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Is a Hood Lock Really Necessary?

21K views 101 replies 59 participants last post by  cadman99 
#1 ·
The reason why I ask is because I went to go buy one and the first salesperson said it was a good idea, but the second salesperson (on the next visit) said he'd never heard of anyone having anything stolen from under a Jeep's hood. I didn't get the feeling that either one was trying to "sell" me on something or con me, just that they both thought it was a nice thing to have, but not really NECESSARY. I was going to get one but now am rethinking my position - especially since I'd have to cut a hole in the aftermarket grille inserts I bought. Thoughts?
 
#3 ·
I added one to my 2015 JKU. In most cars, the hood release is inside the vehicle. Not that they cannot be opened from the outside, but it would be more difficult. On the JEEP, you release the two latches and open the hood. I use the BOLT brand which utilizes the ignition key to lock and unlock it. I decided it was a cheap insurance to deter someone from opening the hood.
 
#5 ·
One never knows. I went Decades w/o a theft of any kind until.... it happened.
You just don't know when/where/what.

They smashed my window (dark tint) and stole Two(2) of my Black bags.

Under the hood is the battery (fairly expensive) and potential for vandalism.

(I have yet to install any kind of hood or gas cap lock.)
 
#12 ·
I've never had a problem, but then again mine lives in a garage overnight. I might rethink it if I still had to park in an apartment parking lot or driveway every night.

At some point I might get some locking latches just because the hood flutter is annoying, but I'm not in any hurry about it.
 
#14 ·
I have never been worried about someone stealing my battery or anything, however, I do see value in that it will hold the hood down. I was driving up the Grape Vine with a 70mph head wind and my hood was bouncing all over the place. That night I ordered Drake hood hold downs and have not experienced it again thankfully. A hood lock should keep the hood secure even if it bounces in the wind.
 
#15 ·
lots of people complain about the hood flutter, but I don't think that I've ever heard of one failing and you can bet that if one ever had we'd hear about it on one of these forums about 10 minutes after it happened. Also, there's already a safety latch built into it for just that reason.

It's for sure annoying to see the hood fluttering whenever you hit a strong headwind or meet a semi on a super two, but I really don't see it as anything more than that.
 
#17 ·
Is a Hood Lock Really Necessary?
No

Locks keep honest people honest... if someone really wants your battery/compressor/etc they will take it...

  • without a hood lock, you will only need to replace your battery/compressor/etc...
  • with a hood lock, not only do you get to replace your battery/compressor/et, but now you also get to replace your hood/grill/etc...

how does that help?
 
#18 ·
It's a deterrent. Obviously, nothing makes the Jeep 100% secure, but it makes screwing around with it more difficult, noisy, destructive and time-consuming. Which might make a difference between a broken-into vehicle and a safe vehicle.
 
#21 · (Edited)
If someone wants, not needs, something bad enough that they will break in my Jeep to get it, I will repair the Jeep and replace whatever they take when I need to. Is it frustrating? Yes. Do I hate thieves? Yes. But I am saving my hood lock money to replace whatever is taken when it happens because if someone wants something bad enough, a lock is not going to stop them.
 
#23 ·
If someone needs something bad enough that they will break in my Jeep to get it, I will repair the Jeep and replace whatever they take when I need to. Is it frustrating? Yes. Do I hate thieves? Yes. But I am saving my hood lock money to replace whatever is taken when it happens because if someone wants something bad enough, a lock is not going to stop them.
It is never what they steal but how they steal it. This isn't like they reached in a window, took some change and I feel like an idiot for leaving the window down. I had headlights stolen out of an Acura TL Type S and they did $7k in damage getting them out.

While I am as philanthropic as the next guy, I am down for anything that will prevent me from forking out a $500 deductible, a ton of time with police and an auto body shop and the value of my vehicle forever hurt because of a bad Carfax. And all that because someone needed to score some crack, a $20 night at the HOtel/motel and an even exchange with a hooker...her services for a buttered roll, shower and a pack of Newports. No thanks. I'll get that $200 alarm and $20 in wheel locks.

As for the Hood Lock. I am debating because I am unsure how I feel about the look. And agree to disagree here, I grew up in the hood where thieves abounded, and I have NEVER heard of someone stealing a battery. I would hand a thief my battery and crap my pants laughing just to watch a 127lb 6 foot crackhead run away lugging a 40lb rectangle block.
 
#22 ·
Having had my former Wrangler stolen a few months ago and recovered in pieces 10 days later, I'm a lot more security conscious this time around. Even though the circumstances in which it happened are never going to occur again (garage door open, keys on the console, brain out to lunch).

So in my new Wrangler, currently sitting on a train about 180 miles from here, I ordered up the Mopar EVTS. I've already got a hood lock waiting for it. I'm having an alarm installed. I'm still debating locking lug nuts and a spare tire lock.

I think security measures like these do more than keep honest people honest. Thieves are like water, they seek the path of least resistance like open garage doors, lol. If you can do some things that would cause them to have to slow down, then you increase your chances that they might just move on to an easier, quicker job.

And that's worth it, to me. Take my word for it, it really, really sucks to have your Wrangler stolen, much more so than if it were just a car.

Of course, if a thief has both the inclination and the opportunity, he's going to break and/or take it. But this time I'm determined to make it as difficult for him as I can, so maybe, just maybe he'll go f*ck up someone else's life.
 
#25 ·
I installed the Mopar hood lock I purchased from eBay. It's ridiculous they don't come from the factory with one, every other vehicle I have ever owned had a locking hood except my 72 Camaro.
 
#30 ·
It would be unbelievable if the hood wasn't connected to the alarm. It's like Chrysler is operating in some parallel universe.
 
#29 ·
Wheel locks are about all I consider now and mostly for trail head thefts. Depending where you live like a city and not have a garage I have lost wheels, windows, mirrors, tops/ doors, even tried to get the winch off once....Parking at store lots I find a place somewhat visible and have often turned around in the store window just to watch if something or someone does not look right. A theft is watching the moment you are out of sight and strikes fast. Maybe it is agent orange but always in observant status.

Car theft Pro's even Meth Heads are seldom slowed down nowadays. They will take whatever they find even small amounts of change.
 
#32 ·
My jeep spends 8-9 months of the year with a soft top and soft doors. Can't be locked in that case. However even during the colder months when I have my hard top and steel doors on I don't bother locking it. If someone wants in, they'll smash the window. I'd rather them just open it anyway. When parked for extended periods the battery is disabled anyway via an isolator switch. I make it a habit not to leave anything worth stealing inside the Jeep. I've never heard of a hood being opened and something being stolen.
 
#33 ·
The problem with things like hood locks is that they inconvenience you very often to avoid something that is very improbable.

Not everything that can happen is probable to happen.

My car was broken into once. It was in a parking garage for a concert. My friend had left his pocket knife visible in the car (can't take it into the concert). The thieves surveyed the entire garage, pinpointed the cars with exposed valuables, then smashed the windows with baseball bats, grabbed the goods, and ran. From the first smash to when they were gone was seconds. Learning point for me was
1. Don't leave valuables visible
2. If someone wants into your car, they're getting in. My doors were locked. That didn't prevent my window from being smashed.

Personally, I'd rather live my life and not worry about hood locks, steering wheel clubs, sometimes even locked doors. If we saw the statistics on the odds of being in a fatal accident versus the odds of having your battery stolen, then to be logically consistent you'd probably have to give up driving, because I bet you're almost as likely to die in an accident than have something stolen from under your hood.
 
#34 ·
I have never ever considered a hood lock. But mine is parked in my garage at night.

Now, if mine was parked outside at night, I would definitely have one..If for no other reason than to keep my Battery secure!
 
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