Homemade spare tire anti theft devices

I had my spare tire stolen, and was wondering if anyone came up with a solution to remedy this problem...any photos would be great as well...I can weld and fabricate...I have some ideas I seen that Ford did, on there full size vehicles, just wondering what Taco owners did...

 

there was a really cool idea developed by a member here last year.... i'll see if i can dig up the link.

EDIT: found it: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/165586-custom-spare-tire-lock.html

It's on my short list of things to do.

 

A few years ago, I happened to be looking out our kitchen window (it looks out onto where I parked my truck) and I saw a big Chevy pickup cruising very slowly down the street, with the bed almost full of what looked like Toyota Tacoma spare tires/wheels. It stopped & backed up, and I ran out through the garage w/ my .45 in hand. They had already gotten out and were getting ready to steal my spare, but they ran back to their truck & took off as soon as they saw me. I got the plate # & reported it, but the cops here don't care about much besides speeding tickets.

After that, I put a cable lock around the spare & frame; haven't had any trouble since. Only a deterrent, but it has worked so far.

 

Davidpick,

Excellent Just what I was looking for......I wanted to just buy that one already made up by this place:

http://motivelocks.tripod.com/

But every time you call the number there's a recorded message saying you won a trip to the Bahamas.. (I'm never that lucky to win anything so it must be a scam)...I'm guessing their out of business or something and this design looks very similar to it....I think I'm' going to double it up and put one on each end of the tire and see if I can get matching keys for both of them...I like to over build...I just hope the locks won't corrode so badly, since the location is exposed to the elements under the chassis...i guess my regular maint will be to grease and exercise those locks then...small price to pay instead of losing another couple hundred bucks in spare tire and wheel replacement!!!...

Pigger - good job on the scare off....I think the .45 was the deterrent!!!...I"m looking at that Desert Eagle 50 cal myself!!



One other thing I might add that maybe wasn't thought about to that design....I think I am going to get a piece of small pipe and cut a slit in it then place it around the winch cable...again overbuilding....and then weld up that slit...i think the cable can still be cut and perhaps the whole weight of the wheel rocked back and forth until the bracket (or lock even) can be broken off....maybe it won't but just see a weakness here....if the cable can't be cut the thief has no advantage...btw...they cut my cable...now my winch is toast, they even took the bracket that's attached to the end of the cable that holds the spare up...

 

Most theft is opportunity your best bet is something simple and easy if it looks like it will take time to break through or attract attention most will move on.