len19070 wrote:I store my Trailer on the side of my house along with a lot of other home maintenance items.
I learned a long time ago from my Motorcycle days that if you use a 3/8" chain the bolt cutters needed to chop through it have to be about 8' long. And I've never seen a set that big. And a 3/8" chain would take quite a while to grind through.
I have a 32' extension ladder stored next to the trailer that I extend partially and chain up to the trailer making the entire contraption 25' long and almost impossible to move.
While camping I try to always leave the trailer blocked in by the Tow Vehicle but when I'm gone with the tow vehicle I use the same chain to lock a bike or 2 to the front of the trailer making it difficult to tow without the bikes flopping around.
As mentioned earlier, a determined thief can get anything.
You just have to put enough obstacles in his way to make it not worth his/her wile.
Happy Trails
Len
Len,
your on the right track with 3/8" chain even though it's pretty heavy. I worked for an industrial distributor for most of my life and I have made thousands of chain cuts in my 35 year tenure. Chain comes in breaking strength grades, Grade 30, 43, 70, and Grade 80 alloy are what I am familiar. Let's use 3/8" as the control size. The grade 30 (3/8) can be cut with a 3' handled HK Porter bolt cutter. The grade 43 could still be cut, but would require a bit more effort. Move to the Grade 70 and you will need a 4' handled chain cutter probably with a "cheater" extension pipe on one handle. The chain cutter differs from bolt cutters as it has reinforced side plates on the cutter jaws.
Grade 80 overhead lifting chain ($$$) is the hard one to cut. 3/8" can't be easily cut with chain/bolt cutter. I have personally broke $200+ jaws trying to cut this chain. I don't think a "thrifty thief" with a pair of cheap HF bolt cutters would make a dent in Grade 80 Chain.
However, that same thrifty shopper thief could pick up a 3" air cut off saw at HF, bought mine for $6. A cheap small gas engine air compressor to run it, and he's through your chain in seconds regardless of it's strength grade! If he's too cheap to buy the small compressor, he could pick up a small right angle grinder with thin abrasive cutting blade, and a 12V to 120 inverter with enough Amp power to run the little grinder. But he better be sure to check the amp draw as he doesn't want to have to return it, people in his line of work need to keep a low profile.
Oh.. and while at HF buying all the cheap burglar tools, grab some of those movers blankets they always have on sale. These work great to help muffle the noise of the air or electric abrasive cutters. Also while there be sure to check out the latest "cheap" cordless tools for something that will spin the abrasive cut off wheel fast enough to cut steel. Cordless tools are getting better every day and may save you a lot of cash. Don't forget your 20% off coupons, don't want to spend too much supporting your thievery habit
The bottom line: high strength chain can be a deterrent, but as stated earlier, even a thrifty thief can find all the needed tools to defeat your chain at your local HF and even get a 20% discount to boot!
If your really worried about somebody stealing your trailer, you could just move to BC where they don't have any bad people or any crime whatsoever.