I'm driving down to Mexico for 4 months, and I just bought this truck, and its a little nicer than I'd feel comfortable taking down. So I'd like to do as much as I can to reduce risk of troubles. This is also my first diesel and I'm not too good with electronics.

Most important is a hidden kill switch. I'm not sure how and where to install it. I think I'd like to still be able to turn on the accessories while the engine is disabled. So maybe have it kill the starter only rather than all power. At the same time I dont want to run the risk of my kill switch malfunctioning and leaving me stranded 100 miles from civilization. Possible location?

A local store (Canadian Tire) sells battery protectors that are supposed to kill any battery drain when voltage falls to minimum start. I think they are designed for a single battery setup, so not sure how to do it when I have 2. They also have a wireless kill switch built into it, just like an alarm keychain thingy.

And I would ideally like to have a 3rd deep cycle battery I can run my electronics off of when camping, and also be able to charge it. Not sure how that would fit into this whole setup.

Ideas?

Have you thought about getting a pushbutton hideaway switch for the ecm fuse?

So a switch that only you know the position of when you get out of the truck, switch it off (Kills power to the ECM) and if you crank it it'll turn over but no go?

Yeah that sounds exactly like what I want....how would I wire this thing?

well you'd have more luck wiring it after the fuse I think (Just because of wiring lengths).
I would find the AFTER fuse side and cut and splice it in there.

go under the hood pull the ign fuse/relay

I'm personally a fan of switches that BLOW fuses if NOT switched, along with CARRYING A STOCK OF EXTRA FUSES (preferrably hidden well). Someone who tries to steal your truck almost undoubtedly will try to hotwire/start it before they look for kill switches; the thought of a kill switch only pops into their head when the truck doesn't start.

That way, IF they do find your kill switch, they can try it all they want but assuming they tried it once without hitting the switch, the fuse is already blown and truck's goin nowhere fast.

Then, if they actually look for blown fuses, they may find the blown fuse and replace it but even then they're most likely to assume THATS why the truck wasn't starting and go ahed and try to fire it over without hitting the switch again ;).

This can be made even more complex by wiring TWO switches; one that will blow the fuse if NOT flipped for starting and one that will blow the fuse IF switched for starting.

Another advantage of this setup is that if your switch breaks physically, all you have to do is cut the wires going to it, replace your fuse(s), and be on your way.

I'm personally a fan of switches that BLOW fuses if NOT switched, along with CARRYING A STOCK OF EXTRA FUSES (preferrably hidden well). Someone who tries to steal your truck almost undoubtedly will try to hotwire/start it before they look for kill switches; the thought of a kill switch only pops into their head when the truck doesn't start.

That way, IF they do find your kill switch, they can try it all they want but assuming they tried it once without hitting the switch, the fuse is already blown and truck's goin nowhere fast.

Then, if they actually look for blown fuses, they may find the blown fuse and replace it but even then they're most likely to assume THATS why the truck wasn't starting and go ahed and try to fire it over without hitting the switch again ;).

This can be made even more complex by wiring TWO switches; one that will blow the fuse if NOT flipped for starting and one that will blow the fuse IF switched for starting.

Another advantage of this setup is that if your switch breaks physically, all you have to do is cut the wires going to it, replace your fuse(s), and be on your way.

Thats the most intense anti-theft device I've ever heard of! Other than of course flame throwers on the side......what theif wants to trouble shoot a no start problem??

You'd want to kill the fuel pump.

Dmax has no electric fuel pump its driven off the cam iirc

I actually thought about a fuel line solenoid that would shut of the supply line-- have a hidden switch to open it! We all know diesels don't run without fuel.:)

Thats the most intense anti-theft device I've ever heard of! Other than of course flame throwers on the side......what theif wants to trouble shoot a no start problem??

Thats the beauty of it! It's so simple (two wires and a switch) but so hard to troubleshoot with knee-jerk reaction thinking!

If you stop the fuel from the line getting to the engine the truck will start and move a distance with the fuel in the filter and log to the injectors . Also fuel pump has lots of suction and will pull fuel right thru cheap cut off valves .

Piece of cardboard over the air filter? It may start up, but if it does it'll run like shit...

IMO better to have an anti-theft device that disguises itself as a mechanical problem. Nobody wants to steal a broke-down truck...