95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

crack head smashed my window. Who makes a good alarm?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 09:39 AM
  #1  
SWPERIC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Area
crack head smashed my window. Who makes a good alarm?

Nothing stolen but my poor gf's purse. Grrrr. Who makes a good alarm?
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 09:46 AM
  #2  
Fink's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,076
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by onroadrunner
Nothing stolen but my poor gf's purse. Grrrr. Who makes a good alarm?
Sorry to hear that man.

One word, Viper.

I had this one and it was just plain awesome.
It's the only aftermarket one I have any experience with and I loved it.

Fink
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 09:59 AM
  #3  
Corey's Avatar
Co-Founder/Administrator
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 32,242
Likes: 21
From: Auburn, Washington
Lots of good alarms out there, get one installed by a good shop such as Cartoys if you have one in your area.

Viper and a few others such as Clifford (mine) are made by a parent company.
Get one that has the starter kill on it, and also get a pager system with it.

My pager (remote) is next to my head when I sleep.
It will page me with beeps, lights, vibrations when a zone such as a door or hit has compromised it.
If it beeps ya, time to run out and deliver some good old vigilante justice.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 10:13 AM
  #4  
dirtoyboy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,377
Likes: 2
From: St. Loser, Misery
I have a viper with a proximity alarm and i love it
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 10:29 AM
  #5  
CC_yota's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: ATX/ Waco
Are you sure it was a crack head?
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 10:42 AM
  #6  
SWPERIC's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Area
Originally Posted by CC_yota
Are you sure it was a crack head?
sadly pretty sure. cops said they know who is doing it but dont have any evidence to arrest him. it was broad day light on a well populated street in chicago right in lincoln park.

my alarm has the remote back window roll down feature. does anyone have the incorporated into their alarm? remote start?
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 11:06 AM
  #7  
surf4runner's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,476
Likes: 1
From: so.cal
S&W is the only thing thats gonna stop a quik grab like that.

most people dont even look when an alarm goes off
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 11:09 AM
  #8  
Fink's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,076
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by surf4runner
S&W is the only thing thats gonna stop a quik grab like that.

most people dont even look when an alarm goes off
This is exactly why I got the 2-way (pager) system.
I've caught two people messing with my rig - back in High School.

Fink
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 12:21 PM
  #9  
X-AWDriver's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,549
Likes: 0
From: Littleton,CO
"Crackhead" is one word.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2008 | 12:25 PM
  #10  
Sloan's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ViKQW33SQ[/YOUTUBE]

sorry had to do it lol.

that sucks about your car though. did your girlfriend leave her purse kinda out in the open? its crazy someone would actually break into a car in broad daylight. i would also suggest viper though, you see it sold at just about any custom auto place now-a-days.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 04:58 AM
  #11  
dirtoyboy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,377
Likes: 2
From: St. Loser, Misery
Originally Posted by onroadrunner
does anyone have the incorporated into their alarm? remote start?
I highly advise against remote starts....



My truck had one when I bought it and I didnt even know..it started malfunctioning (once you start messing with ignition/starter system you are asking for trouble) and practically left me stranded in the middle of BFE. Also it began starting on its own (in DOWNTOWN crackhead central saint louis of all places) and locking me out for fun.

I know of a couple people that have lost thier vehicles as well due to fires caused by remote starts....FWIW
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 05:20 AM
  #12  
Fink's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,076
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by dirtoyboy
I highly advise against remote starts....



My truck had one when I bought it and I didnt even know..it started malfunctioning (once you start messing with ignition/starter system you are asking for trouble) and practically left me stranded in the middle of BFE. Also it began starting on its own (in DOWNTOWN crackhead central saint louis of all places) and locking me out for fun.

I know of a couple people that have lost thier vehicles as well due to fires caused by remote starts....FWIW
It's all about the install man.

That's where you need to spend the money, the systems are all pretty much the same just with different features.

Do the bulk of your research on shops that do the work.
It they miss a ground, don't shield wires enough, tap the wrong wire, your entire truck could be messed up and give you problems forever.

I had mine done by a buddy who ran his own car audio shop and had been doing it for years. We got about 4 large pizza's, took our time and just hung out while we did the install. It's all about patience and taking your time.

If you take it to a large commercial vendor (aka Circuit Shi**y) they want your car in and out - they're going to get paid either way.
They also know that half the time, if a customer isn't happy with the install they probably aren't going to take the time to wait in line to tell you about it - unless it's a serious issue.

Also, odds are, those issues won't arise until later.
With all the features these systems have, it will be weeks before you actually use ALL of them.

I used to work at Circuit City...trust me, not the greatest place in the world.
Granted, it all depends on the individual doing the work.
Luckily, all the guys up here at my local place are awesome and I know them - but that obviously isn't the case everywhere.

Best Buy isn't any better.

EDIT: A kill switch is a good idea whether you're confident in the install or not. I had them install one on my Runner underneath the spare.

Fink

Last edited by Fink; Jul 23, 2008 at 05:23 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 06:51 AM
  #13  
corax's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 7
From: PDX
"South African" car alarm option - they also have tazer and poison gas
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 06:55 AM
  #14  
CJM's Avatar
CJM
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,940
Likes: 2
From: Central NJ
Remote starters are bad in the fact that if your battery dies they go haywire...

Get a good pager alarm, have it installed right.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 07:38 AM
  #15  
racedirt1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Lake County, IL
Are you still going to make it to The Cliffs this weekend?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 08:29 AM
  #16  
cackalak han's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Even the pagers don't work 100% of the time. I had one (Python, another DEI company). It sometimes just went off by itself. Don't know why. Also, if you're at the mall, movies, etc., your pager won't work, because it's too far away from the car. I'm not saying not to get one. I think you should take every precaution. But just letting you know, pagers are not a guarantee of alarm notification.

Here is a good article on alarms. LINK

Oh, I also keep up on my shotgun shooting skills.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 10:07 AM
  #17  
TexanTaco's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX
I've read that LoJack is really the only way to make sure you get your vehicle recovered, but that won't help with simple break-ins. Like others have said, the most important thing you can do is just make sure you don't give a scumbag a reason to break in your truck. Your GF's purse in plain view I'm sure is the reason they broke in. If it was hidden then I guess they just found a unexpected treasure. Tinted windows can help, because a thief probably won't sit there with his nose pressed against your glass, that would raise too much suspicion. Most people completely ignore car alarms, we are so desensitized to them, so the paging feature is your only chance.

Oh, and thieves should all have their hands cut off!
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 10:15 AM
  #18  
Corey's Avatar
Co-Founder/Administrator
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 32,242
Likes: 21
From: Auburn, Washington
The new built in pagers like mine transmit about 1/4th mile.
Mine has two remotes.
A plain one and the bigger one with the pager built in.



http://www.cartoys.com/Default.cfm/p...er_Technology/
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 12:03 PM
  #19  
Fink's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,076
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by Corey
The new built in pagers like mine transmit about 1/4th mile.
Mine has two remotes.
A plain one and the bigger one with the pager built in.



http://www.cartoys.com/Default.cfm/p...er_Technology/
Mine would reach very far.
Only problem would be hills or interference.

Fink
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 01:44 PM
  #20  
toyota-erik's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: M/V Midland & Biwabik MN
Originally Posted by surf4runner
S&W is the only thing thats gonna stop a quik grab like that.
Amen Brother.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:19 PM.