Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Stolen THULE T2 Pro XT hitch rack

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Stolen THULE T2 Pro XT hitch rack

Old 07-02-19, 06:45 AM
  #1  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Stolen THULE T2 Pro XT hitch rack

Last Saturday my THULE hitch rack was stolen right from my car. I had just completed a very nice ride coastal ride, but when I returned my car I saw that the rack was gone.

The rack is, was, a very nice rack, solid and well made. The mechanism that locks it to the hitch receiver, however, is rubbish. A fifth grader with a paper clip can unlock it in a matter of seconds. My old T2 Classic used a hitch pin lock and that seemed far more secure.

I know of at least one other club member whose rack was also stolen.

Have any other THULE rack owners had a similar experience?

eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 07:06 AM
  #2  
sdmc530
Heft On Wheels
 
sdmc530's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123

Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times in 346 Posts
sorry to hear this!


I lock mine in the receiver for this reason......
sdmc530 is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 07:15 AM
  #3  
Slightspeed
Senior Member
 
Slightspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,249

Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 818 Times in 421 Posts
Bummer, so sorry to hear. I am just thinking about getting a rack to carry more than one bike, but for now, I like it locked up inside my hatchback. Where were you parked, so us locals can keep an eye out? Too many bad guys out there.
Steve
Slightspeed is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 01:53 PM
  #4  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by sdmc530
sorry to hear this!


I lock mine in the receiver for this reason......
I locked mine to the receiver as well, using the provided Thule lock. Their lock is rubbish, however.

I am reading more and more accounts of people having their bike racks getting stolen.

Oh well, life in the big city, at least the bike was not attached to the rack.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 01:55 PM
  #5  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by Slightspeed
Bummer, so sorry to hear. I am just thinking about getting a rack to carry more than one bike, but for now, I like it locked up inside my hatchback. Where were you parked, so us locals can keep an eye out? Too many bad guys out there.
Steve
Emma Wood Beach (the overlook);

I think from now on I will just carry the bike inside the car. Safer that way.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 04:41 PM
  #6  
sdmc530
Heft On Wheels
 
sdmc530's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123

Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times in 346 Posts
I use a aftermarket hitch lock, not the sad thule version. I don't know if anyone has ever tried but they will have to work at it.
sdmc530 is offline  
Likes For sdmc530:
Old 07-02-19, 04:48 PM
  #7  
no motor?
Unlisted member
 
no motor?'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 6,192

Bikes: Specialized Hardrock

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1376 Post(s)
Liked 432 Times in 297 Posts
Sorry to read about this. My GF bought a Saris hitch rack 2 years ago and the lock looks pretty secure but you're making me think we should look into this now.
no motor? is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 07:50 PM
  #8  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by sdmc530
I use a aftermarket hitch lock, not the sad thule version. I don't know if anyone has ever tried but they will have to work at it.
The T2 Classic has a locking hitch pin. Buying a more stout lock, like you did, is the way to go.

The T2 Pro XT uses a cam knob mechanism that expands inside the hitch and actuates a locking pin. The rotating knob has a key. This is the Achilles heel of the system. That lock is easily picked.


The next rack I buy will have a regular pin lock.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 07:50 PM
  #9  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by no motor?
Sorry to read about this. My GF bought a Saris hitch rack 2 years ago and the lock looks pretty secure but you're making me think we should look into this now.
Be sure to double, even triple check it.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 08:41 PM
  #10  
ColonelSanders
Banned.
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Vegemite Island
Posts: 4,130

Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1916 Post(s)
Liked 310 Times in 218 Posts
Originally Posted by eja_ bottecchia
Last Saturday my THULE hitch rack was stolen right from my car. I had just completed a very nice ride coastal ride, but when I returned my car I saw that the rack was gone.

The rack is, was, a very nice rack, solid and well made. The mechanism that locks it to the hitch receiver, however, is rubbish. A fifth grader with a paper clip can unlock it in a matter of seconds. My old T2 Classic used a hitch pin lock and that seemed far more secure.

I know of at least one other club member whose rack was also stolen.

Have any other THULE rack owners had a similar experience?

Could it have been stolen by someone who waved at you and you ignored them?
ColonelSanders is offline  
Old 07-02-19, 09:27 PM
  #11  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by ColonelSanders
Could it have been stolen by someone who waved at you and you ignored them?
Where were you this past Saturday and do you have witnesses who can account for your whereabouts?
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Likes For eja_ bottecchia:
Old 07-03-19, 05:11 AM
  #12  
blakcloud
Senior Member
 
blakcloud's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by ColonelSanders
Could it have been stolen by someone who waved at you and you ignored them?
Just because you put an emoji in your comment doesn't make it any less offensive. Someone just had an expensive bike rack stolen off his vehicle and yet you think it is alright to joke about it. It was $850+ Australian dollars, that's nothing to sneeze at.
blakcloud is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 07:38 AM
  #13  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by blakcloud
Just because you put an emoji in your comment doesn't make it any less offensive. Someone just had an expensive bike rack stolen off his vehicle and yet you think it is alright to joke about it. It was $850+ Australian dollars, that's nothing to sneeze at.
The poster that you refer to has a wave-fetish. He continually tries to put down my refusal to slavishly adhere to his wave fetish.

You are right about his comment; I mostly just ignore him.

Thank you for your support, it was an expensive loss, but oh well, that’s life in the big city.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:40 AM
  #14  
OneIsAllYouNeed
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Seacoast, NH
Posts: 756

Bikes: Chinook travel/gravel/family tandem, Chinook all-road, Motobecane fatbike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 232 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times in 25 Posts
Thanks for the PSA. I sometimes use a Thule Apex Swing 4 (with integrated locking cable). I'll now be packing backup U-locks and cables when we travel with that rack.
OneIsAllYouNeed is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:53 AM
  #15  
ColonelSanders
Banned.
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Vegemite Island
Posts: 4,130

Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830

Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1916 Post(s)
Liked 310 Times in 218 Posts
Originally Posted by blakcloud
Just because you put an emoji in your comment doesn't make it any less offensive. Someone just had an expensive bike rack stolen off his vehicle and yet you think it is alright to joke about it. It was $850+ Australian dollars, that's nothing to sneeze at.
I wasn't joking.
ColonelSanders is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 09:29 AM
  #16  
NoWhammies
Senior Member
 
NoWhammies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993

Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times in 306 Posts
Originally Posted by sdmc530
I use a aftermarket hitch lock, not the sad thule version. I don't know if anyone has ever tried but they will have to work at it.
What aftermarket hitch lock did you buy? Thank you.
NoWhammies is offline  
Likes For NoWhammies:
Old 07-03-19, 09:44 AM
  #17  
Lucillle
Lucille
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 449
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times in 35 Posts
I'm hoping that your car insurance covers some of the cost. I'm so sorry this happened to you.
Lucillle is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 09:46 AM
  #18  
jadocs
Senior Member
 
jadocs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190

Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times in 349 Posts
Since you are in the market for a new rack, check out 1UP USA. Great racks and they have a unique locking mechanism with extra security options, I haven't heard of one being stolen yet.
jadocs is offline  
Likes For jadocs:
Old 07-03-19, 01:41 PM
  #19  
sdmc530
Heft On Wheels
 
sdmc530's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123

Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times in 346 Posts
I use this one:


https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Locks...SABEgKprfD_BwE

don't know how good it really is but no complaints
sdmc530 is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 01:57 PM
  #20  
Nachoman
well hello there
 
Nachoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times in 206 Posts
Now you've got me paranoid.
I also just use the little Thule hitch pin lock that came with the rack.
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:05 PM
  #21  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by jadocs
Since you are in the market for a new rack, check out 1UP USA. Great racks and they have a unique locking mechanism with extra security options, I haven't heard of one being stolen yet.
Thanks, I will look at it. They have great reviews.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:06 PM
  #22  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by Nachoman
Now you've got me paranoid.
I also just use the little Thule hitch pin lock that came with the rack.
The locking mechanism can be easily defeated. You can, however, look into alternative lock pins.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:07 PM
  #23  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by sdmc530
I use this one:


https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Locks...SABEgKprfD_BwE

don't know how good it really is but no complaints
That looks pretty solid.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:08 PM
  #24  
eja_ bottecchia
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eja_ bottecchia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times in 293 Posts
Originally Posted by Lucillle
I'm hoping that your car insurance covers some of the cost. I'm so sorry this happened to you.
The deductible is too high. Not worth it to file a claim and later have my premiums go up.
eja_ bottecchia is offline  
Old 07-03-19, 08:18 PM
  #25  
jadocs
Senior Member
 
jadocs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190

Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times in 349 Posts

Originally Posted by eja_ bottecchia
Thanks, I will look at it. They have great reviews.
Each tray has a 50lb rating in the four bike configuration. 200lbs as shown above. Even more if less trays are used. It is solid, secured by the tires, nothing required to hook on a top tube, down tube, or seat post. Easy on and off.
jadocs is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.