Advanced wheel locks (1 Viewer)

[gaijin]

A pain to me would be to awake at 7am in Salina, KS and prepping to go to one of our fav vacation spots then quickly learn all 4 wheels are gone. Try telling your child that the family is stuck for several days because Daddy didn't want to spend $125 due to peer pressure on this forum that "wheel locks don't work."

Here's some info for ya:

• The manufacturer makes these in batches.
• Each batch has a new key set.
• Not every key for a particular batch will fit every other lock in that batch.
• Those who call for a replacement key set will be verified they purchased from a particular batch before a replacement is sent.
• The company started within the past year or two. The probability of a thief having one of these keys, and a key from the batch I'll purchase from, has a lot of zeros in front of it.
• To put myself in an echo chamber, these locks cannot be opened by hammer and socket, gator grip, grinder, hammer and chisel, or other common ways to remove wheel locks. Most likely the thief will have to weld a pry bar onto the lock to remove the wheels which is far too much work for most thieves.

But what do I know? I'm the one asking the forum about this idea.

Good points, but it leaves me wondering...

What if you find yourself in the situation, away from home, you have to remove one or all of your wheels, and... you don't have the magic removal tool. Maybe you left it in your garage tool box the last time you rotated your tires and forgot to put it back in the vehicle, maybe one of your kids thought it would make a neat toy, any number of ways to get lost.

Hey, it happens.

If all the common removal tricks don't work, what would you do? At least with the stock wheel locks, a mechanic could get them off - it might take a little time (which in my mind is the main purpose of wheel locks, i.e. slow down the thief), but at least you could get them off.

Just sayin'

HTH

 

[CoolPrius]

Preventing theft is a slippery slope. Best bet is to simply remove the tires and bring them into the hotel room.

 

[hankinid]

Same here, seems like no aftermarket needs for 14mm studs on Toyota's bolt pattern.

Mine are protected with a Colt Officers model, there's also an FAL on the backseat under a blanket. You also have to get an "OK" from two Australian Cattle Dogs...they're known to be very possessive of "their stuff". Either can drop a half-ton steer by grabbing his nose and not letting go.

 

[RT Cruiser]

Good points, but it leaves me wondering...

What if you find yourself in the situation, away from home, you have to remove one or all of your wheels, and... you don't have the magic removal tool. Maybe you left it in your garage tool box the last time you rotated your tires and forgot to put it back in the vehicle, maybe one of your kids thought it would make a neat toy, any number of ways to get lost.

This is a great point and was part of my decision process. Whenever we venture away from home for a day or longer, I have a checklist of things to be in the rig, ie, extra serpentine belt, a few tools, air pump, water, and snacks of course. The key lock will be on the checklist. Won't say where it will be safely stored or if I have one or more. Good point about children. Everyone in the family will know that a particular item will be off limits. They've learned to respect the tools in the rig during our trips. They know it's for their safety.

I'll probably take them off when I venture on 4x4 roads and the Colorado back country. Thought I've gained a ton of experience driving the 4x4 roads, I also know wheels can slip sideways no matter how good I can place a tire.

But their main purpose is for long road trips. If you are staying a hotel in the middle of nowhere Kansas and see a 2008 salsa red cruiser with funny looking wheel locks in the parking lot, feel free to say hello.

 

[Markuson]

Man, if they only steal my wheels, I’ll breathe a sigh of relief.

Sbut no. I signed off on wheel locks about 30 years ago when I was stuck trying to get a wheel off my 100.

Anever again.

The spline adapter needed for my rock warriors is as close as I’ll get to wheel locks.

Actually... spline versions from Rock Warriors will work on regular wheels and might actually be the best alternative.

Many tire shops don’t even have spline adapters on hand, so I suspect most opportunist thieves donMt either...

 

[bloc]

Man, if they only steal my wheels, I’ll breathe a sigh of relief.

Sbut no. I signed off on wheel locks about 30 years ago when I was stuck trying to get a wheel off my 100.

Anever again.

The spline adapter needed for my rock warriors is as close as I’ll get to wheel locks.

Actually... spline versions from Rock Warriors will work on regular wheels and might actually be the best alternative.

Many tire shops don’t even have spline adapters on hand, so I suspect most opportunist thieves donMt either...

Are you saying the spline acorn lugs with the tapered seat work on factory wheels designed for the big washer? Or they make a splined version of the washer lug?

 

[TimCFJ40]

Preventing theft is a slippery slope. Best bet is to simply remove the tires and bring them into the hotel room.

As an added side benefit, it will be harder to steal your Cruiser as well, which is statistically way more likely than having your wheels stolen...

 

[PhuckItImDone]

When I drove to LCDC last year, I spent the night in Kansas. Wheels didn't get stolen. If they can't get your wheels, they'll beat on it in some other way. Were not talking about the best humans. A cool gun is neat, but if they're stealing wheels at 3am, when we're sleeping, not gonna matter. I'd be more upset about the broken windows and going through my personal s***.

Edit: ill be in kansas on my way to lcdc this year also, so if I don't make it, we know where I lost them. Meet me at the cosmosphere

 

[PhuckItImDone]

The smart man takes the wheels off his truck every night and brings them in, keeps them safe.

 

[04UZJ100]

The smart man takes the wheels off his truck every night and brings them in, keeps them safe.

You just bring the wheels? I insist on driving my 200 into the lobby and parking it by the fireplace to stay warm.....hard to find places with big enough double doors!!

 

[rusty87]

Preventing theft is a slippery slope. Best bet is to simply remove the tires and bring them into the hotel room.

I can see it now:
“Damn, that dudes wheels got stolen. I need to get some wheel locks!”

 

[wngrog]

Some of the comments here give me the tiniest bit of faith in the 200 section

 

[terdrocket]

Bottom line - Install Rock Warriors.
Only a select group of 200 Series guys like Rock Warriors.
Most of us got them from the Tundra guys who didn't want them.
The 5x150 17" and 18" wheel market is limited to what, 100's, 200's and 2007+ tundras and sequoias?
If no one wants them, no one will steal them.

 

[TimCFJ40]

I'm planning a trip to Colorado in the fall. Driving through Kansas. I also really want to replace my stock wheels and beat ass Duratracs (that seem to have stopped wearing as soon as I started hating them). If someone can kindly tell me the best motel in Salina KS for getting my wheels stolen, and also the best tire shop in town to have some Icon Vector 5s with new Falkens shipped to, I'd be forever grateful. Usually I have to wear tires out, then sit on the crappy stock wheels for a while to sell them, but this would make things work out much faster.

 

[77HesterSue]

I'm confused about why Kansas. I have been driving through there for years without problems. Nevertheless, like others, I have never had wheels stolen. I did have a stereo stolen from my beloved 1974 VW Thing in Oklahoma when my younger brother wrecked it. We had to leave it overnight without a top. No stereo was a big deal when I was 16.

Good luck OP. Hope you and family stay safe on your driving trip!

 

[CSteppe82]

I'm planning a trip to Colorado in the fall. Driving through Kansas. I also really want to replace my stock wheels and beat ass Duratracs (that seem to have stopped wearing as soon as I started hating them). If someone can kindly tell me the best motel in Salina KS for getting my wheels stolen, and also the best tire shop in town to have some Icon Vector 5s with new Falkens shipped to, I'd be forever grateful. Usually I have to wear tires out, then sit on the crappy stock wheels for a while to sell them, but this would make things work out much faster.

You are in Auburn ?

Just stay anywhere in Birmingham for the night

 

[Fisher23]

After reading posts on this forum about wheel locks, I want hear members' opinions about this product called Advanced Wheel Locks.

Advanced Locks – The Ultimate Wheel Lock!

Our patented design redefines the security fastener industry Other wheel locks do not provide true security. Any thief can easily purchase an after market tool specifically designed to remove them.

advancedwheellocks.com

Either no one has discussed this on this forum or clearly I'm not using the search feature correctly.

Due to upcoming travels in our cruiser, I want our cruiser to be in the best position possible to not have the wheels stolen. All of us know that a very smart thief will find a way to take whatever no matter how secure it is. But I want to reduce the possibility of leaving the hotel room and seeing the cruiser on blocks - especially in the middle of Kansas.

They do not make them for the LC200 .. think that would end the debate right there?

 

[grinchy]

Wheel Lock Set M14x1.5, 39.5mm Tall, Cone Seat – Advanced Wheel Locks

advancedwheellocks.com

This link is posted as a public service only.

 

[RT Cruiser]

They do not make them for the LC200 .. think that would end the debate right there?

I called and the company's rep (owner's spouse) verified my VIN with their Toyota database to verify the size. The part showing on their online portal is inaccurate. Parts should be arrive this week.

 

[Fisher23]

I was looking at that and what they had there wasn't going to work for sure.

They do look like they would work better.