So you finally have purchased that new piece of sporting equipment that will not fit in your car when you want to take it out to the slopes or trail head with your friends. You will either need to mount it on the outside of your vehicle utilizing a rack or tow it behind on a trailer, but as you know someone always needs to make a pit stop along the way. Of course you are worried about the security of your new toys so someone gets left on ‘guard duty’ while the rest of the group takes a break, but this is no fun when it is a post activity function like food and drinks. If you are lucky enough to park in front of a window at your pit stop, you can then keep an eye on your car. Sometimes luck does not always work in your favor, so what do you do?
Most roof racks offer some sort of locking mechanism, but as most of you know these can easily be overcome with basic hand tools. So a second way to deter those who might seize upon a crime of opportunity is to use a cable lock and weave it through your equipment. Now you have to remember to bring a third key with you – one for your car, one for the rack locks and now one for the cable lock. Well Strattec, a leader in OEM and aftermarket automotive locks, has you covered with their new line of BOLT Locks.
BOLT stands for ‘Breakthrough One-Key Lock Technology’ which is the basis of their entire product line – one key works all of the accessory locks for your vehicle. You might think that this does not solve anything, but the key that these locks use is YOUR vehicles ignition key. If you have a Ford, GM or Chrysler/Jeep vehicle this may be the lock system for you. When the lock is purchased, there is no set of keys that are included in the package. You simply insert your ignition key, twist the key 180-degrees, twist the key back to the original position, remove the key and the lock has now ‘learned’ your key.
Along with this unique feature, BOLT Locks use a tumbler similar to the one in the door of your car – so it is corrosion resistant including the stainless steel shutter, has 6 tumbler plates to deter lock picking and is made in the USA. Strattec offers the BOLT locks in the form of a standard padlock, cable lock, receiver hitch lock (trailer hitch), spare tire lock and motorcycle lock. Just make sure that your vehicles ignition key is compatible with this system. Then you’ll be ready to lock it down and go.