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Spare Tire lock?

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by thetwood, Jan 16, 2018.

  1. Jan 16, 2018 at 9:56 AM
    #1
    thetwood

    thetwood [OP] New Member

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    Just sold my old spare tire to a fellow Tundra owner who had his stolen. Which of course got me thinking of my new matching wheel/tire tucked up under the bed, with no real security.

    I know there are a few options for locking your spare up, including an insert to the wench with a special key or using a cable or chain and padlock. What are others using and what works well?
     
  2. Jan 16, 2018 at 10:09 AM
    #2
    Rhubarb Johnson

    Rhubarb Johnson New Member

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    Not sure how well it works, thankfully, but do that the factory lock for my spare. (Ironically, I'm almost positive it's not the factory tire....as there are no nubs and it looks worn. Which I didn't notice at time of purchase....)
     
  3. Jan 16, 2018 at 10:23 AM
    #3
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    One of the first things I do when I get the vehicle home is put a cable and weatherproof lock on the spare. It proved to be a good thing. One night the thieves came though my neighborhood with a Ford spare lowering tool. Guessing Ford because they only stole Ford spares. I have a couple of cables and locks in my garage because I never sell with truck. If I did not already have a lock I would get a Bolt that utilizes my Tundra key. I bought a Ford once and the dealer always put spare locks on. Well several months went by before I even looked at the spare. I noticed there was no lock. I stopped in the dealer the next day and a sales dude walked up to me and asked if he could help me. I said yes and explained that my truck was supposed to have a spare lock and it did not. He said "and you are just now noticing"? Well of course that sent me in to orbit. I replied with "sorry I just now looked at it". Things started to get a little tense.This was the 3rd vehicle I bought from this dealer. The service manager happened to be walking through the showroom and heard the discussion. Of course he sided with me and told the young punk sales dude that he would take care of it. I left with a lock on my spare. A little off topic but I just had to tell this story. I will add that the dealership put locks on all their trucks because people were stealing spares in their lot.
     
    joseph_womack likes this.
  4. Jan 25, 2018 at 10:10 PM
    #4
    ChucklesToy

    ChucklesToy New Member

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    Last edited: Jan 25, 2018
    equin likes this.
  5. Nov 17, 2018 at 11:58 AM
    #5
    hudrock

    hudrock New Member

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    I'll add on to your thread..installed spare tire lock and hit the cranking mechanism & chain with some white lithium grease while I was under the bed. The "lock" and key is about $35.00 on eBay. If you're looking for a cheaper method I noted there is eyelet on the chain bracket that goes through the spare, this would facilitate a pad lock.

    IMG_3003.jpg
    IMG_2991.jpg
    IMG_2996.jpg
    IMG_2989.jpg
     
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    #5
    Drifthopper likes this.
  6. Nov 17, 2018 at 12:23 PM
    #6
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    i just use a big cable there that goes around the tow hitch frame.
     
  7. Nov 17, 2018 at 2:17 PM
    #7
    Over the LINE

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    I lost a spare at a Texas boat launch on my last truck. I've used a custom length cable and padlock.
     
  8. Nov 17, 2018 at 4:36 PM
    #8
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Make sure that the tire shop doesn’t accidentally keep your spare tire key when they do your changes.

    Happened to me and fortunately didn’t find out until the next tire change at the same shop. They couldn’t find the key because they didn’t put it back the previous time!

    They ended up buying me a new key and lock from Toy ($55), but they couldn’t figure out how to drop the spare without the original key. Thats where I used my skills and a plumbers faucet wrench to spin the lock and drop the tire. Requires long arms and yoga type concentration.
     
  9. Aug 30, 2020 at 6:55 PM
    #9
    Drifthopper

    Drifthopper New Member

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    Bring this one back to the top.......

    Has anyone tried hubrock's idea of just putting a pad lock thru the hole in the tab that lifts up the spare tire..... as shown with his arrow..?

    My only reservation would be rust and corrosion from salt in the winter getting in the lock and seizing it up to where you could open it.
     
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    #9
  10. Aug 31, 2020 at 4:12 AM
    #10
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    I haven’t tried it personally, but if you are worried about corrosion then you could just load up the padlock with grease both inside and out.
     
  11. Aug 31, 2020 at 9:23 AM
    #11
    TechWrench

    TechWrench New Member

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    It isn't a bad idea, but when I had my 4Runner, there were a lot of reports in that forum about spare thefts. And It looked like a lot of them were accomplished by the thieves using battery operated saws-alls to cut the lift cable or chain, which would bypass the lock in that tab. It is surprisingly easy to cut that cable with the right blade. I know because when my cable lift froze up, and needed to be replaced I was able to cut my old cable quite easily to remove the spare so I could remove the old lift assembly. Using the saws-all also bypasses the security key Toyota sells for the lift crank tool.
     

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