Hood locks

[ArthurH]

Anyone instal these? Are they worth it?

Sponsored

 

[four low]

The Bolt brand hood lock, which goes in the grill, allows you to use your Jeep key. It has a rubber cap to protect from grime, ice, salt. There are plenty of Jeep owners with this set up on this forum.

 

[ArthurH]

I have the Quadratec pre runner lights in my grille so I can’t install the bolt one

 

[Philly_]

I read a build thread years ago from someone that used these on his JK and he never seemed to have a problem. Whether or not it's worth it, is up to you.

Personally, I have never caught someone peaking under my hood, nor is there anything easier to grab than the battery that someone could steal. May be different in your neck of the woods, though.

 

[Heimkehr]

@ArthurH

Just take care to avoid any locking hood latches that continue to use a tubular cylinder lock. They can be picked (opened) with the plastic barrel of a pen. This caused no end of grief for Kryptonite some years back, forcing a nationwide recall. I received a new motorcycle disc lock as part of said recall.

Yes, the ChiComs are still at it.

 

[JLR_AEV]

Anyone instal these? Are they worth it?

I have had these for about 5 months now and have 0 complaints. Build quality is super sturdy and they do their job.
If someone tries to get into my hood I don't think anything will stop them but these(or any locking mechanism for that matter)will slow them down.
I went with these versus the front hood lock because I wasn't really a fan of the look of the front grill one solely based off looks.

 

[californiajeeping]

Anyone instal these? Are they worth it?

I bought those years ago. The only complaint, which isn’t the product’s fault, is that the Jeep dealership service departments keep asking me to unlock them during oil changes or other service appointments even though I unlocked them when I arrived and told the service advisor that they are unlocked. The same idiots that are still putting in 6 quarts of oil instead of 5.

 

[m3reno]

I had a similar pair and one day I forgot to unlock them and it opened as if they weren't even there! It's a thin piece of metal on the inside that easily bends. You have to go with the mopar brand hood lock. Way better!

 

[Hogdreamer]

Personally, I have never caught someone peaking under my hood, nor is there anything easier to grab than the battery that someone could steal. May be different in your neck of the woods, though.

Apparently you've never watched the movie "The Town That Dreaded Sundown"? It came out in 1976 and for a while after seeing it I got easily spooked parking in the country with my girlfriend. This was five years before my first Jeep vehicle and my 1971 Barracuda did not have a hood lock.

I also remember getting gas in my car and telling the gas station attendant "$5 dollars of regular". You couldn't put gasoline in yourself then and five bucks worth was good for an entire weekend of driving around.

I felt foolish when the attendant came up to my open window and apologized that he had broken my locking gas cap. I had forgot about that and hadn't given him the key. Proved to me that locks can be defeated, sometimes by accident.

I have a front trail camera on my Wrangler so I can't install the lock which installs in the grill. That would be my preferred method of locking the hood. I haven't seen any other style yet that I feel is worth the purchase, either in looks or performance.

 

[jim00]

Had them on for about 9 months, no issues. Very, very heavy duty - I was surprised how much each one weights. I covered the key hole with a bit of electrical tape just to keep the dust / salt out. You can't even tell until you are right up close. As with all mechanical keys, put a bit of graphite in every 6 months or so to prevent issues.

 

[Heimkehr]

As with all mechanical keys, put a bit of graphite in every 6 months or so to prevent issues.

+1 on using graphite to keep lock cylinders happy and healthy. I've passed this advice on to more than a few folks.

I would also suggest selecting a particular formula -- dry powder, or liquid (aerosol) -- and then use it exclusively in the lock(s) in question. Mixing one with the other will eventually gum up the works. Just a small amount is all that's usually required.

 

[DogsRule]

I got oem-looking latches with the key cylinder right in the middle so at first look from 10' away, they see it and move on. I was afraid they'd pop the oem latches and try to open, get frustrated and then f up a central lock. Just IMHO. I could respect a professional's job, its the 99% amateurs hacking I can't appreciate.

I'd like to see a bulky hood latch that says "This side toward enemy."

 

[zrickety]

Anyone instal these? Are they worth it?

You're halfway to a Tazer mini which can set a hood alarm.
Honestly not sure why Jeep didn't do that to begin with, the switches are there.

Sponsored