First Camping trip someone tried to Steal our Trailer

[LShrew]

I would like to see the "small" bolt cutter that will go through a coupler lock in seconds. Have you ever seen a coupler lock? A good one?
I thought that the idea was to slow down the thief, since most people seem to agree that given time anything can be stolen. My mistake.

[smatthew]

It doesn't even take an angle grinder or bolt cutter. I have a bad habit of mis-placing my keys, and I haven't met a lock that my cordless dremel won't cut through in less than a minute.

[Shadow Catcher]

I agree but most of the coupler locks I have seen and own, the shackles are low carbon steel, at best 1018 and the bodies in some cases are brass.
As I said earlier if I had the materials, 1999 steel or better I could design one that would be very difficult to break into.
I have a sample of 1999 that North Star Steel tried to make that ended up in the pit after it broke through the caster. I went through three carbide tipped band saw blades to get a few samples to test, it instantly wasted M42 (tool steel) tooth blades. I don't have need for a bolt cutter or I would demonstrate.
I guess I see things a bit differently because of the testing back ground and I see how things fail and how to make them fail.

[smatthew]

I had lost the key to my coupler latch lock - a master lock 605DAT.

I cut through the shackle in under 10 seconds with my dremel.

I'm hesitant to buy that lock again. Got recommendations for a better version?

[egjacks]

I don't have a trailer that I am worried about someone stealing, but it would be horrible to lose something that I had put so much time and effort into. But at the risk of sounding lazy, most of these ideas would require at least some setup time and sometimes a lot of effort to go to while out camping. I want to relax and not worry while camping. When possible, I am more of a set-it-and-forget-it kind of guy. Has anyone considered a lojack type system for trailers? I don't know if they will work on trailers, but I don't see any reason that they couldn't... there is a battery to hook up to.
here is one possible system:
http://www.eyespypro.com/products/FlexTrac%E2%84%A2-Digital-Real-Time-GPS-Vehicle-Tracking-System.html
I was looking around for a system that didn't have a monthly or yearly subscription and found this one. It has an upfront price and then a small fee for every time you use the system to track the vehicle. I for one would almost never use it unless the trailer was missing, so after the initial setup costs it would be free insurance. I would be able to lazily camp but still know that in an emergency I could tell the police where to go find my trailer!

[BERT]

Looks like a good idea! I wonder what the draw is from your Batt for when your trailer is sitting for a while? Prob not much.

[michiganflipper]

those are Kryptonite cable Lock

Sorry, this is only a false sense of security. Regardless how large your cable lock is, the thieves will get through it in seconds. I speak from experience. We had our three mountain bikes stolen while parked in the Wynn Casino in Vegas parking structure. Security informed me they had the entire episode on video. They said the perpetrator pulled up in a red truck, stepped out with bolt cutters in hand, cut all three 1/2" thick cables, loaded all three mountain bikes and was gone in less than 15 seconds. They also claimed their high dollar security camera was unable to make out the license plate. Yea, right, the brand new Wynn Casino is unable to read a license plate at 20feet.

Anyways, outside of a Full Wheel Clamp or a 1/2 inch Hardened Chain, an 18mm Kryptonite Lock may be your next best option. Place it through the wheel and frame and/or spring assembly. Use two if necessary to attach both.

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?cid=1000&scid=1000&pid=1094

After a $6000 loss, I will never again trust a cable lock.

[Shadow Catcher]

Cable is cable. A 14 inch bolt cutter vs cable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YO1BMHZSDk

I have a couple of Kryptonite padlocks on the garage they are NO better than a similar Masterlock!

In all the looking I have done the only really hopeful chain is the Almax from the UK I do planing on looking further.

[proformance]

those are Kryptonite cable Lock

And so were all three of mine, which lasted less than a few seconds. Simply put and evident in the video posted immediately after your post. Cables, regardless of brand, are too easily defeated.

[AWK]

Reading this just raises my blood pressure. I haven't posted for a while as my conversion was put on hold because some LOWLIFES decided they need all my tools in my trailer more than I did. I have to leave my trailer at the cabin and work on it when I am there. Got up there just before Christmas and found the door wide open and most everything gone, including my snowblower, chainsaw, all hand and power tools I had there. They target one certian type of lock I had from Ace Hardware. They hit my hauler and shed. Stayed away from the cabin because of the ADT alarm. Since then I have install 4 night vision cameras loading to a 500 Gig DVR. Soon I may have Highspeed internet so I can see real time. They did try one large Chinesee lock I had on the rear door and could NOT break it. So I went and up-graded to ALL new lock, all bigger than the one they could not cut (with current tools). I will never stop them, but I feel I am one step ahead of them now. The locks I had were small, but worked for 6 years. I have replaced everything that was stolen (I think), and will get back to my conversion this summer.
AWK

[Ron Dickey]

there are lots of ways to lock it

You do not know what tools they will bring but here on google images are lots of examples.

http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en ... eel%20lock

I always waned to get a bar with holes in each end that ran under the trailer and through each wheel. With a large pad lock on the outside of each wheel

I trust most people but having lived in Albuquerque , Sacramento, Milwaukee. I make sure things are locked and people do not see inside.

So far all the gatherings we have gone to have been full of good people.

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I don't have a CT yet - still in the planning stage.

How hard would it be to REMOVE the coupler from the tongue and replace it with a 2" receiver, and then attach the coupler to a 2" bar of steel that goes in to the receiver?

Any structural or strength issues that I'm missing?

Anyway, the idea is, you just pull the coupler and take it with you.

I suppose the thieves will adapt to this strategy if enough people started doing it, but right now, it should stop them from pulling it away.

Also, if your tow rig has an on-board air set up, you could flatten the trailer tires and take the valve cores with you.

Again, thieves will probably eventually adapt, but I doubt if many of them are equipped with spare cores and an air tank right now.

Regards
John

[Engineer Guy]

One Thread elsewhere I came across was sobering. As was a discussion with the Locksmith who removed a Spare Tire Lock on my new/used TT that I'd not been given a Key for.

The Thread Poster mentioned the 'new' idea that Thieves now put a hefty Bolt upright into a TV Receiver instead of a Ball. A Trailer Coupler can be set down on the Bolt. The Bolt can go just behind the Coupler and support the V front. Or, Chain can be lashed to the Bolt temporarily so that the Trailer can be towed 'around the corner' to be secured better for long term towing. In that this technique is used when the Coupler is locked and not usable, it might also circumvent any removable Ball/Tongue idea.

The Locksmith had a few Clients - likely with higher end Rigs than typical here - where a 'Sawzall' was used to cut a rectangle around the Door Lock to remove it. In one extreme case, Thieves simply cut through the Trailer sidewall so that a person could get in and clean out the valuables inside.

I took my Genny down to Denver for a pre-flight Checkup. The Tech mentioned Thieves driving through the Wire-topped Chain Link Fence to abscond with several Welders and a Genny stored in the Yard. Thieves in Storage Facilities are stooping to cutting off the 30 Amp Power Cords just for the Copper. I'll be modifying mine to disconnect with an appropriate Twist Lok Connector for storage.

The 'rules' have changed. Anything goes. Airing down the Tires sounds as good as anything. The operative words are as good as anything.

Most of us can't think like Thieves. Note above some steps they're willing to go to. This puts us at a disadvantage because we can't emulate their 'how low will you go' thought process.

[dog812]

There is no really good anti theft devices..
The only thing that works is a dog..
Basically if your "free" camping only bring what you need...
I have seen tons of different things stolen while hunting remote areas.
I have yet to see anything happen to friends trailers with dogs on the site.
Obviously there is ways to get around a dog as well.. but i have yet to hear of any.
Locks and other things are just speed bumps. might slow them down but wont make them stop.

The worst by far was someone broke in and stole everything including the cushions from a friends tent trailer... didnt even leave dishes..

[MegC]

Signs of the times... desperate people do desperate things. When I was in Kenya years ago we stayed with some folks who had couch cushions pulled through a barred window. Apparently somebody was willing to go pretty far to get a comfy bed for their shack.

Two thoughts off the top of my head:
1. NOTHING is ever 100% safe. EVER.
2. Remember that ol' story about the two guys running away from the hungry bear- one of them points out that he just has to run faster than the other guy. I'd lean towards making my stuff less of an attractive target/more of a PITA to take than other nearby stuff... then just let go and do what I'm gonna do.