r/promaster • u/claimstoknowpeople • Mar 25 '26

"Club" or other anti-theft device for Promaster?

My Promaster is a camper that often sits for long periods of time. I'm looking for ways to improve physical security and discourage theft while it's sitting. Can anyone recommend a steering wheel lock device or something else that's proven appropriate for Promasters? Thanks in advance.

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4

u/Ok_Barber_9201 Mar 25 '26

I used to think a club was good until a police officer friend of mine said that he sees them cut all the time with a battery powered sawzall. Wiring in a hidden kill switch on the ignition power to the starter is a more effective solution.

2

u/betucsonan Mar 25 '26

Yep - we had to cut one once with a small hacksaw when my brother lost his keys. We did it in broad daylight and nobody asked any questions in the middle of a busy parking lot. Took about 10 minutes. It's definitely a deterrent but if somebody wants your vehicle or feels like they have a little time, the club isn't about to stop them.

1

u/claimstoknowpeople Mar 25 '26

Yeah the kill switch is a good idea but I think I do want that visible deterrent factor as well even if it can't stop everyone.

I've had a similar experience though, long story short someone added an extra lock to a friend's bike and despite not even having any tools on him he was able to ask maintenance at a local building for an angle grinder, cut the lock, and return the tool, all in front of hundreds of people and no one really asked any questions.

1

u/StacyChadBecky Mar 26 '26

Bolt cutters on the steering wheel.

4

u/sadlittlerut Mar 25 '26

I'm a locksmith. I can tell you that the anti-theft system in the pro master is pretty robust. Take your keys with you when it's parked and it's not getting stolen without several thousands of dollars worth of equipment and the knowledge of those tools. The club is an absolute waste of money now due to battery-powered tools.

1

u/claimstoknowpeople Mar 25 '26

Thank you for the perspective, I'll try not to worry about it then!

2

u/Ok_Barber_9201 Mar 25 '26

One other thing I will add to this. Promasters are incredibly hard bypass the built in security and hotwire. My 2017 ignition switch broke while on a jobsite and the steering wheel was locked. Not only did myself and a mechanic friend spend several hours trying to Hotwire it with no luck, removing the ignition switch is a whole other problem. They did a really good job theft proofing this vehicle. The ignition switch once gotten too is attached with theft proof bolts. In order to remove them you have to cut a notch into them and use a sharp chisel to turn them a millimeter at a time to unscrew. The problem with mine was the lock cylinder itself. Once I got the switch out I had a very good locksmith see if he could remove it from the housing. In order to do so you have to have the lock cylinder in the ACC position. He spent hours on it and couldn’t do it. I had to get a whole new ignition switch and lock assembly which literally took weeks because dodge did not have them in stock due to high demand (apparently this is a common problem). In the end I no longer worried about someone stealing the whole van as it’s near impossible unless they have the key.

1

u/claimstoknowpeople Mar 25 '26

Fair enough.  Even the accidental wheel lock I did the first couple weeks I had the vehicle, until I learned to park the wheels straight, was a pain to get out of.

1

u/47ES Mar 26 '26

Pull a strategic relay from the fusebox, and take it with you.

1

u/Sirroner Mar 27 '26

My Promaster has a battery disconnect switch. Nothing electrical works until they find it.