Spare tire - how to secure it?

The sales lady showed me the tool in separate sections that you assemble and insert into an opening between the tailgate and rear bumper.

I noticed my 2019 Tacoma SR just has an opening and is not secured to prevent some nefarious person from stealing the spare tire underneath the bed.

Is there a Toyota part that one can insert into that opening to prevent access to somebody intent on lowering the spare tire?

If so, please provide Toyota part name and part number if possible.

Or, any DIY security improvisation that you thought up of and worked reasonably well at securing your spare tire.

Thanks!

 

Are people out there really stealing "for temporary use only" spare tires on steelies?

 

Have you actually tried removing the spare yet?

When you do so to
A. Learn how
B. Service the cranking mechanism
C. Flip over the tire so the valve stem is down so you can air it w/o dropping it down

Then you may decide it's a touch complicated with low reward for the average thief.

I can walk off with your tailgate and converter in less time. Protect them.

 

Secure a pad lock through the eye of the loop built into the lifting plate.



I also place a wee magnet up there to hold the coils of my chain and keep it from rattling.

 

Tailgate, 20 seconds. Unprotected converters ... 1 minute (I do not steal them so do not know)?

Spare tire removal ... a pain in the butt, even if not intellectually difficult.

 

So, for the tailgate, I just lock with my truck key. If tailgate is locked, the thief can't open it so he gets thwarted! Correct?

Or, is there another way he can defeat the locking mechanism on the tailgate?

 

I thought that they caught the Spare Tire Bandit?

 

Screwdriver and a hammer can do that. The 3rd gen tailgate just lifts out of the passenger-side hinge when at 45 degree angle ... 20 seconds.

@christian06 sells a lock for $40-ish and SabellCo sells one for $100 to cover that "lift-out" gate and makes it so difficult to steal the tailgate few thieves consider it worth their time.

Do not forget catalytic converter protection ... small powered saw and a couple on minutes and you may not even be allowed to drive your truck legally (depends on the state) until they are replaced.

 

Nope, he's still running amok. LOL.

I'm all seriousness, a buddy's spare tire was stolen on a business trip to Center, Texas. Admittedly, this occurred like 30 years ago but I know it can happen. Just being proactive.

 

Every lock can be defeated. The tailgate can be opened with just a flat blade screwdriver (cab doors too). You have to take measures to prevent the tailgate being lifted out of the hinge receiver (on the pax side) when it is opened.
A couple of those products are on the market.


edit: Speedy Rabbit! beat me to it.

 

Mine is hosed in fluid film and everything around it covered in black NHOU. If someone wants to make an absolute mess of themself for a 6 year old tire on a steel wheel, they can be my guest lol

 

Toyota does make a spare tire lock.

https://autoparts.toyota.com/products/product/spare-tire-lock-pt27634071

 

Don’t people struggle to sell these things?

 

Leave it up there for 5 years and no one is getting it out, including you. I suppose someone could steal it, but that is on my list of things to worry about right behind is my TV clicker remote battery going to go dead today.

 

I just carry the spare tire (which is full size, not temporary) in the bed. Many problems solved.