Spare tire security, anyone?
 

When I bought my '02 truck, it was discovered that it's spare tire, and 3 other trucks', had been stolen - the dealer had to buy new wheels and tires for my truck and the other 3, and some thief had themselves a quick and easy set of tires...

Looking at the way our tires are held, it's obvious that with the proper tool, a thief can literally be off with your spare in about 60 seconds...

I don't wanna re-invent the wheel (pun), but I'm interested in developing an easy, efficient method to safeguard my spare - anyone out there "been there, done that"? I already use a chain and padlock - that'll slow a thief down a little, but with a fairly decent bolt cutter, it's still easy pickings...

I'm thinking that shortening the portion of the tire-lowering shaft back inside the rear of the truck, somewhere behind and above the spare would essentially hide it, and make it difficult for someone not looking carefully to spot the new location - and DC provides extensions plenty long to reach well into a new location.

A second idea, is to drill the lowering shaft underneath, inside and below the sheetmetal box lip and thru the sheetmetal above it to allow a padlock to pass thru the shaft and sheetmetal to keep the lowering shaft from being allowed to turn.

And third, insert something like a large carriage bolt (rounded head) into the end of the shaft to plug it and make it impossible to insert the fixture to turn it, and provide either a lock or pin up inside and thru the shaft and bolt shank to either lock or pin it in place - but that would still allow a determined thief to turn it with visegrips from underneath - just take longer...

Any other ideas, or solutions that have proved effective?

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

I have thought abouyt the same thing, especially with the high carpart theft rate where I live. <br><br>I initally thought of using a rubber coated cable designed for bicycles, but I dont know how cutter proof they are. <br><br>I like the idea of imobilizing the winch system, but wouldn't a determined thief just cut the cable that lowers the tire?

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

&quot;I like the idea of imobilizing the winch system, but wouldn't a determined thief just cut the cable that lowers the tire?&quot;<br><br>Not very easily - the cable is up above the tire, between it and the bed, and hard to get to - but face it, if a thief really WANTS your tire, he'll probably get it - all we can hope is to make it hard or time-consuming enough to make him move on to an easier target...

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

This was happening in the town where I purchased my truck. I purchased a special torx type tool and receiver from the dealer. Was a Mopar part if I remember correctly. Tire is still there...course I don't know if anyone has tried to steal it.

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

My EOD training in the USMC would make me want to recommend &quot;C4&quot;. Don't need much :) Just kidding!!! I would stay with a chain and pad lock, make sure that it is easy to see the chain hanging down a little. Thiefs don't want to work that hard, they will move on to easier pickings.

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

Most effective, easiest solution I've come up with so far, is to remove the clip in the crankdown assembly shaft that attaches to the tube that extends to the rear bed apron, remove the tube completely - then cut a good deep pair of notches into the end of the tube to engage a roll pin pressed into and extending out both sides of the short shaft extending outta the crank-down assembly for the spare the tube was formerly connected to. Then keep the removed modified tube in with the rest of the spare tire/jack stuff, and when needed, insert the tube back in to engage the pin with the notches in the tube, and lower away!

Might be a bit tricky to hit and engage the mechanism shaft and pins with the tube, but not a big deal, I don't think - that way there is NO method of easy access to the spare tire crankdown mechanism from under the truck without that modified tube that was removed and stored elsewhere.....

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

and.....if your using a chain and padlock, those padlocks, unless regularly lubed will gum up with dirt and debris. Imagine trying to unlock a clogged lock on the freeway in the rain?!?

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

[quote author=goldenears link=board=5;threadid=14823;start=0#139714 date=1053316842]<br>and.....if your using a chain and padlock, those padlocks, unless regularly lubed will gum up with dirt and debris. Imagine trying to unlock a clogged lock on the freeway in the rain?!?<br>[/quote]<br><br>Master makes them covered with plastic with a plastic cap over the locking key area. This type of lock will be fine, I alway spray some lube in them and close the cap. Never a problem.

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

I had this very thing happen right after I got my old '89 Chebby. 3 tires stolen in two weeks. I finally asked the guy at Discount Tire what could be done about it, and he showed me a $30 kit to replace the OEM assembly that sounds similar to Gary's idea, only the end had specially shaped pattern milled into it that only the one shaft would mate to. Two years later, the thieves tried stealing the truck. Got the truck back with only the tailgate missing - the spare was still there. The tool to lower it was in the truck where they had searched through stuff, but they just didn't know what they were looking at. It was a very effective system, install in 10 minutes, no more worry. I don't know whether they are just at Dicount Tire or carried by some of the auto parts stores, but if you can find one it is worth every penny. HTH.

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

Leave the tire home, and call AAA if you get a flat. Works for me! [laugh] [laugh] Seriously, when was the last time anyone had a legit flat??? I don't think I had one in.............I can't remmember? Must be getting to old. ::) ::)<br>Steve

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

Not that many years ago, in a canyon a LOOOooong walk to the nearest phone... Not ALL of us are so lucky as to have OUR flats on the casino parking lot Steve... [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

Head over to your dealer and pick up the Mopar spare tire lock kit. Basically it is what Gary is thinking about, but uses a keyed socket, similar to McGard wheel locks. Works great!

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

HeberRam,<br>Funny you should ask that question - I was helping a friend bring home a couple of grain silos last Friday and ran over something in the field when I had to get off the path to get the trailer lined up properly.<br><br>Had to change one tire with the gooseneck connected and a grain silo loaded. Glad I had brought along the floorjack, 4-way tire tool, and gas powered air compressor. The spare had never been on the ground, still had all of its nubbies attached. It was down on air pressure to about 55 psi so, since I had a 45 mile haul with a load on it ahead of me, I used the compressor to air it up to 80. It is a Goodyear MT/S? Load Range E so I wasn't too worried about the load and the drive.<br><br>I needed two new rear tires anyway - guess what I am going to have to do this afternoon.<br><br>It had been ten years prior to that since I had to change a flat on a truck that didn't happen in the yard.

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

I guess the dedication of the would-be tire thief is a large part of the equation - I had considered something like the keyed piece out in the recess on the end of the shaft - but all you need do is get under the truck with pliars or vise-grips and turn the shaft from that point to lower the tire enough to disengage it - not hard at all, just takes a bit longer - and that might be enough to deter most thieves... But that's why I so far like the complete removal of that connecting shaft - it leaves NO method of access to the lowering mechanism...

Over the years, I've had one spare stolen, and my fuel tank drained a couple of times - and of course, the spare on THIS truck was stolen before I bought it - I just bought a matching alloy wheel from Steve up above, and with potential new replacement cost for a new wheel and tire up somewhere over $500, you hate to see it so easy for some punk to waltz up and be gone with it in under a minute or so...

(EDIT)

Here's a thought that would make the keyed/lock thing work - get a piece of pipe slightly larger in diameter than the tube that goes to the lowering mechanism, and slip it over the tube, making sure it can turn freely - then if someone attempted to turn if from under the truck, the free-turning outer pipe would just spin, and nothing would happen!

I like it! ;D ;D ;D

Re:Spare tire security, anyone?
 

I bought a dooly back in 83 that had the training wheels removed on the lot before I picked it up. Let the air out of the training wheels, back the lug nuts off, and remove. Truck was standing on the inside duals with no lug nuts :o