RV Life: Catalytic Converter Stolen!
I thought it was a weird dream
Moochdocking during a Pandemic
Yes. I’m living at my parents.
I began traveling just before the pandemic. Unaware of how the pandemic was going to turn out, I choose to drive back to Ohio and park my home in my parent’s driveway. While I could stay in their house, I love my home, my space - it allows me to get out of their way and try not to disturb their life as much as I can.
In the process of staying in Ohio, I worked part-time for my mom at her business. She needed the help and I needed the work. I had the use of my dad’s car, so getting around town was an easy task. I was also in the process of creating my online business when the world shifted and a couple of months turned into a year later. I also discovered I needed to have a second knee replacement and ended up having that done in November.
There were some benefits to staying in the driveway. The money I saved, paid off debts and helped me prepare for next year. Living in a tiny home, limits what you can purchase and really what you want to purchase. While I had a few needed items still on my list; a Tire Monitoring system, a Jackery and a new IR heater, a couple of new websites with hosting (www.ayjcreative.com and www.ayjadventures.com), some business cards, and a few other items to help organize the inside. I tried to curb the amazon spending (very hard) so I could be ready to hit the road.
Still trying to minimize it.
How I stopped someone from taking my Catalytic Converter.
In September of last year, I was awoken by a massive amount of noise & vibration coming from my RV.
It was 3 am and I was sleeping inside my #homeonwheels.
The noise startled me. I sat up in bed, trying to figure out what was going on. I think the dog was growling (can’t actually remember), I was disoriented, still half asleep, checking my RV panel & freaking out because I thought something was seriously wrong with my rig. The entire rig was vibrating. I turned on the lights, tried to wake up. In the pj’s, I opened the door so I could hear where it was coming from, which was under the rig. Note: When I open my door, the lights under the steps come on.
The noise sputtered. I shut the door to grab my shoes so I could step outside and the noise stopped.
I stopped.
Sat down and waited, not sure if it was going to happen again.
After waiting about 2 mins, I then stepped outside, looked under the RV. Nothing. Granted I didn’t have a flashlight, which may have been best, not sure how I would have reacted.
I eventually chalked it up to a very weird - real-like dream.
It wasn’t.
The next morning when I woke up I was unsure if it actually happened.
Yesterday, I found out what the noise was.
Still unsure if it was real, the next morning I even posted a question about the noise because I thought my generator had kicked on, I had no clue! I’m still learning and understanding the ins and outs of my home on wheels. Some said I had ghosts. Others recommended checking the air filter or that it was a possibility of a loss of power and the generator had kicked on to keep the rig running.
It would be a month later when dumping tanks I noticed how loud it was driving, not even connecting the dots or knowing until the mechanic showed me the photos yesterday.
The theft of catalytic converters is apparently on the rise and trying to deter somebody from stealing it is nearly impossible. It’s an issue I had heard of happening when I lived in Los Angeles and had a couple of friends experience the theft.
Pretty certain the people that were attempting to steal mine may have crapped their pants when I opened the door and the light came on underneath the RV steps. Unaware I was inside sleeping.
It’s LOUD! It sounds like a Harley or a diesel vehicle when the catalytic converter is missing/damaged.
Since winter was down the road and I was scheduled for surgery, I wanted to wait until spring to have the RV serviced. In early May I had scheduled maintenance on the RV to get it ready once again travel. Replacing the in-house batteries, an oil change, and try and determine what was causing the loud engine issues.
When he showed me the photos (see below) and explained what happened, it all clicked. The vibrations, the late-night attempt, the loud engine. All of it finally made sense.
Later that day after informing my parents, we added a few more security lights around the house. 💡
Is there anything that can be done to prevent a Catalytic Convertor from being stolen?
My initial research shows not much.
Some mechanics are placing the VIN numbers on the converters, but I’m not sure how well that will solve the issue, like camera gear, if its metal, etched in serial numbers can be scratched out.
I also found a few service places that can put a cage over the converter, which makes it harder to steal. Not impossible just harder.
Videos I watched showed catalytic converters being stolen in less than 3 mins. I was lucky. I was actually in the RV when they attempted to take it.
I know traveling full-time will probably prevent this as I’m not staying typically in one place too long but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. So do I get a cage? Which would need to be welded on and then if I have to replace it, would require more work?
The top targeted cars?
Prius (and other Hybrid’s)
SUV’s
Trucks
What’s Inside a Catalytic Converter That Thieves Want?
Catalytic converters contain precious metals rhodium, palladium, and platinum. Together, these elements act as a catalyst—a chemical that starts a reaction without undergoing any change itself. It’s this catalyst effect that transforms pollutants from the car’s engine into harmless carbon dioxide and water.
Do I understand any of this? Nope. Not a mechanic.
Am I going to protect my home with a guard? Unsure yet, I need to weigh the cost of replacing a catalytic converter or the cost of installing and /or removing a guard when I need to actually replace it.
In the meantime, I’m taking other precautions. (that I won’t be posting)
Hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you but if it does, the noise is so loud when it’s missing, that it would be hard to miss.
