Anti theft idea

General Discussion about almost anything Teardrop or camping related

Anti theft idea

Postby JasenC » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:44 pm

Just received the Curt A frame hitch coupler which is a weld on unit, a quick search on Amazon and E trailer shows that most all the Mfgers only offer weld on units.
Got to thinking of drilling 6 staggered holes (3 per side) through the side flanges and bolting it to the tongue so I can remove it when not I'm using the trailer, it would be pretty much undefeatable security.

Anyone think this would be a bad idea?

169476
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby Shadow Catcher » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:57 pm

Ours is a Bulldog Hitch and is attached with randomly place bolts and yes it could be removed, I use a Gus Hill lock and 14 years on we still have it.

100407
User avatar
Shadow Catcher
Donating Member
 
Posts: 5993
Images: 234
Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:26 pm
Location: Metamora, OH

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby halfdome, Danny » Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:29 pm

Safety comes first.
I think over time the drilled holes could become sloppy.
I have my coupler with two 5/8” high grade bolts bolted to my removable draw bar and I still welded the coupler to the removable draw bar.
:D Danny
ImageImage
"Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing". William Feather
Don't accept "It's Good Enough" build to the best of your abilities.
Image
Teardroppers Of Oregon & WashingtonImage
User avatar
halfdome, Danny
*Happy Camper
 
Posts: 5882
Images: 252
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:02 pm
Location: Washington , Pew-al-up
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby Cathy P. » Wed Aug 03, 2022 3:52 pm

If you are trying to keep someone from stealing the trailer, realize that they can pull it onto a flatbed trailer and drive away, as this happened to us with a 2,000 lb. folding camper, nice one and the first new camper we had bought! We use the wheel chock locking thing, so the wheel will not move after that happened. I had seen someone driving around a flatbed truck looking all over a few days earlier, but I had no idea they were "window shopping". We were in AZ living in the rural area, but had neighbors all around it, and it disappeared in the middle of the night. Thieves are so bold!
Cathy P.
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 150
Joined: Thu May 02, 2013 3:18 am
Location: Kansas
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby saywhatthat » Wed Aug 03, 2022 5:04 pm

if doing so I would put some orange paint on it cuz as soon as you get used to it being gone you're going to come around the corner and be saying some strange words :oops:
Il suffit de le faire
fast, cheap, fiberglass/ foam stressed skin panels
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=73945

Build 4.5 by 8' using Trailtop fiberglass Components
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=70729
User avatar
saywhatthat
500 Club
 
Posts: 500
Images: 135
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:31 am
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby JasenC » Wed Aug 03, 2022 9:45 pm

I had been thinking a similar a thing awhile back by chaining the wheel to axle, your idea sounds easier.
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby Philip » Thu Aug 04, 2022 9:55 am

If you have a square tube used as the hitch mount like your pic shows. Do not bolt threw that tube without slugs welded in to stop the tube from collapsing when the bolts are tightened. Thats why you see most tubing has welded couplers on them. For a factory it is a lot faster welding. Drilling and installing slugs takes time and manpower. The added risk for bolts loosening up or breaking while being used on a hitch is another issue.

If someone wants your trailer there isn't much, you're going to do to stop them. No hitch. Throw a chain around what is left of the tongue and take off with it. A lot of the good thief's just use a roll off truck. They do it during the day. Most people do not think anything about a commercial roll off truck loading something up and taking off.

All you need to do is enough to show your insurance company that you tried to prevent a theft. A hitch lock is a good op0tion. Maby a chain secured threw a wheel and locked to the trailer frame.

In case you don't know. "Slug" = a round piece of metal drilled for a threw bolt or threaded to accept a bolt that is welded into round or square tubing to stop collapse of said tubing when a fastener is tightened threw it.
Philip
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 498
Images: 323
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:57 am
Location: Peru,Indiana
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby Wrecit » Thu Aug 04, 2022 4:11 pm

I got to agree with Danny. Any time you put holes in box steel you reduce it's strength. Throw in the fact that you do not know the torque spec to make this work properly and just "cranking the bolt down tight" combined with general road vibration can cause the nuts to loosen and then "wobble" out your holes to me says over time you could run into catastropheic failure.

If this is a safe idea then there will be a product on the market already. If it can't be found then there's probably a reason
You hide your conversion and call it stealth. I put mine out in the open and give it a beer.

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74635
Wrecit
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 136
Images: 0
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2021 4:40 pm
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby RJ Howell » Fri Aug 05, 2022 7:32 am

We've deceased this on several forums and I mention what my Repo friend told me.. "I don't bother with the hitch.. takes too much time." His recommendation, even though he can still defeat it, is the chain through the rim and around the axle. He said it takes him longer and should deter most casual thieves. Chain must be hardened and wrap so that the axle mount has to be removed to replace the tire. Grinding makes noise, he uses pneumatic and it's big (something a casual thief wouldn't have).

Greatest determent I read about was detailing your unit uniquely. Make it stand out!

Just another humble opinion...
RJ Howell
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1156
Images: 36
Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:08 am
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby Cosmo » Sat Aug 06, 2022 11:50 am

I am seeing lots of reports of car owners tracking their stolen vehicle and recovering the vehicle that they had stashed an Apple Air Tag in!
$30 on Amazon https://amzn.to/3JAbk14
https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/10 ... en-vehicle



FUN WITH TEARDROP TRAILER VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/CosmoWeems/videos

I am an Amazon Associate if you buy from my links I may profit at no cost to you!
Cosmo
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:46 pm
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby GTS225 » Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:22 am

What Cosmo posted is great, but.......it requires an Apple device to "see" it, thus has it's limits.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+doe ... e&ie=UTF-8
Kinda leaves us Android users out in the cold.

Just sayin'.....Roger
GTS225
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 298
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:11 am
Location: Waterloo, Iowa
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby JasenC » Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:27 am

Looking at boots on Amazon, they can be had for from $30-$100 but most of those boots look like a cordless angle grinder could make quick work of them. A big hardened steel chain would probably be more secure.
One could just toss it on jack stands and pull the wheels in the off season, which would be a good thing for the tires.
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby JasenC » Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:31 am

GTS225 wrote:What Cosmo posted is great, but.......it requires an Apple device to "see" it, thus has it's limits.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+doe ... e&ie=UTF-8
Kinda leaves us Android users out in the cold.

Just sayin'.....Roger


That's not a bad idea at all. I don't think the Apple is really any different then a Tile or Cube, well other then camping out for 3 nights in front of BestBuy to get the latest model.
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby tony.latham » Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:53 am

Cosmo wrote:I am seeing lots of reports of car owners tracking their stolen vehicle and recovering the vehicle that they had stashed an Apple Air Tag in!
$30 on Amazon https://amzn.to/3JAbk14
https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/10 ... en-vehicle

I’ve got one stashed in my teardrop. It’s cheap insurance so to speak.

But there are two issues. Preventing theft and recovery afterwards. Fortunately, I live and camp where the crime rate is low.

At the moment, I’m in a place of no crime. 9’000’ in the middle of the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness. Zippo.

Image


Tony


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: Anti theft idea

Postby JasenC » Sun Aug 07, 2022 10:56 am

Beautiful view Tony.

Keep yer eye on them squirrels, they'll rob you blind.
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa
Top

Next

Return to General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests