Spare Tire Lock?

[Zulch_AW]

Howdy,

While spending some time securing my rig for a trip I read about spares being ripped off.

How are they stolen off 3rd gens since the "winch" is inside? Seems like if I have my rear hatch locked it will be difficult if not impossible to steal a spare.

Right?

The locks I found on Ebay work on the winch…. Should I at least weave a 1/2" cable through it?

Thx,

Zulch

 

[KSUDVM93]

Had mine stolen twice. Second time had a cable lock on it as well.

Not sure how it occurred, but have since wondered......

Granted is neither here nor there regarding your question.

 

[Drcoffee]

Deflate the spare tire to 5 pounds, so its less appealing for a thief and then buy an air pump or can of fix a flat to re inflate the tire when you need it. Nobody will steal your tire if they think is not holding air. Also, scuff the paint on the steel wheel so it rusts. The less new it looks the less likely it will get taken.

 

[Mr. B]

Howdy,

While spending some time securing my rig for a trip I read about spares being ripped off.

How are they stolen off 3rd gens since the "winch" is inside? Seems like if I have my rear hatch locked it will be difficult if not impossible to steal a spare.

Right?

The locks I found on Ebay work on the winch…. Should I at least weave a 1/2" cable through it?

Thx,

Zulch

First off, do you have a body lift?
Having a body lift can create access to the winch hole and if they have the tool for the winch already, they can do it with ease.

If you don't have a body lift, what I believe they would do is just crawl underneath, stick maybe a socket wrench into the winch (or an adapter on the socket wrench), and crack the winch down.

Idk, there's a lot of desperate ****s in this world today, I've seen some ridiculous shit here in Hawaii and these are the only ways I could think of.

Maybe to prevent it, you could plug the hole that controls the "winch"? Temporary plug that you just pull and push in.

 

[Zulch_AW]

Had mine stolen twice. Second time had a cable lock on it as well.

Not sure how it occurred, but have since wondered......

Granted is neither here nor there regarding your question.

Yea!

I found a long thread on Yotatech or elsewhere where the cable had clearly been cut! I guess you can reach up through the spokes and get a cable cutter up in there far enough to cut it….

I'm wondering is something like a heavy pie plate type of item may prevent this.

Zulch

 

[TheDurk]

Yea!

I found a long thread on Yotatech or elsewhere where the cable had clearly been cut! I guess you can reach up through the spokes and get a cable cutter up in there far enough to cut it….

I'm wondering is something like a heavy pie plate type of item may prevent this.

Zulch

...or run a steelie. I bet that would make it a challenge.

 

[Zulch_AW]

Maybe to prevent it, you could plug the hole that controls the "winch"? Temporary plug that you just pull and push in.

This was my first thought as on my Tacoma the hole was exposed but on my 2000 4R it's inside the hatch.

If other models have exposed access holes that'd be my first point to address. Some lock kits I found are keyed like the wheel locks that fasten to the crank.

Zulch