Trailer Security

[OkieG]

How do you keep your trailer safe from thieves??

I've had occassion recently to visit the trailer store where I first bought my trailer. They reminded me that trailers are a high theft item. No attempted theft has been made on my trailer as far as I know. A few folks in our neighborhood have trailers, but they have not had any trouble either...so far.

The safety chains and a lock are used to tie my trailer to a steel "eye" set in the concrete pad where it is parked. Also, there is a "muzzle" for the bull nose hitch that locks in place. I was told this was a good system 4 years ago when the trailer was new. Now, I'm told thieves don't have too much trouble drillling out the lock on the "muzzle". I would think drilling out the lock would be a real chore, but who knows? Anybody have any ideas, advice on good security for a trailer, experiences, stories??

I know (or believe) an experienced thief could steal anyone's trailer, but if the difficulty factor is great enough they may opt for easier pickings.

Our lot is about an acre...no place to hide the trailer. It is visible from the road, though it is in the back yard about as far from the road as I can put it. I think locking it up is my best option. I'm looking for ideas for the best way to do that.

OkieG

 

[MossRoad]

Good locks, motion sensor lights and good neighbors help. Also, keep it out of sight if possible. A fence helps too.

 

[DocHeb]

Any way to put one of those hardened steel, "U" shaped bicycle locks through one of the wheels to act like a "boot"? This will not work on solid wheels, only those that have openings in the tire's wheel.

 

[OkieG]

Chris,

The trailer wheels do have holes in them, and I have seen the U shaped bike locks. I'm not sure what you have in mind for useing the lock to bind up the wheel. What do you mean by "boot"?

OkieG

 

[Egon]

Park it in a highly visible area to limit the time available to thieves and remove the wheels.

Egon

 

[DocHeb]

This is the classic . You may be able to use the "U" shaped bike lock in a similiar fashion, or go around the springs/axle and through the wheel holes to stop wheel rotation. Looking around with Google, I also found the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tirelock.com/>Pit Bull Tire Lock that looks like it would do the trick (but it should, for $369!)

 

[OkieG]

Egon,

It is clear that removing the wheels could be very effective in making a "get-away" difficult. Do you keep your trailer on blocks until you're ready to use it? Do you keep the wheels in the garage? I want a system that will keep a thief from using my trailer, but mounting and removing wheels might keep me from using the trailer too.

OKieG

 

[em14]

As you know this is a problem for all trailers and is not easy to solve ... in addition to all the other suggestions, what I have seen most of the contractors do, is to park the trailer(s) so that it is difficult for someone to hook to it ... put the trailer with it's tail up against an immovable object i.e., a building, a tree and drive your equipment so that it is pinned against the tongue of the trailer ... like with the tongue in the bucket. Some park the 18 wheel trailer with their doors closed and back to back jam up against each other ... and on and on … if you find a good way to do please let me know ... I also have an old Jon boat I would like to keep ... of course all my other stuff to ...

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>"I know (or believe) an experienced thief could steal anyone's trailer, but if the difficulty factor is great enough they may opt for easier pickings."</font color=blue>

I use the same theory when I'm securing things. I have coupler locks on my trailers even though I know they're far from perfect. The ones I use are from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.guardianhitch.com/index.htm>Guardian</A> and seem to at least be superior to using a padlock and chain. I use my trailers often enough that taking a wheel off isn't at all practical and the wheel locks are only slightly less impractical.

 

[Bird]

Another source of trailer hitch locks is Camping World. The ones I used (just gave my last one away last week) is at the top of the page <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.campingworld.com/browse/categories/index.cfm?deptID=&catID=150&subOf=&page=1&thumbsOn=1>here</A>. As has already been stated, nothing is going to stop a determined thief who has enough time, but the lock you show in your picture should do the job about as well as any.

 

[Egon]

Most times my trailer, 20 ft lowboy with cargo box, is parked in the driveway beside the house.This is a highly visible area. Usually the truck and camper are hooked up to it or sitting in front of it or else some other vehicle is parked in front of it. It's a small town and people close by. Out at the farm I'm always about but I do lower the front onto blocks and remove the jack. If I leave for an extended time the wheels would be removed but I would never consider leaving it out at the farm unless I was there.

Egon

 

[MossRoad]

One other thing the trailer dealer said to do. Take an old ball and cut the stem off of it. Put it inside the hitch and lock it. This at least makes it more difficult to tow.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

That's the same principle as the locks I use- cover the coupler opening. That seems to make as much sense as anything. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Hardened chains? Hooking them down... Hard chains are difficult to cut.. but a small set of gas bottles takes care of that too.

Soundguy

 

[MossRoad]

I've also heard that cables are harder to cut than chains when using bolt cutters, however, torches don't care. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Sadly, I have to leave mine out at my property whenever I'm not using them. I really have no where else to leave them that wouldn't be terribly inconvenient or expensive (or both). One thing I did recently which I wish I could turn back the clock and undo was clear out one line of weeds and scrub brush near the barn. While the property looks far nicer with that gone, the trade off is that now there is a very clear sight line from the road back to my trailers (and dump trucks, pick up, SUV and even a couple cars), I was even considering putting up a gate across the drive at the road. While I know it would only be a small deterrent at best, I thoughtt it might stop the casual "shopper" from wandering on back there.

If I put up something very basic I'd have to stop and unchain it every time I go there. If I put up something like a Texas bump gate I could have a gate that was at least closed all the time. Ideally, something with remote controlled opening and lock would be best. The problem with that (aside from the price) is that my gate would be almost 1/4 mile from the nearest electricity unless I could get the utility co. to provide another drop just for my gate. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[OkieG]

Leo,

You know, you reminded me of some of the contractor equipment I've seen sitting out overnight. What I'm thinking of is where a tractor drives up nose to nose with a trailer, then sets the loader bucket on the trailer bed. My tractor has to sit outside anyway...may as well do some good. It's not a big tractor, but enough to slow down a theft (I think). I don't think I will regularly park my tractor there, as I have another spot a little more out of the way, but if we are gone for a day or two, it might help deter would-be trouble makers.

Also, maybe for a trip away from home, Egon's suggestion of taking off wheels would be good, too. Positioning the tractor and taking off wheels are both cheap and probably effective ways to make a thief really work to successfully ply his trade.

OkieG

 

[MossRoad]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=200007624&categoryId=0> 12V electric gate opener </A> that could be converted to solar. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RedDog]

I can't believe it took this long for somebody to suggest this!! That is how I have always locked up bumper pull trailers.

I never have locked up my gooseneck, they need a "big" horse to pull it!!

RedDog

 

[Loges1]

Locks keep an honest man honest. If someone wants your stuff and they are dishonest they are going to take it. Parking your tractor infront of the trailer with the loader bucket down on the trailer is a good idea-untill they take your tractor too!