Spare Tire Security

EHNWI

EHNWI

Member
My spare tire was stolen off the bottom of my T4R. The wire was cut and they took it. I replaced the wire system with a chain system and am now looking for extra security to keep the new tire there.

I found this Winchlock thing and it looks perfect, but the company is out of business and I can't even find another version from a different company. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I can find something like it?

J9wasEjl.jpg


Motive Home Page

Thank you!
 
Register to hide this ad
Bike lock it around the frame, chain will beef it up too. On my spare tire carrier I locked it to the bumper itself.
 
After my stock catalytic converter was stolen off my 92 4runner 7 years ago, and I saw a runner missing it's spare tire, I added a lock on mine. Nothing fancy, just a slightly smaller keyed padlock with a hardened shackle. It wouldn't stop all attempts, but should stop the casual thief. And if someone really wants an old tire off my truck, I'd rather they took the spare.
 
The problem with the bike lock option is that I bet they can get through it real quick. This beastly Winchlock on the other hand, that would take a big saw, I'm sure.

If they can cut the cable for the tire pulley system, they can definitely get through those bike locks.
 
I'm also interested in a spare tire security solution as well. Since I'll be taking delivery next week, I'm almost considering removing the spare until I figure something out. I'll have roadside assistance for at least the first few years anyway, so it might be worth it.

Wouldn't the cable/lock option rattle, or is the lock in a location that can be tightened down and secured from vibrating too much?
 
gecko0 said:
I'm also interested in a spare tire security solution as well. Since I'll be taking delivery next week, I'm almost considering removing the spare until I figure something out. I'll have roadside assistance for at least the first few years anyway, so it might be worth it.

Wouldn't the cable/lock option rattle, or is the lock in a location that can be tightened down and secured from vibrating too much?
Click to expand...

That's a good idea if you are in an urban environment. Or just throw it in the back if you don't have third row seating. The winchlock thing at the top is still the best option in my opinion. It's really surprising that there isn't another version of it that I can find.
 
EHNWI said:
That's a good idea if you are in an urban environment. Or just throw it in the back if you don't have third row seating. The winchlock thing at the top is still the best option in my opinion. It's really surprising that there isn't another version of it that I can find.
Click to expand...

Now that I think about it, if I would get a flat, completely removing doesn't help much since roadside assistance would show up and ask where the spare was. :p

Yeah, throwing it in back temporarily will solve the problem. I do not typically park anywhere that this type of thing happens, but I like to discourage bad events before they happen. :)
 
I got a heavy duty spare tire cable lock off amazon. Wasn't expensive and yeah, someone could get through it if they really want to but:

-low cost..was like $15
-good deterrent
-doesn't rattle

It's looped around wheel center and through the holes in the winch support bracket. I'd take a pic if it wasn't snowing outside right now haha

I had seen the winch lock which was definitely a neat solution. Seeing how it's not avail - If i lived in a high risk area i would probably just throw it in the back since the very secure solutions are higher cost.
 
HokieRunner said:
I got a heavy duty spare tire cable lock off amazon. Wasn't expensive and yeah, someone could get through it if they really want to but:

-low cost..was like $15
-good deterrent
-doesn't rattle

It's looped around wheel center and through the holes in the winch support bracket. I'd take a pic if it wasn't snowing outside right now haha

I had seen the winch lock which was definitely a neat solution. Seeing how it's not avail - If i lived in a high risk area i would probably just throw it in the back since the very secure solutions are higher cost.
Click to expand...

How about this thing?

51%2BqvxtGEEL.jpg

Trimax ST30 Trimaflex Spare Tire Cable Lock (Round Key) 36" x 12mm : Amazon.com : Automotive
 
Cool. Found this vid too, which gives a good idea of the size of it. I wonder if the cutting tools current thieves are using to get through the existing cable would cut this cable easily as well, or if it takes a bigger tool? I know the idea is to just make it inconvenient enough for the opportunistic ones to move on to the next victim...for $10, what the heck.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZrhcHTawdm8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
That Trimax cable is 3 feet long which is just the right fit to lock down the 4runner spare tire. I already measured the cable length needed myself using a thin rope that i pretended was the cable then i measured the rope length, and it came out to just around 3 feet.

However, if you search on youtube for bolt cutter cable, you will see several videos demonstrating how easy it is to cut this cables with a 14 inch bolt cutter.

So what I did was I bought four 6-foot security cables from home depot instead of the single 3 foot Trimax cable then I bought 8 weather-resistant padlocks(2 padlocks per security cable) ,it will be harder for the thief using a bolt cutter to cut through the cables compared to the trimax cable since you can coil each 6 foot cable twice around the spare tire, and just in case I lose the padlock keys I bought an 18 inch bolt cutter stored in the 4unner compartment so I dont have to worry about the padlocks not opening.

I understand its not 100% secure but unless the thief has a bolt cutter this will do for the meantime as a temporary solution. That spare tire rim cover solution seems to be a good idea but as it is too expensive, I'll be making my own wooden spare tire rim security cover as a back-up to my quadruple security cables for a double-layered passive defense. :whipping2 :whipping2
 
Last edited:
Bringing this thread back from the dead. I just upgrade to 285 KO's and want to protect my spare from theft. On my previous 4th gen I had mine stolen and Toyota had a winchlock at the time and now that is nowhere to be found. I came across this today as I am on mission to find that works.

Toyota 4Runner (2017)
 
I've got my spare on my rear bumper. It's got unusual lug nuts and a a cable lock (that unlocks with my 4runner key) tying it to my rear bumper.

It's not going to stop a determined thief-but nothing affordable or usable ever will. It will stop any casual thefts, and causes me almost no inconvenience.
 
How about just a metal plate or something to keep someone from getting a cutting tool in there, and to keep them from unbolting the hanger from the cable (if it has bolts, I can't remember)?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 202 (members: 0, guests: 202)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,306
Messages
3,554,045
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top