Block Heater Cord Security Options

[Red]

Hey guys,

I need some help from some of the more crafty members on this forum. Here is the situation.

I park my 4Runner in a parking stall behind my apartment building in inner city Calgary, there are constantly poor people walking through the alley scavenging things out of dumpsters and what not.

I have a short 6 foot outdoor extension cord that I will be using to plug in the block heater for me 4Runner when it gets cold, so it will be sitting there unattended. I'm not sure if it will happen but I wouldn't be surprised if the people around there would steal it, I've already had people prowling in that alley.

I will be parking facing a wooden fence with an outlet directly infront of me. I'm thinking that If I could find a way to secure the cord to a solid part of my 4Runner then it would be enough to keep someone from just unplugging it and walking away.

Anyone have a way that I could secure it? I was thinking some airline cable with those U shaped clamps bolted on and then maybe some kind of protective sleeve for the cord to protect it.

Any ideas?

 

[Don in AK]

Block heater cord

My opinion is based on 9 years as a police officer, over 20 years as a criminal prosecutor, and someone who usually finds the most complicated way to solve any problem that presents itself. Having said that, I would first park as close to the fence as possible; so close that no one could get between the outlet and your grill. I would then just buy several inexpensive and short cords and replace them when (not if) they get stolen. I say that because it appears that the whole front of my TE is plastic, and my block heater cord, while anchored, is only anchored to more plastic. A street person wrestling with an extension cord, bent on stealing it, is more likely to get frustrated and do more damage to the plastic than a cord would be worth. So make it hard for the miscreant to see the cord, but let them get it without the theft causing more damage.

You could do other, more creative things, but it would be inappropriate for me to recommend those things on a public forum!:biggrin2:

 

[Kmvreter]

Make the cord less visible by parking close as Don suggested.
Check out how I installed a block heater plug behind the grill:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/20826-kmvreter-block-heater-plug.html
You could do something similar without hard wiring it by just putting the plug connection in behind the grill and closing the hood.

 

[Red]

Cool, I'll check that link out.

But yeah, I think you guys are right, parking close to the fence and using cheap cords that are easy to unplug is a good idea. wouldnt want some crazy street person wrecking the front of my 4Runner for a $10 cord.

 

[Acidmeld]

Maybe bury the cable and have it come out of the ground just under the front of the truck..

 

[Red]

Maybe bury the cable and have it come out of the ground just under the front of the truck..

That's an interesting idea as well, i'm not able to do that because I park on concrete but someone else that might find this thread in the future might be able to do that.

I might see if I can install a plug kind of like the one previously mentioned and then just try and keep the cord out of sight.

The only reason I want to do the plug is because it's a mod but I want to try and find a way to do it so it's hidden but also available without having to open the hood.....hmmmm

 

[Burt]

If you feel that insecure where you live, maybe you should consider moving. Why live that way?

 

[Mf Baker]

go to home depot and spend a few bucks on conduit piping. if it looks like its some permanent thing thats part of the building or something they are pretty unlikely to mess with it. but parking close to the wall is gonna be the majority of the battle right there.

 

[kai920]

Not to go off topic, but does anyone have a write up for an install for a block heater on the V8? Thanks.

 

[Glock_19]

Move somewhere warmer???

I would just get a cheap extension cord and wait to see if it's even a problem. If someone steals it then you can worry about finding a solution and you're only out a few bucks. If no one steals it then you're good to go.

 

[tdcookies]

block heater cord security

Just simply buy a little longer cord and stop just short of where you want to park. Get out, lay the appropriate portion of your cord under your front tire and then park on it. Pretty hard to steal it then.