just got some lightforce 170s and i want to protect my investment. AFAIK lightforce doesn't make anything and there isn't a small enough locking lugnut on the market to fit the bolt that is used with the lights. Ideas?

 

It's kind of a redneck way but you can just saw the edges on the end of the bolts. Thats what I did on my winch, but it is a PITA to get off and you wind up replacing the bolts and nuts.

 

Loctite is your friend.

Course... after you use it... a torch will be your friend.

 

there's gotta be a better way...

 

IIRC ARB/IPF sells lock nuts....

 

Put a small tack weld on the first visible thread after the lights are adjusted and tightened.

Rounding off the nuts or somehow destroying the nut so no size of wrench will fit doesnt really work because Vice-grips can get anything off.

 

ok, anyone know of an online retailer?

 

http://www.eautoworks.com/ord-Lighti...ies-1-1631.htm

personally... there really is no way to theftproof them...... if someone wants it.. they will get it....

 

those are too expensive. and they aren't the ARB/IPF ones. you can see a small pic here

http://www.arb.com.au/ipf_USA_accessories.htm

 

i know they arent the ipf ones, they are the piaa ones made by mcgard, one of the leaders in wheel lock nuts....

 

http://www.offroadtuff.com/locknuts.htm

 

I had the same trouble with mounting my PIAA's.
I decided to convert all the external adjusting and mounting fasteners to allen (hex socket) hardware. This makes it easy to adjust and remove for me, but makes it tougher for the casual thief. They can still take them, they just have to plan.

 

so you have a hex head on the bolt, but the nut can still be removed with any old crescent wrench can't it?

 

No.
I replaced the bolt with the Allen bolt.
Then I use a nylock nut. This means that you have to hold the Allen end in order to turn the nut. You could use some long nose vice grips or something to hold the Allen head of the bolt, but you cannot just turn the nut. It is kind of like turning the nut at the top of the rear shock mount without holding the rod some way. It just keeps turning but does not come loose.

 

here is an idea you might want to think about... it's "different" but I think it should work well. I have only seen it done once, but the guy drilled small holes in the bolts for his lights mounted them up like normal and once the nut was on tight the hole would be showing on the bottom side of the nut and he then took small luggage style locks and put them through the holes.

 

If you've got a welder, I've seen people make a short "U" out of some strip steel, and weld it over the top of the nut (not to the nut itself but welding the tips of the "U" to the metal beside the nut). You'd have to dremel off the cap to get to the nut. Think about it, how often would you need to touch them once they're installed? Its a one time deal in my book.

 

i'd like to bring this thread back to life to get a few more opinions

 

http://www.expeditionexchange.com/ba...ndexmain.shtml ?

 

Torx or Allen Pin-Socket....lots of security fasteners co. out there - take a look at Bryce. Personally, i like BeerMach's approach....Put a small tack weld on the first visible thread after the lights are adjusted and tightened.

Simple & does the job w/o paying for expensive nuts/bolts...

 

A friend of mine cape up with an ultra cheap solution that is easy and worked well for him. His lights had length of bolt that stuck out about 1/4" after his nut went on. Went out and bought a small little masterlock and drilled a hole in the bolt and put the lock on.

Course mc master carr has tri grove nuts, serrated edge nuts and spanner nuts that all require a not so easy to find specialty tool to remove.