Ahhh now the inside of the fuel filler door is a great idea. Out of the elements and it wont get taken out by a rogue piece of firewood.

 

The one thing good about this new control is that you can't make it easily open like the original factory ones. I've proven and shown many times, when I worked for Ford, that you don't need the code to open a Ford oem panel. I wont give the particulars, but they were easily hacked and doors would be open in less than 3 seconds and the warmer the weather, the easier to open. The colder the temperature outside, the harder to open the pad without the code.

In 2004, after numerous theft and break in reports, Ford went to this type of pad. It doesn't have the trim around the buttons, making it harder to hack open. The Explorer, with the panel on the door/window frame was the hardest one to open. The up and down, vs side by side position of the keys, helped keep them from being hacked so easily.

 

Yeah, the fuel filler door would keep it out of site but within easy reach of the drivers side door, plus it looks like water leaked and ruined the one you have, so it would keep it relatively dry.

I will have to keep this in mine if I ever get another one without the keypad.
I really like having it, even though I know it is relatively easy to bypass.

 

As far as security goes I don't worry about it. If you want to get into a truck that bad there are even easier ways like prying the rear window. I'd rather replace a keypad vs a rear window. Locks are to keep honest people honest and that's about it.

 

Funny thing is when I got the truck, BOTH door lock cylinders had been popped in.
These are actually very easy to do. In putting them back together I can see how easy it is.
They make a product called Jimmy Jammer that reinforces the lock cylinder (for both Ford and Chevy).