Ravelco as featured in Overland Journal

[07 Elephant]

Jonathan I too payed close attention to the install. I know what it is connected to so that if I need to I can reverse the steps and put everything back to stock. The more you know...

With that said my next security measure is to harden the engine bay. I'm planning on installing keyed locks for the hood to make it more difficult for my batteries and other money things to be stolen. Or my electronics to be tampered with.

 

[UK4X4]

mmmm the engineer in me..............

you have 16 connections

so you have 8 wire pairs

4 "lives" and 4 feeds back out in the basic form

the feeds in could be simple 12V - square wave - variations on the theme.

Depending on what the disconnect it could be quite simple ....ie in the simplest form for a basic non electronic engine would be 4 positives and 4 possible hookups, the ignition would be the only dificult one but not impossible


The modern car would be more dificult ! but not impossible if you had the time.

 

[goodtimes]

Easy answer: Factory anti-theft systems are, by their nature, all the same, therefore thieves only have to learn one bypass technique to access hundreds of thousands of vehicles. It's axiomatic that the good guys are always racing to stay ahead of the bad guys, not vice versa. Not that factory systems aren't far more advanced and effective than they were 20 years ago. But after all, Chrysler presumably had to invent the Sentri-key system because its previous system was no longer working . . .

The Ravelco is unique in that every installation is different. The installer has numerous options as to what the device controls. Yet since we were told what that was on our car, if for some extremely unlikely reason we need to, I can reverse it.

Ultimately, supreme simplicity and reliability are its strengths. You're literally just connecting several disconnected wires when you insert the plug.

While I agree that (technological) simplicity and reliability are indeed good things -- as is having the ability to return the vehicle to stock condition if you want (I'm sure you are aware of my disdain for modifying an electrical system that a group of rocket scientists designed), but I'm not convinced that it is any better than an OEM installed system.

First, either system protects the car by becoming a pain in the butt for the thief. They both do this by preventing the car from being started. Bypassing the OEM systems (such as the sentri-key) would involve finding out how each model of car received the input from the antenna, tapping into that wire, and providing a false signal. I've never tried it, but I'm guessing that it is a little more complex than what the movies would lead you to believe. The Ravelco device would require you figuring out which pins need to be connected to which pins. It would take some time, but an enterprising thief could do it. But in either case, why would they waste the time?

It would be easier to either move on to the next driveway (OK, you have an advantage there -- it's a long way to the next driveway :sombrero, or they could simply back a tow truck up to the car, and be driving off in under 15 seconds. As a bonus, the tow truck trick doesn't draw much attention because it is 'just another illegally parked, broken down, or repossessed car'.

I was shocked at how fast cars can be towed if the tow driver is in a hurry. I watched an illegally parked car be towed from the bottom of Tumamoc hill a few weeks ago. The driver never got out of the truck -- just back the tow truck up to the rear tires, lift the back of the car, drive off. Seriously, it was 15 seconds -- tops.

Don't get me wrong -- I think the Ravelco device is a great product, particularly if you have a vehicle that did not come with a sentri-key like device. Much better than an alarm system. But I don't see a huge advantage over a factory installed system (where available). A determined thief will still get your car.

One thing that I would like to see though, is a flat key that could be stored in your wallet, in case your lose the original while hiking through a jungle somewhere . . .

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

First, either system protects the car by becoming a pain in the butt for the thief.

Exactly. And the more of a pain you make it, the better. The advantage of the Ravelco is that it presents a huge pain (as proven by its record) for a thief, yet is simple in the extreme - no batteries, no randomly generated codes, no remotes or sirens, no door contacts, nothing to short out in the rain (ask me about that one). That's why I think it's better than a factory system for those of us who travel to places where we can't call a tow truck to haul our vehicle to the dealer when some component of its fantastically sophisticated factory system goes belly up. And for those of us with older vehicles, I don't think anything can touch it.

UK4x4 - I think if it were that "simple" to bypass the company wouldn't be able to claim the record they do. Remember that the installer can do all sorts of blind connections, even including live feeds that do nothing. An engineer friend of mine in California, who watched the installation, had the same opinion when we started, but the installer convinced him otherwise.

 

[UK4X4]

"UK4x4 - I think if it were that "simple" to bypass the company wouldn't be able to claim the record they do. ."

in a modern engine it would be dificult- I don't disagree- but you still end up with 4 circuits, more if they link 1 in and then a couple out or other diferent ratio's similar

not saying its easy.....but it is not fool proof- just takes time- knowledge of the vehicle wiring..and some tools

wether its armoured or not the wires can be physically chased or ignored altogether.

The armour ends somewhere and then its just pulling wires- the vehicle wires are color coded

or a spare ECU and crocodile clips for example

in the older style car

If I was that keen on robbing it - I'd just run new wires coil-starter battery

Like most "security" systems there are always ways around them

the issue is to deter the average thief to go look at an easier target.......

If they really want your truck- as others have mentioned - a tow truck and its history..

Then in your garage with the silver foil roof you have time to substitute the harness in the engine bay for a replacement you prepared earlier.

I'm not saying security is a waste of time or that the system does not work........car hijacking comes to mind .........

A hidden switch inturrupting any of the multitude of sensors and electrics on a modern car will do an equally good job.

Just ask any landrover owner !

1 deep puddle and a hot Cam Position Sensor and your toast

The mission is to deter mr average robber and your truck stays where you parked it.

You will not deter the professional, and the average Taco is not on his shopping list !

 

[UK4X4]

Here's a system I thought up a few years back....simple - not really intrusive
and one moving part.

Reed switch on the power to the fuel pump

reed switch positioned in line on the cable beneath one of the two cup holders in the central console

1 can of coke with a magnet stuck on the bottom

Move the coke can when you leave and replace when you get back

carry a spare magnet ! just in case.

The average thief won't be dropping the fuel tank to see whats wrong

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

I like that idea.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Sad reality that we have to think of ways to beat the thieves right?

One thing that troubles me with an security system is the fact they they can choose to just tow your car off and take all the time they want dismantling your security or worse yet the entire car. Its seems for rare or collectible cars this is a real scenario, a flatbed or trailer and they have all the time they want to sort out your security system. I deal with some pretty high dollar Land Cruisers on a regular basis, the protection methods vary as much as the owner, one of the more practical for preventing the tow off is manually locking the stick shift in gear. Not foolproof but a pretty low dollar solution to a high dollar problem.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Yeah, not much to be done about a tow truck . . . or a helicopter, depending on what your car is worth to the thief.

 

[RSB]

Sad reality that we have to think of ways to beat the thieves right?

One thing that troubles me with an security system is the fact they they can choose to just tow your car off and take all the time they want dismantling your security or worse yet the entire car. Its seems for rare or collectible cars this is a real scenario, a flatbed or trailer and they have all the time they want to sort out your security system. I deal with some pretty high dollar Land Cruisers on a regular basis, the protection methods vary as much as the owner, one of the more practical for preventing the tow off is manually locking the stick shift in gear. Not foolproof but a pretty low dollar solution to a high dollar problem.

if I'm not mistaken, as long as you remember to turn your wheels, it's practically impossible for a flatbed to tow your vehicle. Could be wrong, but it's what I've been trying to make a habit...

ultimately, I'm convinced a thief would be more likely to try to drive-off w/my rig somewhere and strip off all the parts at a remote location. From what I learned, OnStar, LoJack, and all the latest remote vehicle ignition systems (smart keys) out there can be defeated. The objective is to prevent someone from taking the vehicle to their place of choice—not to stop them from entering the vehicle.

Ravelco boasts a 30-year track record without a car stolen with one of these installed. Pretty impressive! I drove down to Dallas to get one awhile back...

here's a few pics of mine installed in my Tacoma...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

if I'm not mistaken, as long as you remember to turn your wheels, it's practically impossible for a flatbed to tow your vehicle. Could be wrong, but it's what I've been trying to make a habit...

I've never tried but I've had to drag rigs with broken steering up onto a trailer using a winch, in all reality it doesn't change too much, they drag whichever you make them.

here's a few pics of mine installed in my Tacoma...

Very cool, hey don't get me wrong I think proactive steps towards vehicle security are wise by all means. Some call it paranoid, others call it prepared. What does it cost installed?

 

[RSB]

yikes... Yer right! Well, yes and I agree. For me, it's both. Good preparation was the cure to my paranoia. the Ravelco was expensive! It was either 5 or $600.

 

[07 Elephant]

The company posts their price. Some installers have a bit of leeway with that number.

 

[Honu]

in Hawaii wheel locks that were a stun gun were popular ? I think they are illegal though ? but did not seem to stop them over their since Hawaii is in the top 5 for car theft ! we had our Taco stolen in broad daylight !

but a steering lock that was a stun gun would be funny to watch the guy grab it funnier with alarm pager as you could run out and find him laying their maybe

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

in Hawaii wheel locks that were a stun gun were popular?

I read that and thought, Whaaaaat? Gotta be an urban legend. But no:

Stun gun wheel lock

Sadly, no longer available.

Standard price on the Ravelco is $469 with two keys. Incidentally, you can have multiple vehicle installations that use the same key, so you don't have to have two or three of the plugs on your keychain.