New Driver's Door Lock Mod (Theft Protection)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, a security screw isn't going to be any more secure than the regular screw. No one is gonna sit there and try to unscrew it. They're gonna twist it w/a pair channel locks and the threads on a screw that size aren't going to hold in plastic or sheet aluminum if the sleeve is spun w any amount of leverage. A more secure option would be a rivet or a bolt w/a nut on the back.
 
Summarizing a lot of discussion in this thread.

So the most secure solution would be to:

1. Pull the rods from all four doors
2. Pull the lock cylinder rod from drivers door.
3. Remove the lock cylinder from drivers door.
4. Cover key hole with product from OP, or similar.
5. Cover lock pull hole with push-pin (Going to need some King Ranch brown paint for this).

At that point, I don't see them getting in the truck without breaking glass, which nothing will completely stop. I guess security film might slow that down somewhat. I'm not particularly worried about the dead battery scenario as I have a cable connected to the battery with an Andersen connector routed through the grille that I use to easily jump start various things around my farm. Hide a 3/8 extension and cheap ratchet handle under the truck and a corresponding set of jumpers inside the spare tire and you can use any 12v power source to unlock the truck.

I wish Jimmi Jammer would sell their door plug separately, but I have never found it for sale by itself. Anybody have a lathe they want to turn a few out on? For that manner, anyone know the diameter of the hole in the door for the lock cylinder? I wonder if an electrician's knockout cover could be adapted to work?
If you remove the lock cylinder then you don't need this product at all. This product is only to prevent grabbing the cylinder from behind the handle to forcibly rotate it, allowing entrance to the vehicle. If you remove the cylinder, then there's nothing to rotate. Then, as you mentioned, find the plug from somewhere to put in the left over hole in the door (could probably also get a handle from a junkyard if you want to cover the keyhole in the handle itself). So besides not needing #4, everything else looks good.

The issue is, and I think why a lot of us liked this product, is that me personally, I want to still be able to use my physical key in the event I'm out rural and my batteries completely die. I mean, for the key fob or door keypad to not work, those batteries would have to be extremely dead, but I have a jumper in the car. I want my physical key to still work.

If you don't care about that, then yeah, I'd be pulling the lock cylinder all out, and making the door a barrier. Then, as you also said, only way to get in is break glass, which really is a deterrent for most (not the little break to pull up the lock, but a big break to have to reach a hand in to unlock the truck)

I dont' want to setup remote wires that can be used to attach jumper cables and give enough juice to open the doors. And if you're way out there all alone, I also don't want to have to figure out a place to store a secondary power source outside the truck, to then use on the cables I ran to jump the truck and allow my to open the door. Everything I need to get home is in the truck. I just need to get in the truck.

So after removing the lock rods and covering those holes, I will have some good layers of security to prevent opportunistic theft and full theft of the vehicle. The only way to take my truck, is a tow truck. I will cross my fingers and hope this never happens, as I don't want a 2023 model! haha
 
Actually, I think I am gonna go to a junkyard and see if I can find a handle from the passenger side. Then, using this cylinder protector and the handle covering the keyhole, a thief wouldn’t really know what exactly I have done, and couldn’t use a screwdriver to push into the keyhole, unless he removed the handle first. Lots of unknown variables here. Then, for me, I can remove the handle cover easily, and use my physical key if needed. Time to call some junkyards!
 
If you remove the lock cylinder then you don't need this product at all. This product is only to prevent grabbing the cylinder from behind the handle to forcibly rotate it, allowing entrance to the vehicle. If you remove the cylinder, then there's nothing to rotate. Then, as you mentioned, find the plug from somewhere to put in the left over hole in the door (could probably also get a handle from a junkyard if you want to cover the keyhole in the handle itself). So besides not needing #4, everything else looks good.

The issue is, and I think why a lot of us liked this product, is that me personally, I want to still be able to use my physical key in the event I'm out rural and my batteries completely die. I mean, for the key fob or door keypad to not work, those batteries would have to be extremely dead, but I have a jumper in the car. I want my physical key to still work.

If you don't care about that, then yeah, I'd be pulling the lock cylinder all out, and making the door a barrier. Then, as you also said, only way to get in is break glass, which really is a deterrent for most (not the little break to pull up the lock, but a big break to have to reach a hand in to unlock the truck)

I dont' want to setup remote wires that can be used to attach jumper cables and give enough juice to open the doors. And if you're way out there all alone, I also don't want to have to figure out a place to store a secondary power source outside the truck, to then use on the cables I ran to jump the truck and allow my to open the door. Everything I need to get home is in the truck. I just need to get in the truck.

So after removing the lock rods and covering those holes, I will have some good layers of security to prevent opportunistic theft and full theft of the vehicle. The only way to take my truck, is a tow truck. I will cross my fingers and hope this never happens, as I don't want a 2023 model! haha

That’s why I put “or similar” in number 4. I don’t have a good plug option yet. I don’t think this particular product is worth the money, because, as pointed out earlier, a crank with some pliers will very likely rip it right out.

I’m going to take some measurements, but I’m wondering if a gasketed, steel, wing nut secured, flush faced knockout cover from the electrical world might work.
 
Actually, I think I am gonna go to a junkyard and see if I can find a handle from the passenger side. Then, using this cylinder protector and the handle covering the keyhole, a thief wouldn’t really know what exactly I have done, and couldn’t use a screwdriver to push into the keyhole, unless he removed the handle first. Lots of unknown variables here. Then, for me, I can remove the handle cover easily, and use my physical key if needed. Time to call some junkyards!
Oh, that's a good idea. Use this thing, but still have the keyhole accessible and only you would know that all you need to do is remove the plastic door handle cover.
 
Actually, I think I am gonna go to a junkyard and see if I can find a handle from the passenger side. Then, using this cylinder protector and the handle covering the keyhole, a thief wouldn’t really know what exactly I have done, and couldn’t use a screwdriver to push into the keyhole, unless he removed the handle first. Lots of unknown variables here. Then, for me, I can remove the handle cover easily, and use my physical key if needed. Time to call some junkyards!
Are the passenger handles from an F150 the same as ours? We might have better luck finding a color matched handle from a wrecked F150…
 
That’s why I put “or similar” in number 4. I don’t have a good plug option yet. I don’t think this particular product is worth the money, because, as pointed out earlier, a crank with some pliers will very likely rip it right out.

I’m going to take some measurements, but I’m wondering if a gasketed, steel, wing nut secured, flush faced knockout cover from the electrical world might work.
They have to pull the handle cover off to remove this product. Even if they could get leverage to break the little screw, or pull it through the metal, the cover still has to be removed to remove this. Your idea is interesting though, so if you come up with an idea, definitely let us know
 
Are the passenger handles from an F150 the same as ours? We might have better luck finding a color matched handle from a wrecked F150…
Good question. I’d have to look. You would think as long as the smart button system was the same for whatever years, that the handle covers would be the same also. How far back can we go you think to match the handles? Did the 2017-2019 models have the same handles as the 2020+?
 
Part search on Ford - looks like the exterior door handle mechanism is good for 2017-2024 for F250 - 550 and F150 2018-2020. What I cant see is if the older years have the small cutout for the “locking button” that’s on the handle? Anyway - anyone know of a good wrecking yard? Ones by me are very far away. Any online yards?
 
Part search on Ford - looks like the exterior door handle mechanism is good for 2017-2024 for F250 - 550 and F150 2018-2020. What I cant see is if the older years have the small cutout for the “locking button” that’s on the handle? Anyway - anyone know of a good wrecking yard? Ones by me are very far away. Any online yards?
As a comparison, do we know how much it costs to simply get a factory handle and have it painted? Help determine if it’s worth the effort to find a junkyard one with a risk of defects?
 
As a comparison, do we know how much it costs to simply get a factory handle and have it painted? Help determine if it’s worth the effort to find a junkyard one with a risk of defects?
Funny you say this - I just went ahead and bought the actual front passenger handle assembly directly from Ford - $225. Handle cover is chrome and has the little keyless button on it. All you have to do is paint match the base plate of the part, which I don’t need right now, but will have it done. Then, if you ever did want to eliminate the lock cylinder completely, this would be a nice clean install to replace the handle

Part#
HC3Z-2522404-ECPTM

 
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Funny you say this - I just went ahead and bought the actual front passenger handle assembly directly from Ford - $225. Handle cover is chrome and has the little keyless button on it. All you have to do is paint match the base plate of the part, which I don’t need right now, but will have it done. Then, if you ever did want to eliminate the lock cylinder completely, this would be a nice clean install to replace the handle

Part#
HC3Z-2522404-ECPTM

Nice! Ya if you have chrome handles then that makes it really easy!
 
So i just installed this. Very simple for sure. Getting the cover off was definitely a it challenging, but it comes off. I originally turned mine so the screw point was as close to the door hand moving black part as possible. I screwed and mount it there. This left a very very small gap on the other side, which I felt gave a bit easier way to try and pry this off. So I switched it back to the way the designer told us to install. If there was a second mounting point on the other side, that would be nice, but either way, the handle cover must come off to defeat this. I don’t think it would be super easy, but not super hard either. So, I think this fits perfectly for the scenario he describes on his website - someone that wants to get in and get out quick with whatever they can put their hands on. This would absolutely prevent that. Now, combine this with the handle cover with no hole, and removing the lock pulls, you’ve done some noticeable modifications to prevent theft. I think for the typical criminal (the guys that don’t use tow trucks and key coding) you’ve put some serious doubts in their minds about “what else has this guy done to piss me off”
I think it’s worth doing for the price, as long as you’re doing other things in combination. But I was quick and easy and cheap, so that’s nice
 
I've come to the conclusion from this thread and others that the only way to prevent your superduty from being broken into is not owning a superduty.

Now for those that say f that, I want a nice truck and not let some d bag win. Any modifications you can install that add a layer of protection are good. There isn't a single fix.

Just like in the cold 🥶 (which some are having now) layer up and go have a blast with your trucks.
 
‘Best’ way is how I have it done on my truck. No key cylinders anywhere plus I have a way to get in the truck still if battery dies. Can’t talk about it of course. 🥲
 
Looks like a mold on top of the rod - post #81 from Lunch Box has a picture.

‘Best’ way is how I have it done on my truck. No key cylinders anywhere plus I have a way to get in the truck still if battery dies. Can’t talk about it of course. 🥲
Or he would have to kill you!!!
 
I put mine in my garage! 😊. And I don’t make a habit of parking it somewhere where lowlife thieves habitually reside. Up here you take a huge risk parking a rig on a trailhead. That’s what my other vehicle is for!
 
‘Best’ way is how I have it done on my truck. No key cylinders anywhere plus I have a way to get in the truck still if battery dies. Can’t talk about it of course. 🥲
With the truck locked and key not near it can you open the door from inside the cab by pulling the handle?

I’ll venture a guess and say yes like nearly all vehicles.

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With this tool or one like it you can open just about any car in less than a minute. I used to do this when keys got locked in customers cars. Some cars I could get in a minute or so but I was trying very hard to not damage anything. If I didn’t care about damage I could probably get any car in less than a minute.

Just pointing out that there are still easy ways to get into a vehicle that’s locked and even do it with minimal to no damage.

I’m not saying anything for or against what you have done or any other anti-theft devices.

The hard cars that took me a couple minutes to get open were ones that pulling the handle didn’t open or unlock the door, if power lock buttons didn’t work that made it even more difficult. I eventually got them all though.
 
Please tell me how that will open a SD truck? You can't get hold of the inside handle
 

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