Custom Spare Tire Lock

I searched and searched, but couldn’t find what I consider to be a good solution for a spare tire lock. It seems as though Winchlock was the closest to a “good” solution that I could find, but they appear to have gone out of business and their products are no longer available. With that in mind, and knowing that I have a $200 tire and a $200 wheel free for the taking, I set out to make a “good” spare tire lock on my own. Here’s what I came up with:

I bought a MasterLock 5/8” hitch receiver lock.



I took some scrap steel (some flat bar and some angle iron) I had laying around and made a U-shaped bracket, with two mounting holes in the legs of the “U” (for bolting to the frame cross member) and a 11/16” hole in the bottom of the “U” (for putting the shaft of the hitch receiver lock through). I welded it all together (including welding the hitch receiver lock shaft to the bottom of the “U”), gave it a coat of paint, drilled the appropriate holes in the frame, and bolted it up. Here are the results:

View from passenger’s side, without the tire pulled up (obviously):





View from the driver’s side, without the tire pulled up (obviously):



View of the tire pulled up (notice the lock shaft sitting nicely through the lug hole):


View of the lock actually locked:




This was a $12.50 solution ($12 of which was the lock, $0.50 was scrap steel) and works as good as, if not better than, any other solution out there (i.e. a cable lock, which can be cut, etc.). I tried to get the spare tire off without unlocking the lock and it’s virtually impossible (extreme exceptions aside). I hope this helps someone do the same.

 

Great idea!
Very innovative!

 

That's an awesome solution!! Wanna build one for me?? I'd be willing to pay for that!

 

Thanks man! I appreciate the feedback.

Yeah, we can build one. We can have a wrenching day and we'll make one for a 2nd gen and post that build...

 

This is what the forum is about...nice to see someone taking action and not whining.....great job and points for sure

 

Awesome! I'm in!!!

 

Thanks!!!

 

A great solution to a common problem. I wish I seen this thread before my spare was stolen. If you are down to make these I'm interested in buying one before my replacement spare gets lifted too. How much would you want to make one for me?

 

I won't have access to a 2nd gen until November. Once I make that one, I'll let you know if I would be able to make some and, if so, how much it would cost. Stay tuned...

 

sub'd i might be in for one too depending on price, btw awesome job

 

Subd Definetely interested. Was about to buy the factory lock Toyota has came up with.

 

Did you ever get your hands on a second gen?

 

Good idea if you are going to steal a spare off a Tacoma you need the crank, I don't know if there all interchangeable or not, why not bolt a chain to the frame where the bracket is bolted in the first picture let the chain it fall thru a hole in the wheel, as you crank the spare up, loop it thru the wheel again and padlock it.

 

I love this website and community

 

Nicw that's a great idea and good write up

 

bamfff!!

 

I actually work for Master Lock, and I think this is a great idea!! Glad to see our products at work in new and extremely useful ways.

 

Would a cable with a lock work? I got a set from walmart but never look down on the tacoma. I am basing on the past car I had. I am thinking of wrapping the cable around the spare tire and chaining it to the "chain" (the one that hoists the spare up and down) that comes with the truck.

Any feedback on this?

 

I just build this for my wife 4runner..!

 

That's a neat little idea. It will probably look better once you grind the welds and paint it