off the gas to engine so if so if some one does get it to start it won't run long. They have also put in a disconnect switch on the coil so the engine won't start, even if they pop the ignition switch. They have installed alarms in the back with the tools, if they manage to open the doors it goes off. Some have replaced the lock with real locks (dead bolts) and used stainless steel mountings. Replaced any of the windows 18 gage steel. One person used 18 gage 2" wide strip of stainless on 12 centers to strip the walls to make it harder to cut the side out with a sawall.
Guess the main reason Im asking this is because I am going to get a truck sometime soon, I now have the ever hated SUV which isn't really practical for hauling material.
I want to outfit it with a crossover and possibly side boxes but not sure if they are secure enough to leave thousands of dollars of tools in.
I thought about a camper shell but I figure the back window especially would be a week point, I like the idea of the steal over the windows.
and a bed cover just seems inadequate if its soft and to much trouble for the hard tops
You said some replaced the locks with real locks, are you referring to locks on the shell or on the tool box?
I have a utility truck (open bed). Would rather have a closed bed. Trailer would work for hauling what wouldnt fit in the truck, course in incliment weather, a box truck would be nice.
have you ever contemplated a van??? i'm on my 4th and for being a carpenter there not a better vehicle, enclosed, "outta sight outta mind" sorta speak.....there all kind of nifty ways you can keep things yours... give it a thought... bear
Bear thanks,
I have considered a van and agree its the most practical BUT..
The truck is not only a work vehicle its going to be the primary car I have and call me vein but driving around a work van on a date and such doesn't offer much appeal
I like the idea of a van a lot and once I'm out on my own full time and have a decent job will probably get a used van for work and keep the truck for personal use, at least that's the plan if it ever happens
I've noticed here at BT most people are anti ford, wondering why? My father is going to help me out with the purchase of the truck when I graduate and his best friend owns a ford dealership and will give me the truck at his actual cost no market other then maybe a few hundred to cover paper work and such so the ford is very appealing to me
Can anyone offer honest criticism as to why ford sucks?
At that price do it. You'll get plenty of use before nickle & dime begins if you want it that long.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
thats what I was thinking, I dont know enough about it and havent done the research to see why chevy is better then ford or vise versa but I figure the discount alone should cover any repairs if I ever had a problem
"Can anyone offer honest criticism as to why ford sucks?"
Take the list of everthing wrong with Chevy's, take 10% of of that list. Now you know.
Honest answer, it's a clan issue. bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
I have a 95 F-350XLT. Beefed suspension, HD brakes and every thing else. At 1500 mi tranny went because of a seal since then it has been an out of control ride down hill. 2 more trans, never ending brake problems, pinion, clutch, alignment, several power steering pump, wiring harness, major expensive glow plug changes, 475$ no labor 2 times, wiring harnesses, stress cracks, steering, radiator mounts, thermostat, oil leaks, severe vibrations, minor little cheap plastic parts quit and the ripple effect is unreal, won't start in cold weather, (I'm in Colorado, body bushings, multitude of sensors, fuel heater,
An example: A little seal on a wiring harness connector gave up. Oil leaked in and the connector shorted, burned. The wiring harness torched and took out the rocker cover gaskets and their harnesses with three injector sensors. Had to replace all 8 injectors to keep a matched set. The injector sensors are not sold separately. Could not find used just so I could get the sensors. Replaced the 2 major harness. Ford mechanic says they burn all the time. They had a huge stack of them to prove it. There were a few other odds and ends that went wit this fix. The bill went over 4,000$. this truck has 180k on it.
These are just some of the problems. To get rid of the truck is red money. Ford used - 107 listings. Dodge Cummings - 5 just after XMAS.
My 85 350 went 485,000 miles before I sold it. No CW start promblems. Oringinal block and drive line. 1 clutch at 300k. 1 uni at 250k. 2 injector pumps.
The real short coming is that FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US. It is all bean counters and we are small fry and evidently not part of the big picture. Buy a Ford and you are on your own. do yourself a favor and go look at Dodge instead.
Edited 2/9/2003 5:59:52 PM ET by IMERC
I use a utility body 3 pin locks on the doors and slider locks on the body. Alarm on the bed and truck. All tools painted, etched or stamped. Not to mention insurance
"I've noticed here at BT most people are anti ford, wondering why?"
Breaktime is put on by Fine Homebuilding magazine. The naure of the magazine tends to attract the more intelligent sector of society.
At least that's my theory....................(-:Don't approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, or a fool from any side. [Yiddish proverb]
and for every general rule there is an exception :-(!)...bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
In a lot of cases it seems that it boils down to what you are used to, or what you see around you. Perhaps a regional thing? I grew up around Fords. Rode in Fords. Helped Dad and Grandpa load Fords. Learned to drive in Fords. Borrowed Fords. Now I drive a Ford. I have a '98 F-150 and don't have any complaints save one: I wish I had held out for the bigger V-8. I think Chevy makes splendid vehicles. The price was right on the Ford. If I find a Chevy with a price that I like when I get around to buying a new truck, I'll give it a try. Really itching to get a Tundra though.... :)
later.Little Sawhhorse Construction, LLC -- Building, Remodeling, and Repairs. Bayfield, WI
For the record, I am very pro-FORD. My first vehicle was a pinto station wagon, and I have been moving steadily up the Ford ladder since... I now have a ford truck, escort 4-door, and a crown victoria. When I retire I'll have a lincoln I guess. Just an observation, chevy truck drivers are right behind mini-van moms in lack of driving skills. But it's a sensitive issue because everyone I work with drives a chevy truck.
remodeler
Your best insurance is blacked out windows and a crudy looking truck. But after that really nothing you can do. I have a friend who was doing a job in South Boston and the thieves drove up beside his van, took a cordless recip. saw and cut a hole in the side of the van, took all the tools. Nobody saw a thing.
As for trucks, I am on my 3rd Ford van. The 2nd one was totaled about a month ago. My rental was a Chevy, 6500 miles. What a piece of crap! I remember my 1st Chevy back in '84, the gas gauge fluctuated by a 1/4 tank! Well, that new truck did the same thing! After a while I expect a company to fix it's problems. My 1st Ford van has 185,000 miles on it, still in the driveway. Should have reregistered it for the time being, drives better than that rental.
But I also have to say I'm only driving a Ford because I can't buy a full size Toyota van. I'll have to deal w/ American vans until then. If you're going for a pickup instead of a van, do yourself a favor and buy a Toyota, what a great truck. And don't worry, it's probaby made in America.
Sorry if I offended anybody,
Scott
get a van, with no windows and an alarm system, nothing fancy is needed, just motion detector and glass break detector and make it loud!!
The maint. dept where I worked for 6 years, at one point bought 5 Ford 250s (I got one) and 5 Chevys...within a year or two all the Chevys had one major problem or another, drive train, brakes, power steering.
Drove "my" Ford for 5 years, never a problem, nor with the other Fords.
I never had an opinion one way or another before that. Naturally I bought a F150, better lookin truck than the others, too.
Jencar
I have a 1985 F-350, 134,000 miles. It gets the job done. The rear tank gas gauge sender doesn't work, and there's a funny rattle when it's in neutral that nobody's ever been able to fix. But every machine of that age will have its little quirks. Compression is still very good, so I gave it a new timing chain, brakes, radiator, etc.
Look at what the big fleet buyers go for. When somebody spends millions of dollars for hundreds of trucks, they do their homework. You'll see Ford, Chevy, Dodge, GMC.... All the big names win those contracts some of the time. So forget about the religions, go with whatever you get the best deal on. That appears to be what the fleet buyers do.
-- J.S.
I have a Ford with a 3.8 engine that has blown a head gasket..$1100. repair bill. I know of 2 other people with the same problem. I believe Ford will now repair it under 60,000 miles on newer models. It is caused by aluminum and cast iron expanding and contracting at different rates of speed.
And it has become an unfortunate all too common problem with many makes of vehicles.
I have to laugh imagining picking up a date in my work van. Vans rock for all the afore mentioned reasons, but they let dirt travel every where. My wife hates riding in that truck what with the 1/2" of dust, not to mention the layers of grime on the exterior. Could have some thing to do with the drivers door not opening too. Maybe that's why nobody bothers breaking in...
About a year ago I saw a plumber that stored all his power tools on a shelf in the back of the van. He had a length of what looked like 3/16" cable bolted to the shelf system. This he threaded through the handles and such on each tool and secured on the other end with a lock. When asked he claimed it had stopped a thief. The man broke in and tried grab a couple of the tools and run. He couldn't get them out the door.
A determined thief could cut the cable but thieves tend to be in a hurry and not terribly determined. He keeps his hand tools in a locked tool chest so they can't grab a handy pair of nippers. They will need to bring their own. The chest is bolted to the floor and, according to the plumber, weighs about 200 pounds if they could get it out of the van.
I also noticed he had a some sort of obscurant coating on the rear windows. It lets in light but scoping out the interior difficult. Makes breaking in like "Lets Make a Deal" you never know what's behind door number one. Could be a bonanza. Might be a smiling plumber with an attitude holding a crowbar and contemplating the possible geometries knees can be beat into.
Short of wrapping your vehicle in titanium chain I think a good insurance policy works best.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob,
Can you get car insurance that will cover lost tools stolen from inside a tool box or in a locked and covered bed. ?
You can get that insurance, but it certainly costs, depending on the area you're in.
Check with your agent; if nothing else, the questions they ask about how you secure your vehicle and tools may give you some good ideas.
What you need is called an Inland Marine Policy. Sort of a strange name for a policy to cover tools and such, but it's an old insurance industry term for equipment and tools not related to the shipping industry. Whoever carries your Contractors General Liability coverage should offer it. Problem is that most commercial policies have a minimum annual premium of $350, and some have a minimum of $500. I'm in the business, but I see this as I do the $14 per $1,000 on my homeowners policy for my guns - after a few years of paying the premiums, I bought a gun safe and dropped the insurance. I think you could add a lot of security features - whether it be a Job Box or an additional bed mounted tool box, or even a good tool trailer for a few years premiums.
And, a big point to remember - you can't even buy this coverage if you've had a recent loss. I mean, the insurance company has a losing bet if you've just been ripped off and then you decide you need insurance, but you're not changing anything to help manage the risk. We usually go back three years, and check your credit, too. Again, it's a risk management philosophy.
As for me, I'm forever moving tool boxes from the back of my open pickup into the cab when I run into the big box stores. It's a pain, but a precaution I'm willing to spend the time on.
Greg.
Edited 1/28/2003 10:01:17 AM ET by Greg Gibson
Greg,
Thanks for the info, problem is Im not an independant contractor, I work for a company
I will have a bed mounted tool box but was concerned on the security the locks they offer come with, I guess nothing will really stop a determined thief but I would like to do as much as I can to prevent it.
The paint all over tools sounds like a good idea, I have orange paint on all my hand tools, but thats so I know whats mine and whats not at the end of the day. Everyone has similar tools and was always getting them comfused
Looks like its time to go get another can or krylon
As to ford/chevy van/truck issue
Im almost hand cuffed into getting a ford, I can get one at or a few hundred above actual dealer cost from a family friend. I was just curious if anyone had any specific gripes with ford
Yes you can get insurance that covers tools in the truck and on the job. It is a homeowners policy not specifically auto insurance which covers very little if anything.
I'll look it up and tell you specifically how my policy reads.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob,
Thanks I appreciate it, I knew auto didnt cover much, had a car broken into in highschool and not much was stolen besides radio a few small tools and what ever was in the back seat, the insurance wouldnt cover anything that wasnt bolted down or attached to the car.
Sorry to take so long getting back to you- My tool insurance is called inland marine coverage (unschedualed tools 80% coinsurance) limit is $10,000. deductable is $250. and it costs me $389. per year. Hope this helps.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob, helps a lot, I've been talking to the local state farm agent and shes working up some numbers for me.
Thanks again
Double check that policy if that'd the only theft coverage U have on your tools....
I know insurance is different everywhere ya go...
but here in PA......I'm pretty sure the homeowners wouldn't cover anything kept in a registered vehicle.....as it would fall under the vehicle insurance....
and my Erie vehicle won't cover tools used to earn a living. The insurance guy...how handles are my insurance policies....as all vehicles/home/business are Erie....
pertty much said if I wanted guaranteed coverage...to go with the little the the tool rider added to my contractors ins.
He also said that if the HO policy did pay.....it'd be less..and take lots longer to collect a check.
I'd say....if CAG has any tools worth insuring...I'd price out a rock bottom contractor policy and add a tool theft rider.
He's gonna be doing side work too to pay for those new tools..right?
I think a guy could buy into a new policy around here for $300/yr or so.....
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Check your contractor's liability policy. Mine covers $5000.00 of tools & equipment anywhere. You may also have coverage via your homeowner's policy. I used to have an Inland Marine policy- when I got hit and had to make a claim, they insisted on serial numbers (????), and severely depreciated the value of my loss. NFGBaseboard been VERRRY good to me
A friend of mine who is a house painter who keeps a number of power tools in his truck because he always runs into small things that need to be taken care of while in course of painting old victorians. He says when he gets a new tool to carry in the truck he splashes paint on it. He feels that thieves don't like to steal cruded up ugly tools. It seems to have worked for him.
This idea sometimes works wonders. Knew a guy who worked in Atlanta. He and his roommate rode bikes or the bus everywhere. He'd ridden competitively, and his bike was worth thousands. Before he moved into Atlanta he took some brown house paint and a brush and trashed his bike w/ it. His roommate lost 2-3 $200 bikes. They never messed w/ his expensive bike right next to it. When he moved back west he stripped and repainted the bike.
The ugly worked better then the locks, though they used those too.
As a police officer, I can't speak to the issue of tool security but I would note that no security measure is fool proof. My unit recently received info from an informant of a guy who was stealing from construction sites in the area as a means of supporting his drug habit. We surveiled his house and one night we were able to tail him to a subdivision under construction where he was eventually arrested. When we obtained and served a subsequent search warrant at his house we recovered two full puck up truck loads of every type of tool used to construct a home. Keep in mind that the tools recovered were only a small portion of those he had stolen. He had already traded most of them for drugs. When we inspected the tools we found that all had the serial numbers removed and not one had any marks or inscriptions that would identify it's owner. That fact made it very difficult to make a case against this dirtbag for most of his thefts. If you find it necessary to sometimes leave your tools at a site over night, please take the time to inscribe your name or some other identifier on the casing of your tools.
a number of police departments participate in Operation ID for identifing items example http://police.sdsu.edu/PDweb/CrmPrev/Tips/Op_ID.pdfbobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's BT Forum cheat sheet
Rod,
Thanks, Hardly leave tools onsite unless its a lockable enviorment such as a home or office and they are never left in front of windows or in plain site
Thanks to everyone for there input
Getting the truck is actually about 6-8 months away, but I got all excited when I found out my parents were going to help out as part of a graduation/dont ever ask for another dime thing :) and when I could get a truck at dealer cost, makes your buck go a lot further
Rod- Good to see your first post here on Breaktime and glad to see an officer of the law's perspective on the subject.
Hope to see your thoughts in here more often.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Yeh,
Especialy when that Luka crackpot starts badmouthing cops again.
; )
Quittin' Time
I mark every tool I own with the last 4 digits of my social security number. I figure every thief gets caught eventually so if I'm lucky I'll get some tools back. I use a dremel tool and usually mark several places on the tool, including hidden spots on more expensive tools.
CAG, Here is a link for A.R.E toppers. It should take you right to the DCU topper like mine. When it comes to commercial toppers I doubt you can find a better unit.
http://www.4are.com/product/dcu/
To All, when it comes to Ford vs. Chevy I grew up in SE Michigan where every family has at least a father, mother, aunt, uncle, brother, cousin etc that works for at least one of the big three. Everybody stands by their brand, Chevy, Ford or Dodge like their favorite team on game day. My family and all my buddies were GM families, so we were tried and true Chevy truck fans. However I married a girl that grew up in the Ford part of town, where her family and friends we're all Ford enthusiast. (I can get A-plan discounts on either brand).
I'm on my second Ford truck but still consider myself a Chevy man at heart. If you dig deep enough you can find problems with every brand. Truly it all comes down to features, what truck will serve you best. At the time I bought mine the Powerstroke beat what GM had.
Scott R.
Edited 1/30/2003 9:33:21 AM ET by Scott R.
Scott,
Thanks for the info I have looked at ARE, but they stand just above my current price range.
Homeowners or renters insurance is very limited on personal property used in any sort of business. They just can't accept the added risk of your tools, materials, laptop, etc, wherever you take them. If my hobby tools, welder, drill press, table saw, whatever are stolen from my backyard shop, they'll be covered by my homeowners policy. If those same tools are stolen from a jobsite where I'm doing contract work, no way. If tools are stolen from my vehicle, they won't in any way be covered by the vehicle insurance. Too much to expect - where would an insurance company draw the line - leather jacket ? purse with $1,000 cash in it ? New computer you just bought ? That's expecting an awful lot from a car insurance policy.
If you're in the trades, whether self employed or working for someone else, you should have an Inland Marine Policy if you have a very big investment in your tools. This coverage can be bought even if you're an employee but you provide you own tools. Don't be lulled into thinking that your employer has coverage for tools that belong to you. It ain't so. We're back to the $350 to $500 per year minimum premium. You've got to decide if your tool investment is worth the guaranteed loss of $350 to $500, versus the possible loss of your tool investment.
Greg.
Find the money for ARE, they are a sweet top.
Find the money for ARE, they are a sweet top
FInd the money, I guess I could go to the bank, but they dont appreciate people with guns and masks...
It sounds like the best option and I went to a dealer the other day just to look and get an idea, Its going to have to wait though, everythings with time I guess...
Hell Im pricing and looking at all the options I can get for the truck and actually getting its 6-8 months away. Jumping the gun I guess, I already know exactly what I will get when I order it. Now I just need to graduate
I think I need to ban myself from BT, I go here during computer class to stay awake, then come at night to avoid the real reading and homework I need to do. Feels like Im back in highschool, just cant find the motivation....
Around here I can find any top I want used, if I look long enough. You have plenty of time, if you find a nice one it may help decide what color your new truck will be. ;-)
Of course the last time I looked for a top I ended up buying a Suburban. Side and back doors, pass thru cab, holds eight ft sheets and 12 ft trim, and gets better milage than my pickup.
CAG, I bought my A.R.E. topper used, not exactly what I would get if I were to order one new. However I did get it for a fraction of the cost.
Since you have a few months you may very well find one.
Scott R.
The truck color has been decided, I want black. The color of the top wouldn't matter, maybe if I find a good deal on a used one before I get the truck I will pick it up and store it until I actually get the truck. My uncle has the equipment I would need to paint the topper if I couldn't find one in black, and he knows how to do automotive painting fairly well so I could sucker him in to doing it.
But I'm dreaming at this point anyway. I just cant wait to get rid of the Cherokee, Its a good car, but its not good for what I try to use it for, and I basically ruined the interior with scratches and such.
Black trucks a sharp looking but a PITA to keep clean and seem to be key magnets in my experience. And they get hot. I've had black, slate grey, and red all with grey interior and the black was by far the hottest in the summer. Just something to consider.
They sure are purty tho.
Edited 2/5/2003 4:13:03 PM ET by Bill_H
Yes they are purty
I considered silver and white and red, but just not what I want.
Well maybe silver, but I dont want a fire truck and white looks to blah
Got a Q.
This Inland Marine Insurance thing.....
is that a rider attached to the contractors policy...or a stand alone policy.....
and are the $400 os so yearly premiums the cost of your contractors including the marine deal.....
or is the $400 what it cost for the marine inland ins...then you pay for your contractors ins on top of that?
Reason I ask.....I have Erie 5 Star contractors ins. The 5 star means it lumps in some stuff that's usually additional.
I only carry 300K yearly...bumping it up as need be. I have the additional tool theft rider.....for 10K total, I believe...might be 8......
and I'm down to paying right below $400/yr for the whole deal.
I also threw in a materials rider and delivery clause...so I'm covered if I wreck and materials get destroyed.......even if it's cab's I built myself...I get full market value of the finished product.
If that is the price for stand alone tool theft coverage...I'd say shop around and see what a small policy with tool theft added in would run. That way....any side work is covered...for what might be the same price.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Jeff,
I've been talking to my insurance company. She kind of looked at me funny when I mentioned inland marine policy, but said she would get back to me after talking the actual agent.
She told me I could get a policy with replacement value for tools kept in my truck (when I get it) for a couple hundred or less a year for 5k coverage. The tools would have to be kept in a locked compartment of some sort, something just sitting in the bed would not be covered
CAG,
I will tell you what I do and you can take it for whatever it's worth.....
I buy the basemodel Ford F150. Hard to beat the price---very reasonable from my perspective. Drive it for 5-6 years and then trade it in on a new one.No maintenance expenses other than gas and oil.After 6 years of my driving the truck usually has less than 60,000 miles on it so I get pretty good trade in value. I have ZERO mechanical ability and have ZERO interest in spending even a single moment of my free time as a shade tree mechanic.This system works well for me----the vehicles have proved to be VERY reliable and very affordable.
I have a new ladder rack built and installed and a Delta lock box installed on the drivers side----my sheet metal brake travels on the passenger side.I had an extra spring added on the sheet metal brake side and 2 extra springs added on the tool box side----VERY reasonably priced. These extras added maybe $1000 or $1100 to the total.
You can get a tool rider placed on your policy very reasonably. Mine is certainly much less than what these folks are telling you they pay.I think---off the top of my head---about $30 for $5000 of non scheduled tools.Last spring I had the truck parked at a LOWES and was inside buying a ceiling fan to install in my sons room. I had 3 roofing coil nailers stolen from my tool box. I think I had forgotten to lock the front tool box door. I called my insurance agent,he said go ahead and replace them immediately. I went out and bought 3 new guns,called the insurance co. with the info---sent in the receipts and recieved a check within a few days minus a $200 deductible.
At night I park my truck,tools ,ladders and equipment inside a garage. No overnight worries,and I leave NOTHING on job sites overnight.
since you are planning to go into business,and already doing side jobs----get yourself an " artisan policy" with a tool rider. It is a bargain.
ditto...
my tool rider is $50 for that 8 or 10K.....gotta look that up.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Not that there is any security in tools, but here's what I do: I paint the things "federal safety purple" , not carefully or prettily, but with a purpose of making it obvious and spraying it in places that would be hard to get off. I cover model plates and vents with tape.
Next, I take the dremmel with a 409 disk and write my name such that you can 'read it from the air'.
SHORT ANECDOTE: At one time I had a neighbor that (it turned out) got convicted of tool theft. Before I knew this, one day he came to borrow a tool. When he walked into my shop his eyes got big- "everything's PURPLE!"
Jeff,
Man, what state do you live in?? Here in Texas, I can't get just straight auto liabilty for $400. And that's with a clean record and no claims.
I'm talking contractors insurance, not auto.
I know about those TX auto rates, though. Lived in Harris Co for 2 yrs...at that time.....Houston was the most expensive city to insure in......and for good reason!
No one could drive there..then add an ounce of rain on highly oiled pavement and watch the fun begin.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
When I did small jobs and kept tools in my camper shell I used to park my truck near a dog, staked out near the truck. He would raise hell if a stranger came by. The dog lives on the couch now. Also I would back the truck up to a fence so the rear access was limited. Now most of my jobs last a while and I bought a Knaack box that is the biggest that will fit in my pickup. It is so heavy that I need at least two people to move it when it is empty. I park the box at the job and chain it to a tree. I only have to chain up my ladders and table saw that won't fit in the box. My truck is empty most of the time and I can use it for errands without worrying about the contents. Having your tools away from home can be inconveniant sometimes so I have "home tools" that I use for chores. The Knaack box is very secure and waterproof. I guess someone could cut it with a torch but that hasn't happened yet. It cost about 500 bucks but the money I saved on gas by not hauling my tools everywhere was worth it.
CAG,
there is one other thing I forgot to tell you. Investigate something called ( I believe) section 179. This will potentially let you buy a new truck,rack,toolboxes etc. and then write the whole thing off at once INSTEAD of slowly depreciating it over a period of years.In my case it was better to arrange some things to take full benefit of writing the thing off all at once.Other people might be better off depreciating it over time. You can easily do a little pencil and paper work to figure out the best call yourself.
Shazlett,
Thanks,
I have heard of the ability to wright a new truck off all at once
I think thats why I see so many people driving huge F250's with 5 1/2' Beds, but thats another topic :)
CAG,
there is a limit ( maybe around $20,000) to what you can write off in one year with out depreciating it over time. Might be difficult to bring the tricked out F250 in under that limit. It might be that the guys driving those trucks are just " Billy Joe Bobs" at heart----and actually prefer to be seen driving around in such perversities.
I do know the last time I did it the limit was something like $17500 and I had no trouble buying and equiping a proper tool for under that limit. ( that's all a truck is for me---another basic tool for making money---not a toy)
As to the tricked out F 250's
I can undstand getting and F-250, I can even understand the extended cab.
BUT,
You throw a 5 1/2 foot bed on the back, then put the biggest darn tool box you can find back there leaving 3 1/2 feet of usuable space, then because you dont have any room in the back you need to put one of those shiny new ladder racks so you can actually carry lumber. Then put your company logo on the side.
Give me a break a truck with 5 1/2 foot bed has no use. Its a waste of money
I see tons of them around here and wonder just what the guy was thinking
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Cag, i agree completely
re: tool security i once took a course in a shop where all the tools were marked "stolen goods & company name" at a later date i was a foreman in a plant where the tools were disapering iwas starting to use this idea when the union put in a grievence & department head thought it was unethical seems it was working too good i guess. The last two years I have been using a 12 ft. box trailer . I can now haul all the tools I need for the job & use the truck for hauling material. If I need to go away for any reason tools are there for helper. another advantage is he can start picking up tools before quitting time instead of picking his nose waiting to go home. I mark all my tools as soon as i buy them as everybody seems to own similar tools and will trade you if you arent watching . I even mark my extension cords which are the first thing they borrow = steal. Paint a strip on all your shovels axes bars with a spray bomb makes them easy to identify quickly while looking for your name on them . Last but not least get a gun sticker from Glock Or Ruger and put it in your trailer or tool box seems to make thieves think you are crazier than them. PS, I have never lost a tool and i have lived in South Florida And Ontario Can. touch wood.
Umm,
don't have 3-1/2' usable space, you forgot the diesel tank & pump. That's why you have to buy a big box trailer and you need the 250 to pull it...
remodeler
When I first started buying tools, I bought a cheap ingraver [maybe $15-20]. I ingrave my driver's license # [not SS - police can't pull those #s up on the computer] in two places on each tool. One in a very comspicuous place; easily spotted from a distance. I then rub some type of coloring agent that is contrast to area ingraved to make it even more noticable. The second marking is somewhere that only I would know to look.
That little ingraver has saved me a lot of money.
Mike
When I first considered marking my tools I asked a cop if I should use my drivers license number. He said no, use social security because it never changes. Driver licenses change if you move out of state, which I have. Then identity theft started making the news so I went to using just part of my ssn. If I'm unfortunate and get ripped off I will report my markings to the police.
You might not want to use part of your SS number and you certainly shouldn't use the entire number. With a SSN and a cheap photo ID in your name many credit card agencies will issue a card. I use other means of ID, including but not limited, to my my last name, a fairly rare one, and a record of the serial numbers and receipts. I grind the serial numbers into the case to prevent thieves from annonimizing the unit by removing the label or plate. It would be a cruel double whammy having your tools stolen and your bank account raided.
Some time ago there was, if I remember correctly, a program run by the police in this area to register an identifier with the police department. The alphanumeric would link any tools to a particular person or business without revealing any information about the owner. It sounded like a good idea but, other than an initial announcement, I can't recall any more news about it.
Be careful with that SSN. Most of the companies who insist on using your SSN as an identifier are required, by law I have been told, to be able to use an alternative identifier. I have had to raise quite a stink to get many of them to admit that they can go without using a SSN but in every case they relented. In this day of easy identity theft IMHO the effort is worth it.
You want to talk about a PINTA, I finally got off my duff and got renters insurance. They wanted values for TVs computers, jewelry etc no problem and tools. I put down 7500 to be careful but I doubt I have much more then 5 grand in my apartment at any point in time, most of them are at work in the shop or on a job site.
Now they want me to go through and make an inventory of everything, and I don't mean just power tools. Screwdrivers, prybars hammers, nail sets,, putty knives, pliers, sockets, files, the whole shebang. Inventory and a rough replacement cost.
Thought 7500 would be enough, might have to tell them its more. Anyone else ever have to get this detailed? I haven't started yet as I have a few weeks and I bet it takes me to last few days to find the motivation to start this little project.
On the flip side renters insurance is CHEAPView ImageGo Jayhawks
Does renter ins. cover your tools that you use at work. Home owners don't cover tools you use for work.
Yes, as long as they are in the apartment they are covered, It doesnt cover them anywhere else.View ImageGo Jayhawks
CAG- How cheap is cheap there?
50k for 200 a year with 250 detucable, I guess its not that cheap, but I thought it would be more expensiveView ImageGo Jayhawks
For my tool rider on my insurance I only have to list anything that cost more than $1000. Covered up to $12,000 just on tools. Cost me about $300/yr just for tool rider.Greg
rez- just got my renters ins. renewal today. $179 per year for $32,160 property, $6,420 Loss of Use, 500 all peril deductable. (Orlando)
This started out 3 or 4 years ago for $30,000 only, at $150. I have a good ins. agent who looks out for me.
I didn't have to list stuff either, they just took a pic of the duplex and made sure I didn't have a big/dangerous dog.But, but, its SUPPOSED to taste like that!