Need solution to lock bicycle to open truck bed

Hi -

Short Bed owner here.

I am looking for solutions to lock a bicycle to an open truck bed for those 10 minute stops when I have to run into a rest stop to use the bathroom/get food. It would not be out of my sight for longer than that.

The bike is under a nice cover and strapped to the bed.

Aside from a rocky mounts locking fork skewer (or similar), the only other thing I can think of is to use a chain through the tie-down cleats.

Trouble is, those tie-down cleats are so small that only a dinky little chain could pass through, which would be easily defeated by any bolt-cutters.

I am looking for suggestions to give myself a beefier mounting point to pass a heavy locking chain through. I would like to use the existing truck bed mounting holes without having to drill. I found this product but it got awful reviews:

https://www.masterlock.com/personal-use/product/8287DAT

Any suggestions for how to do this, or other ideas to lock down the bike, would be appreciated. My bike is over the rated weight limit for the rocky mount, so that option is out. I don't really want to have to buy a camper shell.

 

I have python cables (I think they are Masterlock?) for my game cameras. Not sure if they would be long enough. Father-in-law says cable is harder to cut through than chain is - can't guarantee that. Yakima sells cable locks for bikes and canoes, etc. Got one on my son's canoe on the back of my pole building.....I actually think it is longer than the ones for my game cameras. Maybe use 2 on your bike (keyed alike) which would take more time to mess with??

 

When I store mine under my cover, I just use a long cable and lock it to the D-Ring with a padlock.

When I have my bike mounted to my Rocky Mounts hitch rack, I use the integrated Rocky Mounts small cable/lock to wrap around my fork and frame triangle. For longer stops, I'll add my thicker cable and pass it through both wheels, fork, frame, loop it around my rack and attach the cable to my hitch with a padlock.

 

I picked up a pair of these (you also need to add the back rail - from 2nd gen Taco).

$30 Bike Hitch Pro Truck Bed Bike Mount by Delta Cycle - Lockable Hitch Securely Holds All 9 x 100mm Bicycle Fork Dropouts & Fits Any Flat Surface - Heavy Mountain, Road & eBikes Aluminum

https://smile.amazon.com/Delta-Cycl...rds=truck+bicycle+mount&qid=1580834947&sr=8-6

 

Just got you some rough measurements:

Masterlock Python cable lock is ~ 6' long

Yakima boatlocker cable is ~ 10' long

Both look to be about a 3/8" diameter plastic coated cable

 

Me too

 

Toyota part# PTS08-34070 might be what you're looking for. It fits the 3rd gen Tacoma (from what I've read anyways), even though it's made for the Tundra.



Also, the first post in this thread seems good
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-best-way-to-mount-bicycles-to-the-toyota-bed-rails.439952/

 

https://www.rockymounts.com/collections/truck-mounts-adaptors/products/driveshaft-hm

 

Thanks guys but those RockyMount skewers won't work for me as my bike exceeds the 35 pound rated weight capacity. I called rockymounts and they said don't do it - the mount will fail and your fork will get damaged. So I need another solution.

 

I have a couple of these. Should keep your bike safe for 10mins. Lock the chain to the D-ring in the bed. Better if you have a cover over it to help keep it out of sight.

https://www.rei.com/product/855066/kryptonite-new-york-1210-chain-lock

 

Some ideas here may apply:

https://www.cycleworld.com/story/mo...les-in-transit-with-these-anti-theft-devices/

 

I have a Trek Dual Sport. I didn't like the idea of it sliding around in the bed so I got a rack that locks into my receiver then I lock the bike to the rack. That's my solution.

But this is dependent upon where you travel. I drove all over South Dakota with two bikes chained to my rack and never had an issue. If I was parking in Baltimore, I'd reconsider.

If my bike was covered in the bed and I ran in someplace to go to the bathroom, I wouldn't be THAT concerned about security. It would be those longer stops you should be concerned about.

 

Something like this is what I was thinking about.

However, those D-rings are so weak and easily cut through. What's the point of having a strong new york chain, if what you are locking it to is easily cut?

Is there a way to replace the D rings with something stronger, or a way to use the truck mounting points to add a strong hoop to lock the chain too?

 

Sure. Unbolt them and replace with a ring that makes you happy.

 

You said for 10 mins on the road. If you lock it down to the D ring that'll be enough to deter a quick smash and grab type of theft. If you were keeping it there over night I would look for something stronger than the D ring. But for the purpose you stated it should be fine. Someone on the road side probably won't have a bolt cutter/sawzall with them. Unless you left it in the bed over night, and they came back for it. You can always replace the D ring with a stronger one and with a security torx but it might be more work than it's worth for your application.

 

+1 for python locks. You can get whatever length you need on Amazon. I think I have a 20' or 25' Masterlock brand. Long enough to run through two bikes, my action packer bins, and my kayaks up on the bed rack. Also useful for locking up your campsite.

My bed rack has a locking mechanism on the bedrail track that I feed the snake through. I agree you might want to come up w something better than using the drings if u go this route. If you get a long one like mine u could feed it through the trailer hitch.

Kind of hard to see but I have it snaked through all my junk here for a day at the beach.

 

Yes, I would like a sturdier place to run my heavy duty chain or python through than just the factory D-ring.

Do you have any suggestions for how I could replace the D-ring with something stronger/more secure, or an alternative solution to add a stronger point to the truck bed to run a heavy chain through?

I don't see the point in investing in a good chain lock, to just secure to the factory cleats or D-rings.

Thank you.

 

Dude, where are you planning on traveling?

There aren't a lot of savvy bike thieves with bolt cutters stopping at rest areas

 

That is an original idea, feeding through the trailer hitch. I am not sure how that would work if the tailgate is closed. Any other suggestions for something to pass the chain through that is better than the factory D-rings?

 

Well a thief could cut through that chain pretty easily with an angle grinder too, what's to say they won't have one of those if you're unlucky enough to have a well-prepared thief come by during the 10 mins you're away? All any lock will do is slow them down.

I wouldn't overthink this just for times when you're running in for a few mins to use the bathroom or whatever. Worry about security more if you have to leave the bike for longer times. Keeping it out of sight is the best defense. What's the cover you mention you keep the bike under? Thieves can't steal what they don't know is there.