Padlock for a moving truck

[edubba]

Hi everyone. I hope you guys can help me out.

I'm going to be moving soon and driving a moving rental truck with a cargo door that opens by rolling upward. These trucks have holes for a padlock on the latch.

My drive is going to take several days and all of my belongings will be stored in this truck in a couple of hotel parking lots. I've got a couple of Master locks but have heard that their security terrible so I'd like to invest in something to better protect my stuff. I figure that ~$50 is a small price to pay as insurance.

I found a youtube video with a seemingly proficient lockpicker describing some locks which have stumped him. He mentioned Mul-T-Lock and a couple others that he was unable to pick. And, from reading here, it sounds like Abloy, Bilock, and American Lock are also very secure locks.

I found some links on Google for the American Lock 5200 for $15-20 each. While Mul-T-Lock padlocks go for about $50 and Abloy and Bilock padlocks go for $70-100.

Are these American Lock 5200 locks that I'm finding for so cheap the right ones? Would I be better off getting a Mul-T-Lock or Abloy?

Also, I don't have any dimensions of the locking mechanism for the truck but if anyone happens to be familiar with the style of lock these rental companies use (it's a big latch at the bottom of the door) I'd love a recommendation of a size that would work. Here's a picture of the back of the truck that I found.



Thanks a bunch!

[pjzstones]

your main concern should be destructive entry. while the 5200 is moderately pick resistant and a novice will most likely not be able get past it with picking, a pair of bolt cutters could change that real quick. get a shrouded padlock and park the van in a well lit part of the parking lot if you're concerned. you'll be fine.

[thelockpickkid]

Yep, go with a shrouded American Lock, go to your local locksmith and tell him what you want, he will hook you right up. Or, just my opinion, the Abus or Brinks Discuss padlocks, they are not expensive, moderate to pick to the unexperienced and nearly bolt cutter resistant, and... they are not very expensive.

[Squelchtone]

Careful. I let a friend borrow a Medeco shrouded padlock and it DID NOT FIT in the mechanism that closes the door on the back of the U-Haul/Penske truck he rented.

This makes me think that we should start a thread of common items people like to secure and what size padlocks are guaranteed to fit them. (tool boxes, storage unit doors, school lockers, moving truck roll up doors, chain link fense gates, standard size Master/American/Abus hasps and staples.)

I'd like to recommend the Abloy PL350 It's all but impossible to pick open and you can try all day long to cut it or drill it. Plus, I know it fits on an 18 wheeler.

another company dealing with truck trailers:
http://www.transportsecurity.com/products.php?id=locks

Good luck man,
Squelchtone

[edubba]

Thanks for the input everyone! I'm definitely going to choose a well-lit part of the parking lot as best as I can. And also the most visible.

To be clear, this isn't an 18-wheeler. It's just a large Penske moving van (26 foot box) that we're renting for the move.

I also called Penske and they said a shrouded padlock will not fit. They said a standard lock with a 40-42mm shackle diameter would fit (though I didn't get a recommended length).

Pjzstones, thanks for the info about the 5200. Sounds like that's not a good choice. It would be silly to have a lock that's difficult to pick but very prone to a pair of bolt cutters or pry bar.

Thelockpickkid, as I mentioned above, the Discus style lock won't fit (nor will a puck style). Is there a particular Abus lock you'd recommend? I came across these brass ones but it doesn't say anything about them being hardened. http://www.abuslocks.com/abus.asp?cat=Brass%20Padlocks. Or what about the Granit model or one of the other "high security" ones? http://www.abuslocks.com/abus.asp?cat=High Security

Squelchtone, that Abloy 350 is a little more than I wanted to spend ($125). I'm hoping to keep it in the $50-60 range. Would the 330 or 340 be good alternatives even though they're a hair over my budget?

[Josh K]

A decent Mul-T-Lock is going to run you anywhere from $70-$150.

There's this Abloy for $85.

[edubba]

A decent Mul-T-Lock is going to run you anywhere from $70-$150.

There's this Abloy for $85.

Thanks Josh. How does the Abloy 340 compare to the 350 that Squelchtone suggested? I see that the 340 is "grade 4" vs. the 350's "grade 5" but am not clear exactly what this means other than assuming that the higher number is better. What "grade" would it take to hold up against a bolt cutter or pry bar?

Would Abloy be a better choice than Mul-T-Lock? I found the Mul-T-Lock G-47 for $62 here: http://www.vendorsequipment.com/foundat ... uct=VE1750. And the C-13 for $54 here: http://www.lockandhinge.com/scripts/mai ... 3&refer=fr

[Josh K]

A decent Mul-T-Lock is going to run you anywhere from $70-$150.

There's this Abloy for $85.

Thanks Josh. How does the Abloy 340 compare to the 350 that Squelchtone suggested? I see that the 340 is "grade 4" vs. the 350's "grade 5" but am not clear exactly what this means other than assuming that the higher number is better. What "grade" would it take to hold up against a bolt cutter or pry bar?

Would Abloy be a better choice than Mul-T-Lock? I found the Mul-T-Lock G-47 for $62 here: http://www.vendorsequipment.com/foundat ... uct=VE1750. And the C-13 for $54 here: http://www.lockandhinge.com/scripts/mai ... 3&refer=fr

It probably compares as you would expect it to compare. Keep in mind the 350 is $125.

I wouldn't get a Mul-T-Lock. Personally. An Abloy is going to hold up much better (imo) on the back of a truck.

[edubba]

It probably compares as you would expect it to compare. Keep in mind the 350 is $125.

I wouldn't get a Mul-T-Lock. Personally. An Abloy is going to hold up much better (imo) on the back of a truck.

Thanks for the clarity. I'll take your advice and skip the Mul-T-Lock.

When it comes to grade, I really don't know what to expect. Sorry for the noob question, but what does it really mean? The closest thing I could find to a definition is the below chart from the Squire lock website:

GRADE 6 - Extra High Security
GRADE 5 - High Security
GRADE 4 - Security
GRADE 3 - Standard
GRADE 2 & 1 - General

Can anyone provide some clarity of what these grades really mean (or really some guidance on what would be best for my needs)? It sounds like this is an official, non-arbitrary rating so there's gotta be some sort of specification to it.

[Josh K]

It probably compares as you would expect it to compare. Keep in mind the 350 is $125.

I wouldn't get a Mul-T-Lock. Personally. An Abloy is going to hold up much better (imo) on the back of a truck.

Thanks for the clarity. I'll take your advice and skip the Mul-T-Lock.

When it comes to grade, I really don't know what to expect. Sorry for the noob question, but what does it really mean? The closest thing I could find to a definition is the below chart from the Squire lock website:

GRADE 6 - Extra High Security
GRADE 5 - High Security
GRADE 4 - Security
GRADE 3 - Standard
GRADE 2 & 1 - General

Can anyone provide some clarity of what these grades really mean (or really some guidance on what would be best for my needs)? It sounds like this is an official, non-arbitrary rating so there's gotta be some sort of specification to it.

Weight the costs and risks. I am willing to bet that an angle grinder and cut off disk would go through all of those in under ten minutes. Probably. I haven't exactly tried.

Grades and ratings are only there to confuse you. There are "standards" like UL 437 which means the lock incorporates drill protection.

[edubba]

Weight the costs and risks. I am willing to bet that an angle grinder and cut off disk would go through all of those in under ten minutes. Probably. I haven't exactly tried.

That's a good point. Hopefully I'll be able to park close enough where that sort of noise would wake someone up.

Grades and ratings are only there to confuse you. There are "standards" like UL 437 which means the lock incorporates drill protection.

Love it!

I just found this doc with standards for EN12320, which apparently is for padlock ratings. Page 3 has a breakdown on what the ratings mean. For example, grade 4 has 2 minutes of drill resistance and grade 5 has 4 minutes of drill resistance.
http://www.beaverai.co.uk/downloads/EN12320.pdf

I'm still not quite sure where this leaves me but I have some time to think about whether the extra security is worth the jump from $85 to $125 (and whether my wife would allow such an expensive purchase )

[Josh K]

Weight the costs and risks. I am willing to bet that an angle grinder and cut off disk would go through all of those in under ten minutes. Probably. I haven't exactly tried.

That's a good point. Hopefully I'll be able to park close enough where that sort of noise would wake someone up.

Grades and ratings are only there to confuse you. There are "standards" like UL 437 which means the lock incorporates drill protection.

Love it!

I just found this doc with standards for EN12320, which apparently is for padlock ratings. Page 3 has a breakdown on what the ratings mean. For example, grade 4 has 2 minutes of drill resistance and grade 5 has 4 minutes of drill resistance.
http://www.beaverai.co.uk/downloads/EN12320.pdf

I'm still not quite sure where this leaves me but I have some time to think about whether the extra security is worth the jump from $85 to $125 (and whether my wife would allow such an expensive purchase )

You'll be the envy of everyone if you have a wife that will allow the purchase of a $125 lock.

Seriously though, everything's just a deterrent. Abloy's are probably harder to drill out then other locks. Plus you get those cool keys and the other benefits of a detainer lock like extreme gunk resistance and neigh impossible to pick.

[MacGnG1]

yes be careful, because the shrouded brinks didnt fit. i actually had to go thru a handful of locks before i found one that fit. what i would suggest is seeing what locks they offer at the rental store front. they will have several locks in the lobby of the penskee. i think we ended up using the master 911 which is also weather proof. i would have liked to use something big and scary but super fancy lock on a moving truck might give the wrong impression.. but that is a whole different thread.

[Josh K]

yes be careful, because the shrouded brinks didnt fit. i actually had to go thru a handful of locks before i found one that fit. what i would suggest is seeing what locks they offer at the rental store front. they will have several locks in the lobby of the penskee. i think we ended up using the master 911 which is also weather proof. i would have liked to use something big and scary but super fancy lock on a moving truck might give the wrong impression.. but that is a whole different thread.

Ug. Those Master lock Pro Series are terrible. I can practically blow on them and they open.

Of course, that's also what I think when I see a business store expensive equipment in a warehouse with a Kwikset on the door.

[Squelchtone]

yes be careful, because the shrouded brinks didnt fit. i actually had to go thru a handful of locks before i found one that fit. what i would suggest is seeing what locks they offer at the rental store front. they will have several locks in the lobby of the penskee. i think we ended up using the master 911 which is also weather proof. i would have liked to use something big and scary but super fancy lock on a moving truck might give the wrong impression.. but that is a whole different thread.

Ug. Those Master lock Pro Series are terrible. I can practically blow on them and they open.

Of course, that's also what I think when I see a business store expensive equipment in a warehouse with a Kwikset on the door.

Should we show this guy an S&G 833? too bad it's shrouded.

Squelchtone