Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: West Calder
Posts: 632
Some musings on wheel theft
Having just changed cars I'm trying afresh to get my head around the advice on this forum regarding avoiding getting wheels stolen. (On the last car I had locking wheel nuts and an RLD spare wheel protector.)
The common philosophy seems to be to not use locking wheel nuts and to use a spare wheel protector. On the face of it this would appear to expose four wheels to theft and protect one.
Is it simply that the spare is much easier steal for the opportunist and the others would require the car to be jacked up? Does it need to be jacked up to steel the spare as I read on here, and would it help to park the car in access mode to restrict access to the spare?
Or am I being dim? 2016 D4 Landmark SDV6 (Euro6), Zanzibar (late run D4)
2009 D4 HSE TDV6, Bali blue (first run D4)
2007 RRS TDV8 HSE, some blue
.
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
Without the spare guard, they just creep under and cut the winch cable and the wheel drops, easy and takes a moment to lose a wheel.
I prefer having wheel locks all round and binned the crap LR ones for some decent aftermarket ones that don't have the rusting issues.
27th Oct 2016 12:19 pm
deanslandy
Member Since: 17 Jan 2015
Location: nuneaton
Posts: 646
Not at all, or not to me at least.
I had the same question when I removed my lockers after reading horror storied about corrosion and siezing on etc. My understanding, or at least the advice at the time was that to steel the road wheels meant that the jacking up and effort / time taken made it very unlikely??
I will be interested in others response to this question now, seems most have gone this route so surely must be ok? Flippin shame that LR can't get the locking nuts right though, weird thatBelts, oil pump casing and water pump by Flack
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27th Oct 2016 12:19 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
I've stuck with having both, but as others have had issues getting the LR lockers off, then I can understand why they would not want to use them
In short, it takes second to nick the spare, but a lot of work and effort to try nicking the road wheels, so pretty unlikely these will go.
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27th Oct 2016 12:49 pm
Reginald Molehusband
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: West Calder
Posts: 632
So even with the LR wheel protector that comes with the Ad Blue arrangement of winch and wheel LR have still missed the opportunity to adequately protect the spare. Shame on them.
Similar shame about the LR locking studs.
Discogaz if you are pleased with your aftermarket ones can you pass on their details please?
Has anyone got black locking studs, is it practical to colour them and the key still fit?
Out of the box thought - lower access height such that the spare wheel cannot pass past the towbar.
Looks like it's back to Uncle Ray 2016 D4 Landmark SDV6 (Euro6), Zanzibar (late run D4)
2009 D4 HSE TDV6, Bali blue (first run D4)
2007 RRS TDV8 HSE, some blue
.
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
The spare is an easy target, and most cars will have a brand new unused wheel and tyre underneath! Doesn't take rocket science to work out how easy it is to obtain a set of 4 'unused' wheels and tyres! A wheel protector- and an RLD is perfect, is a must.
Oh and when you need new tyres, fit the spare, buy 3 and put your just legal kerbed wheel as spare! (With a protector of course)
27th Oct 2016 2:08 pm
Ken
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
But don't forget to check the date dot code on the spare
27th Oct 2016 2:18 pm
Luapno
Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 871
Reginald Molehusband wrote:
So even with the LR wheel protector that comes with the Ad Blue arrangement of winch and wheel LR have still missed the opportunity to adequately protect the spare. Shame on them.
Similar shame about the LR locking studs.
Discogaz if you are pleased with your aftermarket ones can you pass on their details please?
Has anyone got black locking studs, is it practical to colour them and the key still fit?
Out of the box thought - lower access height such that the spare wheel cannot pass past the towbar.
Looks like it's back to Uncle Ray
The LR Ad Blue wheel protector is for cosmetic protection only as the wheel face points down in this arrangement. I have bought Uncle Rays Add Blue version for mine, very easy to fit and great peace of mind.
You are right LR have missed an opportunity to sort a problem, but that would have cost them more money to produce and they also lose income from people replacing their winches and spares when they are nicked
27th Oct 2016 6:53 pm
Reginald Molehusband
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: West Calder
Posts: 632
But I don't want to scrub the plastic cover so I'll have to carry a mat to lower it on to ....
Don't we give LR a hard time for producing the vehicles we all love so much? .... and buy!
It's all good advice, thanks, and I have spoken to Uncle Ray about a new protector already and my old one will be appearing for sale soon.
As a matter of interest, I wonder how much space is there between the inside of the raised spare wheel and the bottom of the ad blue tank and whether a lump of gravel caught in there before winching up could punch a hole in the tank.2016 D4 Landmark SDV6 (Euro6), Zanzibar (late run D4)
2009 D4 HSE TDV6, Bali blue (first run D4)
2007 RRS TDV8 HSE, some blue
.
Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
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27th Oct 2016 7:34 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
lynalldiscovery wrote:
Assuming the D4 ad-blue tank is made of the same blown black plastic as the truck ones its almost indestructible.
Edit I should add my reply is to Reginald ref ad-blue tank strength.
27th Oct 2016 7:44 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
and take the tow ball off or they will nick that tooooooooooo
27th Oct 2016 8:57 pm
OldPOP
Member Since: 15 Apr 2017
Location: Newbury
Posts: 117
If I’m ever the unlucky one to have a wheel taken there is hope one day that it returns to me when the tyre is replaced.
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