Locking the spare?

I got one of these and haven't had the issues that people have shown in the reviews and its a nice piece of mind. If they want to get it they're going to get it.

$31 Trimax ST30 - Trimaflex Spare Tire Cable Lock (Round Key) for Boat Trailers, Motor Homes, Trucks, Jeeps, Vans, More - 36" x 12mm - Black/Chrome

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000ATZD5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I believe my spare was jacked this weekend right in front of my house here in Denver. I am in the Sloan's Lake / West Coalfax area.

Are the cops doing anything about this? Is it even worth reporting? Obviously its in issue here.

 

Worth reporting but they wont do anything about it like usual with any other property theft here haha. Sorry about that, it sucks.
I think I mentioned here before but they hit a dealership and got like 20 spares- it’s definitely a problem here, most of the new tacomas in my neighborhood have their spares missing.


As a follow up I installed the oem spare lock mentioned here about a year ago and I guarantee someone tried to take it already seeing as it’s a full size toyo spare tire with matching black rhino rim- it’s still there and I don’t foresee anyone being able to get it. Toyota makes a bunch of different keys for the kit so even if the thief’s ordered one they likely wouldn’t have the right key. It’s also way more difficult to get it down now and required finessing- still fairly easy but definitely enough to deter theft.

https://parts.stevinsontoyotawest.c...SAwRjmYHltd1_83OAN-L1BtjIKoA7URAaAhaCEALw_wcB

 

Living in the NE Snow Belt, Years ago when I bought my first Pick up (new) I immediately bought an armored cable and a Plastic covered lock for my Spare. Installed it and well greased the lock.
I "planned" on checking the spare PSI and moving the tire around in its mount and check / re grease the "Weather proof" lock - just in case. Well at time went by the tire / lock maintenance fall to the wayside.
Years later on a very cold, rainy, sleety and nasty Winter morning - while in a hurry to work in the early (pre Sun up) morning, My tire picked up a screw on along dark side road. Yup - the lock was rusted solid !!! I was pissed !! The only luck was I pulled over in front of a farm like residence. The owner came out, brought me a coffee and a heavy bolt cutter !!! God Bless him!! I Still want a lock - but I WILL remember to check it at least twice a year without fail. (Also the Screw went through the side wall and trashed the tire as well - go figure ...). Maybe I'll just go the OEM Lock route. At Least it will slow a snatch and grab ... SteveC

 

A spare ...?? Must of been another Tacoma owner missing a spare . Pretty dam lame .

 

If you have an alloy wheel with large spoke openings, a thief can reach through the wheel spokes and turn the metal piece with pliers, bypassing the cone-shaped receiver:



I take up the spare tire chain slack with a lock,

$18 ABUS Black 70/35 KD Weather Solid Brass Body Stainless Steel Shackle Keyed Different Padlock

Abus P/N 70/35 KD:



The lock itself is marine grade and weather hardened. I keep one key on my keychain and the second key with the jack and tool kit. Plan is to spray some teflon lube in the lock's key hole before each winter, the same time I do the gas cap lock, tonneau lock, and tailgate lock.

 

Solid advice, I thought about it. I don’t think anyones getting through these though. Theres like 0 room to get up in there now.

 

This happened to me as well. It was only under there for 1 winter and luckily I was only checking on it.

Side note- if anyone needs a factory spare in the Denver area give me a shout. I'll have it available this Sunday. Beer optional

 

Yeah and the stock steelie is fine, too. It's a vulnerability with spoke openings large enough to put your fist thru (e.g. OEM TRD Sport, SCS F5, TE37 & knockoffs by FN/RRW/Motegi).

 

Yes, but have you tried to get to that with the spare on? It is a pain in the ass. I tried doing it when I didn't realize my lock was a lock and so I was trying to remove it. Needless to say, it didn't work and with a bit of research, I discovered what I actually needed to do.

 

With my spare (Konig Countersteer) it's easy. I discovered this when my previous truck got rear ended and the holes in the bed floor no longer lined up to feed the prop rod thru.

 

Nevermind, I completely misread what you were referring to in your original post.

 

Just went outside and checked mine. Yup, still there.

I drove a 2003 Sequoia for over 12 years and never thought to lock the spare. Nobody ever thought to steal it either so it balanced out.

 

If they wanted it bad enough they could easily cut the chain that drops it with a dremmel etc. I do think I should probably throw one on there for good measure, maybe a kryptonite. But it’s been fine so far with the OEM lock. I think the main appeal for them is how quickly they can lower it with minimal noise when someone doesn’t have an oem lock.

 

I use a Kryptonite bike lock. Mine never got stolen yet. I'm just paranoid.

 

Agree .... It's just insurance. You don't need it until AFTER the fact. So you you weigh the cost and hassle to install/remove it against the cost and aggravation of a missing spare. Kinda Like Clint Eastwood's line .... "So do you feel lucky ... " !

 

I was just looking at this, good to know it works.

 

I like this idea too. I need to see if it will work with my rim. What size is that?

 

It's a 16x8 Pro comp 69.

 

Put a lock in two chain links. The winch can’t move.