Securing your trailer

[lrrowe]

Last year I lost my keys to my trailer locks. And I was in the woods at the time. A chopping mallet and a couple of well placed strikes and the lock I had on the front end secured to my truck was busted. For the back doors, all I did was take a pair of vise grips and twist the lock and it broke. My point in this is that unless you are using the toughest locks and chains available, then you are basically wasting your time.

And for me, while using the trailer in NF camps, and being away from my camper for hours at a time (or even overnight), then the cost of high priced protection devices may not be that bad.

But I do realize not everyone may be as cautious or paranoid as I am.

[halfdome, Danny]

I'm not too concerned with securing my trailer while it's unhitched from the tow vehicle since the last 2 teardrops I've made have a removable tongue and coupler.
You'd need a flat bed tow truck or a fork lift to take it or any teardrop with the kind of lock arrangement mentioned here.
My concern is when it's hitched to the tow vehicle.
I once bought a two way locking devise (on and off the tow vehicle) but it never worked as advertised.
Does this company have any such lock when hitched?

Danny

[Shadow Catcher]

I changed from a conventional trailer hitch to BullDog and one of the reason was to use a Gus Hill lock http://trailerlocksonline.com. Very similar to the one you are buying. Anything you can get get a bolt cutter on is toast including the heavy bike chains.

[Java Jack]

Last year I lost my keys to my trailer locks. And I was in the woods at the time. A chopping mallet and a couple of well placed strikes and the lock I had on the front end secured to my truck was busted. For the back doors, all I did was take a pair of vise grips and twist the lock and it broke. My point in this is that unless you are using the toughest locks and chains available, then you are basically wasting your time.

And for me, while using the trailer in NF camps, and being away from my camper for hours at a time (or even overnight), then the cost of high priced protection devices may not be that bad.

But I do realize not everyone may be as cautious or paranoid as I am.

While I agree for the most part, I think this is one of the tougher locks out there. No lock is full proof but this seems like a good deterrent. I think the brass lock is somewhat of a weakness and a hardened steel lock would make it a bit stronger but overall, it is a really good lock. Since it secures the chains as well, this is a big advantage over other locks in my opinion. But even so, I think this still should be used in conjunction with a wheel lock as well for a better level of protection.

I'm not too concerned with securing my trailer while it's unhitched from the tow vehicle since the last 2 teardrops I've made have a removable tongue and coupler.
You'd need a flat bed tow truck or a fork lift to take it or any teardrop with the kind of lock arrangement mentioned here.
My concern is when it's hitched to the tow vehicle.
I once bought a two way locking devise (on and off the tow vehicle) but it never worked as advertised.
Does this company have any such lock when hitched?

Danny

That Bulldog seems like a good lock as well and very similar to the Proven Industries lock. The sleeve on the Bulldog is Cast aluminum while the lock has an 11 pin design vs. the hardened steel sleeve of the Proven Industries but only 6 pin locking mechanism. So, stronger lock on Bulldog but weaker sleeve vs. stronger sleeve and weaker lock. Either should prove an effective deterrent to most thieves. Thanks for the link to Bulldog, that was a good find too.

I have not found a good lock for when it is attached to the tow vehicle. That is the big weak point now in my setup and something I need to address. If you have some leads or thoughts, it would be good to know.

[lrrowe]

I can think of two possible solutions to consider for when the trailer is attached to the car.
One is to have a simple relay system in place that will trigger a siren when a wire between the TV and trailer is cut. Then let the siren do its work. The other is to have very heavy duty chains in place with a paddle lock like this.


This lock is more resistant to "mallets" and is it harder to use a bolt cutter on it. Again, not perfect, but could scare a thief away or slow him down.

[lrrowe]

Here is a Youtube video of the lock.
http://youtu.be/nyOHa1TZXXo

But I do believe the securing the chain feature is not really that much of of a deterent. With bolt cutters and "S" hooks, one could still employ the "lift and secure the tongue by the chains" method. To me that means if I were to get one of these locks and still wanted more protection, then I would also look to running a chain thru a wheel and to something else. Use of a lock like I posted above and a very thick chain would step up the protection a tad. So in all, the costs rolls up and the guarantee of absolutely no loss still does not exist. But it is a start for we paranoid campers.

[Java Jack]

Here is a Youtube video of the lock.
http://youtu.be/nyOHa1TZXXo

But I do believe the securing the chain feature is not really that much of of a deterent. With bolt cutters and "S" hooks, one could still employ the "lift and secure the tongue by the chains" method. To me that means if I were to get one of these locks and still wanted more protection, then I would also look to running a chain thru a wheel and to something else. Use of a lock like I posted above and a very thick chain would step up the protection a tad. So in all, the costs rolls up and the guarantee of absolutely no loss still does not exist. But it is a start for we paranoid campers.

Yes, but a thief would have to come prepared for that eventuality. Not everyone carries around spare hooks. Also, if you cut the chain you are taking some length away (probably 4 or so links) and it will make it harder to loop around and haul off. So overall, I do see this as a pretty good feature. When used in conjunction with a wheel lock, I hope it will be effective.

As stated a determined thief will find a way. However, my goal was to simply try to deter so they go find an easier target.

[halfdome, Danny]

The other is to have very heavy duty chains in place with a paddle lock like this.


This lock is more resistant to "mallets" and is it harder to use a bolt cutter on it. Again, not perfect, but could scare a thief away or slow him down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnGCTwTFr_U
Danny

[lrrowe]

Ugh!!!!!!
And look the chain failures.
http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chain/se ... ideos.htm#

And because one can always put the locked wheels on dollies, then it seems that in reality we honest folks have no chance.

[Java Jack]

Ugh!!!!!!
And look the chain failures.
http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chain/se ... ideos.htm#

And because one can always put the locked wheels on dollies, then it seems that in reality we honest folks have no chance.

Interesting lock.

The problem with teardrops is that they are small and light so, yes, a determined thief could show up with a flatbed and wench and just load it up and go. However, I really doubt they would hit a campground like that because they would just stand out too much. Plus they would have to be prepared for all the eventualities. Now, if you had your trailer stored in your driveway or in a storage lot, I could see them do that fairly easily...wait to people go to work and just haul it away.

I am not worried about stealing it from my house because mine is in the garage with a single car driveway and a car parked in front of the garage. So my worry is in a campground while I am out hiking or in town shopping. Here we would have a different type of thief. They would need to be prepared to cut safety chains, have extra S hooks. Defeat the wheel lock and do it without alarming other nearby campers. Not an easy task. But, if they wanted it bad enough, they will always find a way, there is no perfect solution, only gradients of deterrent. Make it enough of a pain and they will move on to an easier target.

[tfunk]

The hardened steel bicycle D- locks will fit around my wheel, that's what I use. We have keyed RV door handle, but if you want in bad enough you can get in at least as easily as you can get into my car.

[anon1]

I think that those bicycle d locks with the round key might be the easiest lock of all to pick. You just jamb the outer tube of a plastic Bic pen into the lock and it opens.

[rebapuck]

And, of course, that's the kind of information the thief picks up on the Internet (on his stolen laptop). God bless Google.

[Java Jack]

I think that those bicycle d locks with the round key might be the easiest lock of all to pick. You just jamb the outer tube of a plastic Bic pen into the lock and it opens.

That is way old information. Barrel key locks have long since been redesigned and no longer have that vulnerability.

[anon1]

Can you please provide a link or source to some info regarding the redesign of the u/d-locks barrel lock? I've searched for it and can't find any.

Several online bike sources have published recommendations against that type of lock just last year due to its vulnerability.