Recently I got locked out of my Scania at 4am in Rungis market. It was 3c, i was in a t-shirt and jeans with no phone or wallet or money. I managed to rip open the side locker to get some tools, found a butchers knife and thought I’d have a go at picking the locks. I really did not expect it to work but no word of a lie the truck was unlocked in less that 10 seconds, with a knife. Almost as easy as having a key. Tried it a few times to make sure it was no fluke and sure enough, opens every time. Was hugely relieved to get in but amazed how easy it was.
Why are trucks so bad with security, most have no alarms, a remote keyfob seems to be extra and they have awful locks.
Have since bought a Protek door lock thingy and I must say its great. For £160 I think the peace of mind is worth every penny.
I find a £10 ratchet strap across the doors to be just as effective when I am in the cab. And when i’m not in the cab I am never far away and find the alarm quite good. I have an r series topline and it is also fitted with a panic button on the dash, you can also set the alarm just on the doors and sunroof at night using the remote.
daleyboy:
I find a £10 ratchet strap across the doors to be just as effective when I am in the cab. And when i’m not in the cab I am never far away and find the alarm quite good. I have an r series topline and it is also fitted with a panic button on the dash, you can also set the alarm just on the doors and sunroof at night using the remote.
I found this too. I did have a few issues climbing into the cab once i had tightened up the ratchet strap, but like you say its definateley secure and there is no way them doors are opening unless someone undoes the ratchet strap. Getting out early in the morning for a wee was a bind, climbing out the window got me some strange looks. But…i was secure !!!
daleyboy:
I find a £10 ratchet strap across the doors to be just as effective when I am in the cab. And when i’m not in the cab I am never far away and find the alarm quite good. I have an r series topline and it is also fitted with a panic button on the dash, you can also set the alarm just on the doors and sunroof at night using the remote.
I found this too. I did have a few issues climbing into the cab once i had tightened up the ratchet strap, but like you say its definateley secure and there is no way them doors are opening unless someone undoes the ratchet strap. Getting out early in the morning for a wee was a bind, climbing out the window got me some strange looks. But…i was secure !!!
Perhaps this was the reason the Polish fella had his bottom out the window. Mystery solved…
I know that feeling, locked myself out of my XF 1 night in coventry, my mate turned up so i jumped out of the cab i’d already had the door locked from the inside, the catch musn’t have moved up enough too fully release the mechanism.
Had that horrible sinking feeling when i went back to my cab and the door wouldn’t open. It was a cold night & i’m stood there trousers & polo shirt on, luckily my mate had a metal coat hanger & we made it into a hooked end, now i wouldn’t have got a job as a gone in 60 seconds guy, but after about 20 mins i managed to hook it under the catch & release the door
Any vehicle can be broken into by a determined thief or as in my case shivering owner!!! Given enough patience or time.
When i used to park in dodgy places in the UK I used to run the seatbelt through and round the door handle which is like an arm rest on a magnum. If you used up all the slack and then clicked it together it seemed fairly secure. I am sure you would be able to suss out a way with any truck.
Yes the rachet strap is a good alternative but the reason for buying a the protek locks is that I leave the truck for long periods of time when I (occasionally!) have a day off.
wire:
When i used to park in dodgy places in the UK I used to run the seatbelt through and round the door handle which is like an arm rest on a magnum. If you used up all the slack and then clicked it together it seemed fairly secure. I am sure you would be able to suss out a way with any truck.
Used to use ratchet straps to tie doors,but worried if cab caught fire,or arson attack,when asleep,and couldnt get out in time.Sun roof was too small to get out.Frenchmans night heater caught alight in Vivone truckstop.Fire station was 2 minutes away,but he died.
In 17 years of part time driving, but many nights out, many of them tramping on general haulage, i’ve never parked anywhere where i’ve felt so insecure as the need to be strapped in, including LIverpool.
… and I mostly work w/ends when there are few other trucks about.
Can only think some of you guys must park in some well dodgy places!
Snapped the key off in the fuel cap trying to lock it one night before going for refreshment.
Very luckily i hadn’t yet locked the door. It was about -1*.
Very, very luckily found a spare key in the ash tray!
I have a spare key hidden somewhere on the truck. Just strapped on with plastic ties. Certainly not somewhere it could be found. After getting locked out once i vowed never to get caught out again. -3, standing on a pallet for over an hour in jeans and a t-shirt,poking at the internal lock. BRRRRR… thinking about it still makes me feel cold!!!
i lost my door key recently, although im not going to say how i got in, these dafs are fairly easy to get into. apparently our lot pay you back if you buy them pro tek door locks, which i keep meaning to order, although one of our new trucks has factory deadlocks fitted, which they are going to try and get fitted to all the new trucks for security (when your in it at least!)
i know a few of ours also have a spare key hidden about the truck
although going back tot he original post, im shocked how easy that is to get into a scania, i would of thought they would be better than that
It was a cold night & i’m stood there trousers & polo shirt on, luckily my mate had a metal coat hanger & we made it into a hooked end, now i wouldn’t have got a job as a gone in 60 seconds guy, but after about 20 mins i managed to hook it under the catch & release the door 
