Faulty "key" with wheel locks accessory; simple fix

For owners who got the stock wheel locks as an accessory, they should know how poorly designed and faulty the "key" for the spare tire winch can be. The square end of one of the black shafts does not fit very snugly into the key, and can rotate within it if the winch is tight. This can strand you without access to your spare tire! (Happened to me, and I was lucky to have lots of tools along to kluge a solution.)

I wrote to Toyota USA about it, and got a rather disrespectful dismissal of my concern. It seems to be a safety issue, if someone with a flat cannot get to their spare, stranding them unnecessarily or tempting them to drive on the rim, but Toyota didn't take it seriously. A simple fix they could do would be making available a key with a better design, such as a male square end to fit the female end of the black shaft. It's a vendor who supplies the wheels locks kit, and a demand for a fix could easily be pushed to them.

Meanwhile, a preventative fix any owner can make is to drill two through-holes, through the key and shaft together, for cotter pins. Then pack some cotter pins in the bag along with the key and shafts and jack handle. If ever you get a flat in the backcountry, you'll be glad you did this in advance.

Have others discovered this problem? Any other ideas for solutions?

 

Thanks for the idea. Mod for my extra time

 

You don't use the square end in the key - you use the hook end.

 

Wow, RichVT, my bad. Of course you're right about using that hook end. It just goes to show how limited one's thinking can be when feeling frustrated and maybe stranded in the backcountry. Thanks for the wake-up.

 

Correct. I believe the square end goes into the little square cutout on the tire iron, tire wrench maybe , to use as a handle and rotate.

 

I just welded the key onto the end. Means I'm shy 1 useable length for the jack but at least my spare is useable. I have sliders, a hi lift and 33s so the factory jack itself may never even be used.

Edit. My issue was it was so tight and even with the hook I could not break it free. The clip would pop off and I couldn't keep it straight with the amount of leverage needed. Even wrapped tape and wire around it. And this was at home with full access to any tool needed.

 

Well there u go. Thanks for posting that, it would have took 20 min of head scratching on the side of the road to figure that one out.

 

So I'm assuming you're talking about the spare tire lock and not the wheel locks?