Quick and easy on theft protection

[darrellbeck]

I am sure this subject has been discussed before, but I am going to start it again. What are your simplest theft prevention ideas? We all know that padlocks only keep honest people out, so what do you do to mess up the ease that thieves can get trailers with. After all, all they have to do is back up to it, hook up, and drive away.
Remember this: the more that you can slow them down, either before they hook up or after, the better chance of the trailer not being stolen, or if stolen, then recovered. And, if you are like me, it has to be something that basically does itself, since the longer you go without having your trailer stolen, the more apt you are to not use it.
One easy thing is if you are the only one who tows it, just reverse the wires for running lights and ground at the plug on both the trailer and the tow vehicle. Since both are reversed on your vehicle, it will work fine. When hooked up to a conventionally (correctly) wired vehicle it will blow the fuse for the running lights, since the running lights on most vehicles come on with the ignition switch. Other wise, it will still pop the fuse when the lights are turned on. I have never seen any form of law enforcement officer that wouldn't stop a vehicle with no lights.
A second idea would require the flipping of a switch each time. That would work by mounting a siren in a protected place under the trailer and powering it through a relay and the hidden (inside?) switch, which in turn would be powered by the running lights.
OK, now you have seen a couple of my weird ideas, what are yours?

Darrell

[felixx]

install one of these:


How about a HT chain around the axle locked to an eyelet dynabolted to your concrete pad?

[Tucguy]

I use these on my Little Guy:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Winner-Intern ... k/25480401

http://www.etrailer.com/Locks/Tow-Ready/63226KA.html

[Dalorin]

I purchased a wheel chock and a tongue lock. My understanding is that both of these are easy to get past by anyone that has purchased a wheel chock and tongue lock. They simply do not make many key combinations so it basically serves as a general deterrent. The most sensible thing that I've heard to date is to remove one of the wheels.

So that is my plan. In addition to having a tongue lock and wheel chock I'm going to remove one of the wheels whenever I'm camping. Your mileage may vary.

On the trailer that I had built there are 15 inch tires. I have to think that finding one laying around is going to be awfully inconvenient.

[Redneck Teepee]

I use one of these on my hitch....it will only make them go to the easy target unless they really want it.







The "Hockey Puck" locks are pretty much tamper proof and bolt cutters are useless on them and the pin is a hardened 3/4" so it will take a while and a lot of blades to saw thru it, about the only thing to get it off would be a end or side grinder and I doubt they would spend the time or relish the attention. Bottom line is if they want it bad enough they will get it. Just pray it never happens

[lrrowe]

I believe this video has been around here before.
It pretty much makes you want to throw in the towel right from the git go. And you have to suspect some slight of the hand techniques since it is promoting a particular lock.

Look around You Tube and there are many more test there.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-G_zz80h_Tc

[dales133]

Get an unusual hitch type like a tregg or mchitch or whatever, simply statistics alone your alot better off than the other guy.
Wheel clamps help.
2 levels of protection =75 % less likely to be stolen

[Roly Nelson]

I feel theft-free, when I unbolt my slide-out tongue, and slip it into the trunk of the car. No one has a similar tongue to fit my tear.
Roly ~~

[Bill n Robi]

I think I want a hitch lock but my worry it that if someone was trying to remove it to steal the TD and damaged the lock to the point that I could not unlock it to remove it.

Anyone have a good idea for one that would not fail like that?

Thanks
Bill

[Gage]

Roly's hitch setup.

[Shadow Catcher]

If they want it badly enough they will get it.
Any lock you can get a bolt cutter on is toast, period! Look up Bike lock test on Youtube.
I switched to a bulldog coupler so I could use one of these
http://trailerlocksonline.com
The central shank is 4140 steel and the aluminum can not be cut with a bolt cutter. The best you can do is make it time consuming and make it puzzling.
A GPS tracker will also work but requires an on going expense.

[rowerwet]

I have the best anti-theft ever, 50 feet of snow two to three feet deep!
For the rest of the time I put a coupler hitch lock when camping. I think it is more visual than usefull. Taking a wheel off will slow them down better than most ideas. The other one I like is, dig a three foot deep hole, bury a cinder block in it with a chain or cable through it, park the tear over it and lock the chain or cable to the axle.

[Gage]

I have a Lo-Jack on my trailer. First the teardrop and now the Burro. If the trailer is going to be taken by someone other than myself, I don't want any damage done. And who looks for a recovery system on a trailer?

[felixx]

I will weld my number plate onto my drawbar and use dome form of hitch lock

It will be insured too

[dales133]

I will weld my number plate onto my drawbar and use dome form of hitch lock

It will be insured too

I got my Vin number from vic roads. I'll stamp it at least two places plus the hitch