Securing your bumper-mounted spare tire?

[Uberland]

Having a Buckstop rear bumper/spare tire carrier installed on the rig this week...how do most folks keep their spare tires from disappearing? Wheel lock is an obvious choice, but I’m worried about realizing that I’ve lost the locking key (ask me how I know) when I’m in the middle of nowhere.

Bike lock?

Thanks!

 

[Jeep jeeep]

Option one, remove the lock before heading out to nowhere.
Option two, have a means to cut said lock. I carry a 14 inch bolt cutters. Comes in handy if you've ever wound up with some unseen Barb wire wrapped around any rotating bits and pieces.

 

[bgenlvtex]

I'm not sure if you are asking how to make sure you have your key, or asking how to secure something without requiring a key.

Wheel locks are more of an impediment to the owner than the thief. The lock manufacturers have even been kind enough to the thieves to make them a little extra long to make them easier to defeat.

Spline drive nuts would slow them down more than a single lock assuming they don't have a correct spline drive socket.

In the end it is probably better to lose a spare than to have them beat all the windows out and light it on fire because you denied them your spare tire.

 

[Brewbud]

I use a cable style bike lock wound through the wheel and around the carrier. The key is always on my keyring. Sure it can be defeated, but my assumption is most of the thieves looking to steal spares are lazy and are looking for easy targets. Otherwise, they could just work for a living and buy their own.

 

[Uberland]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. Glad to know I wasn’t completely off-base. For me, the bike lock probably makes the most sense. That, and avoiding the areas where my wheels and tires might be an attractive target! [emoji23]

 

[eagle_A40]

Combination bicycle lock. No key needed.

 

[Billiebob]

40 years of travelling, daily driving with a spare on the back.... I've never locked it, never lost one.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Heavy cable and lock, it only slows a smart thief down, they know about bolt cutters too.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Having a Buckstop rear bumper/spare tire carrier installed on the rig this week...how do most folks keep their spare tires from disappearing? Wheel lock is an obvious choice, but I’m worried about realizing that I’ve lost the locking key (ask me how I know) when I’m in the middle of nowhere.
Bike lock?
Thanks![

/QUOTE]
I never give it a thought. My tire is so heavy I can't even take it off. Anyone touch my car and the alarm goes off and they pee in their pants, so do I ! If after all that someone get it, it will be easy for the cops to find who took it. Wet pants, big muscles and no curles left in his hair.

 

[RoarinRow]

Just got my Wilco Solo Hitch tire mount today. Instructions say one person half an hour. Took me at least an hour lol. Plus had to go to a tire shop and buy an wheel lug nut lock.





I’ll have to see if my bike lock cable will also work with this set up.

 

[MidOH]

Go ahead and lock your spare, I'll just take your four mains instead. Locking it does hardly anything.

If Row had the Hitchgate HD+ whatever with the cooler platform, I'd steal the whole darn thing.

I've only had people try stealing my spare at boat ramps. The new splined lug nuts seem to deter theft, but it's only a matter of time before those sockets get more popular. Since no aftermarket wheels take OEM lugs anymore, and there's tons of shady people that use their kids lunch money to buy wheels, so they're all going to have splined lugs eventually. Wheel lock nuts, and locking hitch pins are a no go in the salt belt. Even these splined lugs are a pita. The socket snaps in half if you don't religiously anti seize them. If your dog doesn't sparkle, you didn't use enough anti seize.

I still have a tailgate, so obviously I've been avoiding shady people well enough.

 

[Charles M]

I use Spline drive nuts on all 5 wheels it is simple enough. I keep the socket in the center console at all times.

If anyone wants it bad enough they will take it... That and all the other stuff on board...