Perentie Luggage Security

[Grumbles]

The idea of a Perentie can be quite appealing with its rugged, simple reliability, a hard wearing interior with loads of room and body panels which you might not mind so much when they acquire some scratches and minor dints.

All good so far but the question of security comes to mind or more specifically the security of the owners goods and chattels. Canvas is not much of a deterrent to light fingered types.

How are guys securing what can be a quite large volumetric and extensive amount of camping gear, food, fridge, recovery equipment, tools, chain saw etc when they leave the car and go bush walking for the day? Or just stopping at shopping centres for the replenishment of supplies when touring?

[87County]

I've never had a problem, even going back to the Series days when I had an ex-mil ragtop one of them, but I can understand your concern.

The partial alternative is to install a 110 hardtop in place of the rag top and as we all know, these will only "keep the honest people out".

I have an RFSV variant in which I have left one of the large lockers in place. While this provides more than adequate lockup space, I am aware that a determined breaker and enterer could soon dispose of that.

We are living in a time unfortunately, when every thief can carry a battery angle grinder which they probably lifted from the big green hardware social providore - there is no defence to that kind of bastard.

On the side tool lockers, for which every man and his dog has a key when they remain as issued, I have installed key locks. If you do this, please be more thoughtful than some I have seen fitted with ugly with hasps and staples :)

[JDNSW]

WhatI have condred doig for my canvas on the 2a is to get some 50x50x6mm reinforcing mesh, and attach it with bracket to the side of the tub and the horizontal bars with brackets bent up from strap iron, either bolted (with rivetted over bolts if thought necessary), and with a "top tailgate" of te same material pivoted on the hoop and closing outside the tailgate but it flat lops that go on the same pins as the tailgte fasteners. Once the wedge lock is in place padlock on the bottom ensures it cannot be opened. Depending on how secure you want it, a roof of the same could be fitted or not. If it were horizontal instead of arched it could double as a storage spot, but might need some reinforcing.

While not totally thief-proof, it would be fairly good. The mesh could be seen through the windows as a deterrent.

[101 Ron]

For years I have had exarmy soft top vehicles of different types.
I try not to leave them unattended if they have goodies inside.
I never had a problem, most likely due to the fact it looks military.
I never had a jerrycan of petrol stolen or its contents borrowed from the rear jerrycan holders on both Landrovers and Jeeps, even if the vehicles was left alone in public car park late at night.
I always thought a jerry of fuel would walk away .

[101 Ron]

I have put thought into if I was taking a ex military soft top to northern Australia , the previously noted steel mesh idea is the way to go.
I would use just normal worm drive hose clamps to hold the mesh to the canopy bows etc behind the standard canvass and some of the hose clamps if left loose could act as hinges for sections of mesh with standard padlock on the other end of the mesh around both the mesh and bows or frame etc.
This is certainly not fool proof, but is easy to use and set up and makes it hard to do a quick look, snatch , grab and run.

[Grumbles]

Thanks for the helpful responses guys. Much appreciated. I like the idea....and simplicity..... of mesh panels fastened to the roll over bars with worm drive clamps to make an internal cage. That is exactly how my dog pens mesh sheets are fastened to the pens frame.

I think perhaps that thankfully you have been very lucky to escape the thieves attentions 101 Ron and 87County

Unfortunately I know of quite a few vehicles left untended in the bush by their owners only to come back and find them tampered with and by tampering I mean from basic breaking in to the removal of bars, winches, tyres and rims etc.

Some time ago at a local riverside park I was only some 50 odd yards away with one of my Weimaraners so I had left my dual cab with its canopy door up and tail gate down. Inside was a Stihl chain saw. Another fourby came along and stopped at the back of my car. The front passenger got out and jumped into my dual cab. I heard chains bang as they came to full extension and the guy swearing. The saw was chained to the vehicle. It was then I released one 35 kg and totally ticked off protective dog. He charged them yodeling at the top of his voice. The thieves totally panicked, yelling their heads off and couldn't get away from the scene quick enough.

[Homestar]

Never had an issue with my 101 even when fully kitted out with all my camping gear. As mentioned, it seems people won't go near ex military vehicles. Left it in plenty of car parks when shopping, etc without issues and at campsites. I've also never encountered road rage against me in it either no matter what I do, who I cut off or what speed I trundle along at come to think of it.

[Grumbles]

I've also never encountered road rage against me in it either no matter what I do, who I cut off or what speed I trundle along at come to think of it.

In your 101 I'd let you do what you want and go where you like too. Might is right.........[thumbsupbig]

Back in the 90s/early 2000s there was a professional hunting guide who drove an ex army 101 around Victoria and in particular the Alps. By chance encounters I camped with him a few times in the scrub. Bit of a likeable rogue and he could spin a great yarn and loved his whisky. In fact the more whisky consumed the better the yarn....lol. Did you ever come across him him?

[Homestar]

No, sounds like a character. Do you know if he’s still got the 101 or still floating around?

[67hardtop]

I've never had a problem, even going back to the Series days when I had an ex-mil ragtop one of them, but I can understand your concern.

The partial alternative is to install a 110 hardtop in place of the rag top and as we all know, these will only "keep the honest people out".

I have an RFSV variant in which I have left one of the large lockers in place. While this provides more than adequate lockup space, I am aware that a determined breaker and enterer could soon dispose of that.

We are living in a time unfortunately, when every thief can carry a battery angle grinder which they probably lifted from the big green hardware social providore - there is no defence to that kind of bastard.

On the side tool lockers, for which every man and his dog has a key when they remain as issued, I have installed key locks. If you do this, please be more thoughtful than some I have seen fitted with ugly with hasps and staples :)Pics of locks pls??? and how to??

[Grumbles]

No, sounds like a character. Do you know if he’s still got the 101 or still floating around?


Yes – certainly a character. His off sider was worse – or better – depending on your point of view. He was a retired Melbourne copper and probably one of the last of the old school cops where no mamby pandering of the bad guys was allowed.....and he loved his whiskey too! I wish I'd photographed the 101 and also had the wisdom to write down their yarns. But..... all this doesn't help with the 101.

I haven't seen them or the 101 for years. I have been battling my memory to recall his name – I've got a perfect mental picture of them but that doesn't help much - although I'd bet on his Christian name being Alan. Next time I am in one of the bush areas he used to haunt I'll check with a mate – an old time high country cattleman - to see if he knows what happened to them and the 101.

[Grumbles]

I think I made a big mistake today.....huge. I cheerfully followed a Perentie into town and parked next to it. It turns out I know the owner and he graciously allowed me to crawl all over it. I can't recall which model he said his Perentie was but not a GS...maybe FFR or Surveillance. According to him it has disc brakes and up rated axles. To date he has covered some 15,000 kms of highway traveling with out a single problem.

Well....I couldn't get the stupid grin off my face. I did however remember to take note of where to fix the mesh panels you guys mentioned so thanks again for that.

I did have a sit in the drivers seat. But oh me oh my.....that clutch pedal.....it would have to be the hardest one I can ever recall pressing............

[67hardtop]

U need to try a s2a clutch pedal. Heavier than a perentie one. Ask me how i know. I was going to get a booster just for the s2a clutch pedal its that heavy. On the contrast the clutch pedal in my s3 186, nissan 5speed box, u can push down with ur little finger.