Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Trailer theft is at an all time high in many parts of the country and I would not want to see anyone loose their trailer. I am not a big fan of just using a lock where the ball goes as a trailer can be easily towed away by just using the safety chains looped around a ball…enough said.

Here is how I lock my single axle utility trailer, but this would work for many of you. Note the hole in the bracket to keep the lock in difficult place to hit with a hammer.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=85496

Here is how I had to lock my old travel trailer because the chain would not fit between the rim and the drum.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=85495

Here is how I lock my Cargo. There is plenty of room to drill a hole for the lock in the mid bracket. Again this makes it very difficult to hit the lock with a hammer. While travelling I only take the cable locks with me as they weigh less. They are big enough to lock up the wheels, bike, gas can and generator if I go away from the camp ground.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=85000

And then there's these..............

http://www.cabelas.com/trailer-accessories-trailer-keeper-8482-wheel-lock-1.shtml

Sort of like the "boot" that the cops put on your car.... not that I've ever had one...no I haven't....I swear.

Oldragbaggers wrote:And then there's these..............

http://www.cabelas.com/trailer-accessories-trailer-keeper-8482-wheel-lock-1.shtml

Sort of like the "boot" that the cops put on your car.... not that I've ever had one...no I haven't....I swear.

And not a bad price on sale...each.

I understand that there is always a risk of someone stealing our little tin can, but, honestly, it is not something we think a lot about. We are too busy enjoying ourselves, and in 40 years of camping I have never had any theft from our campsite. And I know any lock can be broken in to.

Greg(and Laurie)

Timely topic on wheel locks and trailer security as I was thinking of starting a thread on this a few days ago.

The wheel lock that I will be getting for my trailer is the California Immobilizer. I have seen first hand (more then once) where thieves have tried and ultimately failed to remove the device.

At a cost around $200.00, the Immobilizer represents a fraction of the cost of the CT but will give me some peace of mind that the CT will not be easily stolen from the home parking pad. Also the device may also qualify (need to check) for a small insurance cost reduction.

(Not my trailer)




Edited for spelling

I think the tire boots are the way to go for a single axle. Anyone looking to steal much of anything will have a set of bolt cutters and a battery powered angle grinder with a cut off wheel.. So a chain won't slow them down much. Better then nothing though. We lock up our UTVs at camp with steel cables. Same thing applies. Not to hard to cut with a cut off wheel but atleast they can't just roll them away with out a little effort.

As for mine I just lock the tongue of the trailer. I have also removed the jack handle. I figure since mine is a 7x24 plus V There not going to want to tow it with just chains. Those locking wheel chalks that go between the tires look like a pretty good option though. I plan on getting a set of those at some point..

People don't steal campers all that much, But cargo trailers get taken all the time. They tend to be used for storage or for hauling tools and ladders. So yeah a small cargo trailer is a pretty common target for theft. They don't want the trailer just the contents...

I havent aquired my trailer yet but when I do the first thing I will do is modify my hitch like the rest of my trailers.
I cut of the hitch then install the tube for a plug in hitch in its place. I take the coupler and install it on a piece of tubing , both or drilled for two pins
The chains are also attached to it.
If I have to leave my trailer I unplug the hitch and throw it in my truck
I keep a short plug that goes in the hole and is pinned in with a locking
receiver hitch pin.
My tongue is covered with sheet metal so a chain can not be warped around it so far it has worked well.
Ron

You guys make me paranoid

check my blog for a DVR recorder inside the trailer & I have a second one in the house with 8 cameras covering the street & the driveway... plus I'm usually home. Now I will needs chains & alarm too :-))

http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

Just because your paranoid, doesn't mean they are not actually out to get you.

At best all you can do is slow a determined thief down, and make what some one else has easier pickings. It did strike me that a DVR system would add to the value of a stolen trailer.

Tx River Rat wrote: I cut of the hitch then install the tube for a plug in hitch in its place. I take the coupler and install it on a piece of tubing , both or drilled for two pins
The chains are also attached to it.

Hey Ron,

I've thought about a similar thing for years.

The weakest part of most 'locks' is the key so my idea would be to make the removable hitch in a unique shape. It would be easy to use a typical 2" receiver hitch tube. But, fabricating a triangle shape would stymie most burglars.

Can you post a picture of your solution?

What about the locks that clamp over/around the hitch on the trailer?

Tom

For the few trailers i have stored in my backyard - i take off one wheel - believe me - they don't want to have to take the time to find a wheel to place back on the spindle. If you are really THAT concerned about theft - maybe take a wheel with you when you leave the campsite - thieves will pass on by! if it's too much work for you to do to take it off - then its too much for a thief to do as well.

I'm not really paranoid I just know for a fact it happes more then you think. Just a month or so ago I had a buddy who got his 13 thousand UTV stolen and several thousand dollars worth of tools. All of it was in his locked shop behind his house.. The police managed to find the UTV just a week or so ago. It was in a stolen cargo trailer. He said the property had atleast 7-8 stolen cargo trailers all loaded with stolen goods. So not only were they taking the trailers for the goods inside they were also using them to store other stolen goods out of sight.. lol so yeah I lock my stuff

Hi Shadow catcher

As some of you guys make me crazy and paranoid about trailer theft, this morning I also installed 2 cable wheel locks & I also pad locked the tow chain together, so they will have to work at least 5-10 minutes to steal my CT

Besides it is covered by my security cameras from the house & inside the trailer also. The trailer has the cheap DVR system, the house has the good system, its viewed live on the internet - but needs pass code, also there is usually a car parked in front of the trailer and owner is a GLOCK - NUT !!

Maybe I will also get a car alarm & some flashing red lights


http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

I wouldn't call it being paranoid. I read somewhere on one of the forums a few months ago a story written by a guy who said they were actually asleep in their teardrop at a rest stop or WalMart parking lot, or something like that, and they felt the trailer starting to move. Someone was hooking it up to their car and getting ready to pull it away with THEM IN IT!!! I'm not sure if it was hitched to a vehicle and thief actually unhitched it, or if it was already unhitched for some reason.

I don't remember the exact story of what transpired after that but I seem to recall the thief did not leave with the trailer. We have boats on trailers parked in our backyard all the time and we usually use one of those locks that is similar in size/shape to the hitch ball and locks up inside the coupler. But when you think about how easy these things are to hitch up and pull away, it only makes sense to make it at least a tiny bit difficult for a thief. Usually that's enough to make them move on and look for an easier target. ( I said USUALLY, but certainly not always.)

I cut of the hitch then install the tube for a plug in hitch in its place. I take the coupler and install it on a piece of tubing , both or drilled for two pins
The chains are also attached to it.
If I have to leave my trailer I unplug the hitch and throw it in my truck
I keep a short plug that goes in the hole and is pinned in with a locking
receiver hitch pin.
My tongue is covered with sheet metal so a chain can not be warped around it so far it has worked well.

This is a great idea. I understand exactly what you did. Could you also post a photo?