Spare tire lock

Any ideas on a cool locking device/idea for my 2004 spare tire?

Kinda wanting to avoid the uninspiring cable/lock combo around the frame/tire.

Just wondering if something sweet is out there that someone smart already developed.

Thanks,
Tim

 

Are you talking about a lock for the stock spare tire location or like on a swing away bumper mount?

For the swing away just use a locking wheel nut. But for the stock location, I guess I never really thought about it. Is that something people actually steal often?

Did a little googling and thought this was kinda cool:
https://parts.rosevilletoyota.com/p...V80YEhgWBqIR-OUAQ5KAk-twGTQZKvi8aAt8fEALw_wcB

 

Yes, spare tire in original location under the beds is a high theft object, no matter the generation Tacoma.

As for the lock that @jbrandt posted - it's better than nothing. Just make sure you don't lose the "key" or you'll have problems when you really need to get the spare down...

Some people have stated that the theives that stole their spare must have had a key in their toolkit as they had the "lock" on their truck and the spare was still stolen.

On my 1st gen, I used a cable lock marketed as a trailer spare tire lock. I wrapped it around the cross member and then dropped the lock end through a lug nut hole on the wheel and put the lock cylinder on and tucked it up.
After a year, it had fully seized up with rust and corrosion that I had to cut it off with bolt cutters.

 

That's a good point. Those things are probably like the factory lug nut "locks" where there are really only like 4 patterns and they're all easily available.

So I guess the lesson here is to let rust be your theft deterrent device, and just carry a cutoff wheel or bolt cutters with you.


Something like this might fit or could be easily modified to fit.
https://www.etrailer.com/Spare-Tire...82pZ6x-KeF1pvqGciXE0crvhwXo4RQdEaApeTEALw_wcB

 

Here is a "key" to a "spare Tire Lock" that came with my truck.

Google "Toyota Tacoma Spare Tire Lock" to see the whole package, lock and key.
The key came with the truck, but not the lock, so I just use the factory method for lowering my spare tire:

Take a look at the post at Cheap/Free Mods for a cheap and quick mod that makes accessing the spare tire winch much easier (and might just confuse potential thieves enough to make them give up, but probably not)

 

Bolt cutters; likely the method spare tire thieves would use to remove the cable lock! LOL

 

Thanks!
This is exactly what I need.

I just dropped my spare and realized it is the original tire from 2004.

Getting a new tire today and don't want some A hole stealing it.