Wheel Locks? Gorilla? (1 Viewer)

[JimGeorgia]

It looks like its been about 3 years since a thread on wheel locks. I don't have them but just bought 5 new tires and OEM rims and wondering how I'd feel if one day, I walked out to my truck and saw them gone. So put them on? But then how hard is it to find my wheel lock key in the glove box or tool box and steal them?

Second question (or poll of opinions), are Gorilla locks still the preference?

 

[newtomelx]

I use the system from Gorilla. It is where all of the lug nuts are of the locking type, that is they all require a special socket to put on or take off. IF you zip tie the socket in a "special" place then thieves cannot find it to use, glove box or console is the first place they look.

 

[KLF]

Waste of money. They sell removal sockets at Sears. I have 2 sets in my garage that you can have if you want them. Both were removed from my cars when they were new (factory OEM locks, actually made by McGard), replaced with matching lug nuts. I tried to sell them on eBay, no bids.

 

[azTony]

They are easy to get off with the right tools and a hassle on the trail if you can not the key/socket and "need" it. Keep it in the garage and problem solved

 

[KLF]

I was on the trail once with a guy that blew a tire, and yup, couldn't find the key. It really sucked.

 

[Delancy]

They sell removal sockets at Sears.

Have to be higher quality than the one purchased with the lugs, and would advise buying one.

What's even worse is having the socket, but not realizing it's cracked, rendered useless, until time to pull a wheel.

Ask me how I know.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

I have used Gorilla's in the past on a few vehicles. No complaints. I now don't bother with locked since I lost the factory lock key by leaving it on the lug and driving off. Removed the locks with one of the "stripped lug nut removal tools". Took about 1 minute to remove all four. Lost faith in wheel locks after that.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Tire thief is so 90's Now days they take the whole vehicle. Like others, locks are a waste of $$

 

[PACNW96]

Don't recommend them. Had the key break on me before and it is a huge pain to get the wheel lock off which involved pounding a slightly undersized socket on the wheel lock with a sledge hammer.

The thought of not being able to put a spare on in the middle of nowhere is enough for me to never want to use them again..

 

[jynx]

I have a set that came with the Tundra wheels I bought. They are the shank style lugs but I don't know what brand. As others have offered you are welcome to them.

Just for curiosity, is wheel theft still a big problem in some places? Especially 15 year old OEM style wheels? Mine may be gone in the morning, but I just wondered.

 

[inkpot]

Just for curiosity, is wheel theft still a big problem in some places? Especially 15 year old OEM style wheels? Mine may be gone in the morning, but I just wondered.[/QUOTE]

I think the bigger risk is tire theft. The nice big ones are pretty pricey and there is a market for used tires of the larger calibers. Anyone that has trashed a sidewall probably went shopping for a used replacement in the classifieds. I stopped buying wheel locks a couple of decades ago. John

 

[mr jits]

I have a set of conical spline drive nuts in the garage that you're welcome to (you pay shipping, flat rate box) I have another set of the spline drives (longer base shank for more thread engagement with my wheels) on my truck. I like them. The sockets are easy enough to buy, and I keep two of them zip tied in my truck.
People still steal rims and especially tires like someone else mentioned. Minor insurance, but it's there.

 

[JimGeorgia]

Agree that the rubber is worth more than the wheels. Tire theft is on the increase in Atlanta especially for specialty tires like ours. I had the cats stolen from my Sequoia about 3 years ago. They were stolen from a Hilton hotel parking lot in Columbia. I had to drive it 4 hours home with earplugs. Got a splitting headache. Cost $2500 in repairs. The local police said anything like a Land Cruiser, Sequoia or Tundra that set high off the ground was easy to get under and get out. Im thinking tires would be almost as easy to get off and get away. But what PITA it would be if I was 25 miles down a USFS road in the Georgia mountains and lost my wheel key. The consensus seems like just say no to locks. Thanks guys.

 

[86tuning]

I use them but go thru the process of putting on normal lugnuts before each long trip. They're just a visual deterrent to keep the kids off your rims.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

My rig came with gorilla locks. In Utah I'm not so sure it's really necessary. OTOH i am rolling around on $700 worth of rims and $1k worth of rubber. New anyway.

Having a second key in case the one i have breaks sounds like a good idea though.

 

[TexasJack]

Wheel locks are like any other type of security measure. They won't foil a professional thief, just slow him down. Sometimes that is enough. He'll just move on to an easier target.

I have added a Ft.Knox gun safe to my console. I keep all of my security keys in the safe. If they can get into the safe, they have enough time to steal the entire truck.

 

[western flyer]

I don't use wheel locks anymore.

OTOH, I had some guy steal the crappy spare (steel wheel, OEM spare tire) from under the rear of my Tundra at work about 2 years ago. During the day. One of my colleagues saw him. He removed the license plates from his Toy mini truck getaway vehicle. Cops did not catch him.

OTOOH, I did a trip down to the Sierra Gigante/La Paz area (Baja CA Sur) with a buddy of mine in his Dodge truck. He forgot his wheel lock key...