LX470 Spare Tire Stolen - suggestions

[Fluf05LX]

I bought an 05 LX470 back in October and it is a really clean truck. Doing some post purchase checks on it I lowered the spare to check the condition and air pressure. All was fine and put the spare back in place. Fast forward to last weekend. I had a new wheel and spare tire to match the tires I recently put on the truck. When I went to lower the factory spare it was gone. Whoever took it was kind enough not to cut the cable thank goodness.

I am planning to secure the new spare to the frame with a cable and padlock. I was wondering if anyone had this happen and/or what you may have used to secure the spare?

Thanks

 

[nissanh]

You cannot cut the cable while the spare is mounted. Was the cable handing or rised up to the top? May be it fell? just thinking who would steal a spare of a 05 LX?

 

[LC Lurker]

That is quite a strange item to steal lol.

 

[hoser]

When storing the spare, make sure the face of the wheel is facing upwards. If facing down, it’ll still fasten but the cable is not retracted as much and more likely to come off. Plus the face of the wheel can get scratched.

Otherwise, the standard spare lock is enough for most people. It’s a keyed lock for the cable lowering mechanism.

 

[baltistyle]

I hate to admit this, but I once had my spare tire fall off in a police station parking lot. One morning I was driving to work and a few weeks prior I had swapped out my wheels and put the appropriate spare in its place, but I forgot to put the little tab on the hanger into a Lug nut hole. The wheel had felt tight and wasn’t moving at all. Just a few weeks later while making a left-hand turn on a street I pulled into the police parking and there lying in the middle of the street was my tire. I pulled up to the tire right as a police car was getting there and he got out and I told him it was my tire and he was like what the F. And I was clearly just as surprised as him while going to pick up the tire and get it back on my truck….

So the long story short is that if you don’t hang it correctly in there, even if it feels secure, it might fall off, and you wouldn’t even notice it… I cannot imagine if that had happened on the highway or in any sort of traffic.

 

[excessive]

i have never heard of a spare tire being stolen
sorry that happened

 

[Fluf05LX]

When storing the spare, make sure the face of the wheel is facing upwards. If facing down, it’ll still fasten but the cable is not retracted as much and more likely to come off. Plus the face of the wheel can get scratched.

Otherwise, the standard spare lock is enough for most people. It’s a keyed lock for the cable lowering mechanism.

View attachment 3866374

Thanks Hoser - I have the lock there and they still were able to lower it. and they did not damage it at all. Odd.

 

[Fluf05LX]

That is quite a strange item to steal lol.

I know right? I think it may have been taken while the truck sat in the airport parking lot for a week back in February. Anyway, just trying to keep the new one from getting stolen.

 

[2001LC]

Biggest mistake I see:
Face of wheel, facing down! Bracket will not fit flat and lock in.

Tip:
When installing the spare tire. Place tire/wheel face-up on ground. Only, about half way under the rear bumper. Loosen the cable far enough, that its bracket reaches into center of wheel hub. Place bracket in center of hub, fitting tab into lug bolt hole. Bracket should lie flat with cable in center. Pull tire/wheel back away from vehicle, taking up slack in cable. Then crank/wind cable up. Cable will pull tire across ground and up under vehicle. Once tire/wheel all the up and cable tension sung. Give about 1/2 to 1 more turn.

 

[3_puppies]

was the assembly all the way up? or was it down some?

problem with a padlock is it will get all the grime from the road on and in it and in 2 years when you need the spare it won't unlock

 

[Fluf05LX]

was the assembly all the way up? or was it down some?

problem with a padlock is it will get all the grime from the road on and in it and in 2 years when you need the spare it won't unlock

Thanks 3_puppies! Yes, the wheel was face up and was all the way up. I think this was just a simple lowlife that saw an opportunity and swipe the spare....Again at least they did not damage anything and I was able to replace the 18" spare with the 16" I had purchased to match the tires I put on.

Great point about the padlock. I am only going to use it temporarily until I figure out my next solution - perhaps a rear tire carrier/bumper of some sort where there are more security options available.

 

[3_puppies]

Thanks 3_puppies! Yes, the wheel was face up and was all the way up. I think this was just a simple lowlife that saw an opportunity and swipe the spare....Again at least they did not damage anything

IIRC the LX uses a special adaptor/key to lower the spare, similar to a key for a lugnut.
it's more of someone who knew what they were after, not a random thing

I had an LX years ago and didn't have the key/adaptor, ended up using a Landcruiser spare hoist that didn't require an adaptor to lower or raise it.

 

[Fluf05LX]

Biggest mistake I see:
Face of wheel, facing down! Bracket will not fit flat and lock in.

Tip:
When installing the spare tire. Place tire/wheel face-up on ground. Only, about half way under the rear bumper. Loosen the cable far enough, that its bracket reaches into center of wheel hub. Place bracket in center of hub, fitting tab into lug bolt hole. Bracket should lie flat with cable in center. Pull tire/wheel back away from vehicle, taking up slack in cable. Then crank/wind cable up. Cable will pull tire across ground and up under vehicle. Once tire/wheel all the up and cable tension sung. Give about 1/2 to 1 more turn.

Thanks 2001LC. Yeah the wheel was face up. Not really sure but I am looking at bumper solutions where I can secure it well.

 

[Fluf05LX]

IIRC the LX uses a special adaptor/key to lower the spare, similar to a key for a lugnut.
it's more of someone who knew what they were after, not a random thing

I had an LX years ago and didn't have the key/adaptor, ended up using a Landcruiser spare hoist that didn't require an adaptor to lower or raise it.

That makes alot of sense.....

 

[Rhetoric]

The lock for the spare was optional. Not standard on LC or LX.

 

[Fluf05LX]

I have a wheel/tire off a 07 I'll sell you for $100. Going to Baltimore April 18-20 and can meet you on the way up or back.

Sorry, just saw this. I really appreciate the offer but I bought a replacement wheel already.