GPS Trackers

[270sniper]

Since I recently bought a brand new L3302 I was wondering what would be the best tracker for theft recovery. According to my agent, my home owner insurance covers theft but I would prosecute a thieve.

My tractor is 3 hours away & stored in a garage with no electric & no internet service so an Air Tag would not work since it needs to be withing 33 feet of an I phone etc.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

maybe think another way
1) remove battery and take with you
2) add alarm system to garage with 4 loud horns,2 inside,2 outside
3) chain tractor to stakes in ground
4) raise tractor off ground,
5) remove 1 or 2 tires, take with you ( or just the nuts )
6) inform the neighbours (maybe..if they're honest...)

Air tags are just Apple's idea of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy ) and ALL BLE need to be close to 'see'.
Without power, any/all devices will fail to communicate after battery goes dead.
If there's cell service, alarm can call you.

 

[270sniper]

maybe think another way
1) remove battery and take with you
2) add alarm system to garage with 4 loud horns,2 inside,2 outside
3) chain tractor to stakes in ground
4) raise tractor off ground,
5) remove 1 or 2 tires, take with you ( or just the nuts )
6) inform the neighbours (maybe..if they're honest...)

Air tags are just Apple's idea of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy ) and ALL BLE need to be close to 'see'.
Without power, any/all devices will fail to communicate after battery goes dead.
If there's cell service, alarm can call you.

I have no electric at garage and no other structures on hunting property. The tractor barely fits in the garage.

 

[fried1765]

maybe think another way
1) remove battery and take with you
2) add alarm system to garage with 4 loud horns,2 inside,2 outside
3) chain tractor to stakes in ground
4) raise tractor off ground,
5) remove 1 or 2 tires, take with you ( or just the nuts )
6) inform the neighbours (maybe..if they're honest...)

Air tags are just Apple's idea of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy ) and ALL BLE need to be close to 'see'.
Without power, any/all devices will fail to communicate after battery goes dead.
If there's cell service, alarm can call you.

It will be helpful if service :alarm can call you"........when you are 3 hours away?
To tell you what?
That your tractor has just been stolen.....and is now also 3 hours away from where you had it stored.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

well, to tell you it HAS been stolen, you then call the local police where the tractor is, to inform them it's been stolen and they can 1) go to location to confirm/deny it has been stolen and 2) BOLO ..Be On Lookout. for the tractor. 3) inform insurance company it has been stolen, 4 ) call local tractor dealerships, scrapyards, etc to put them on notice 5) call any of your neighbours near the tractor location 6 ) contact local gas stations 7) put ads in local papers, CL, etc... re: stolen tractor info, reward if found.
This is just the minimum you do when you get the msg your tractor was stolen.

BTW ,there's no way I'd leave a $30,000 vehicle 3 hours away totally unprotected.

 

[SAR Tracker]

put a "hidden" or at least inconspicuous switch in the fuel system (pump, relay, etc). They'd have to have a trailer with a winch to take it then, because unless they know where the switch is, it won't start.

 

[RBsingl]

Solar panel, battery, and inverter will easily power a loud alarm system; any decent alarm system runs on battery backup anyway. You will find that having a limited source of 120 VAC is useful at times. Real time tracking is not at all robust at the lower cost end of the spectrum; most systems are easily defeated and GPS isn't going to read anything if it can't "see" the satellites nor is a cellular transponder going to do much when your tractor is cruising across the state inside a metal U Haul trailer.

Simpler methods of making your tractor an undesirable target is the most effective method and will deter the less motivated thief to find an easier target but if a pro wants your tractor nothing cost practical is going to do a bit of good.

I spent much of my career doing consulting work in enterprise risk management and the primary thing you can do is reduce the probability of theft by making your tractor a less known and desirable target. Secure the building, add an alarm system and a fake camera in an obvious location.

Don't advertise what you have (i.e. no Facebook photos of your new tractor and where it lives). I find it crazy that people love to post on social media about the wonderful trip they are currently taking, what a nice way to advertise that your stuff is now readily available to lowlifes. Be extremely careful about hiring service/maintenance or others coming onto your property because that is often where others learn about this great piece of equipment in a remote and unsecured remote facility. Shortly after I bought my place in the country, a lot of ag equipment thefts occurred a couple of months after one of the "barn roof painters" made the rounds doing the scouting work for other family members.

Rodger

 

[wsurff]

Air tags may not work where you're storing the tractor, but may well work wherever the stolen tractor is taken to.

 

[Elliott in GA]

FWIW, my tractor is 250 miles from my residence. There is cell service at the tractor location. I have cellular game cameras watching the tractor; I receive alerts with photos anytime the cameras are triggered. They are Cuddebacks using CuddeLink, which means I only have one cell service for all of the cameras. It costs less than $15 a month. The Sheriff's office is 10 minutes away and the relatives are all around.

Additionally, the tractor and all implements are chained down. The loader is also chained to the front axle with a Krytonite NY chain lock. You can't raise the loader to move or trailer the tractor. All locks can eventually be defeated, but it takes time - meanwhile I am receiving photos and calling the Sheriff's office.

 

[mikester]

Top up your insurance and don't worry about it. Serious thieves bing a tilt load flatbed truck and it will be dragged on and gone in minutes.

If it's out of sight in a locked garage that's half your battle. If it makes you feel better buy a cellular game camera and you can see blurrycam photos of your tractor being stolen in the middle of the night.

 

[Elliott in GA]

Unlike the movies, most thieves are not real professionals; in fact, professionals are not going to bother to steal a single compact tractor from a residential/rural location. It is not enough money for far too much risk - especially from the owner.

Your average semi-skilled thief is going to take some time to: arrive at the location, defeat chains/locks, load the tractor and depart. Cellular game or security cameras can give you more than adequate time to react (call the sheriff or something else). It is not a guarantee to prevent the theft, but you certainly will have some very useful photos of the scene during the crime.

This Messick's video shows some more than semi-skilled thieves (using a stolen trailer, couple of guys, may have a watch car in the area and etc.) taking a track loader; it is not gone in a few minutes.

 

[Buck Hunter]

My tractor is about 1 1\2 hours away. Its in a garage and I have garage doors locked down and card board painted black in the windows where nobody can see in. I also removed the battery and have it at home. I also put up cellular game camera on the garage so I can notify the police if someone is snooping around. And getting the Kubota insurance might help also. But a thief is a thief just try to slow them down until law can arrive. That's about all you can do. Removing a front tire wouldn't be a bad idea either.

 

[270sniper]

For the time being I ended up putting a heavy duty chain & lock thru the steering wheel and side step. Better than nothing.

 

[fried1765]

Top up your insurance and don't worry about it. Serious thieves bing a tilt load flatbed truck and it will be dragged on and gone in minutes.

If it's out of sight in a locked garage that's half your battle. If it makes you feel better buy a cellular game camera and you can see blurrycam photos of your tractor being stolen in the middle of the night.

EXACTLY correct!