Trailer Security

[N80]

As mentioned, my place is very out of sight. People who have exact directions have a hard time finding my gate. But, that cuts both ways. If someone finds my place and my stuff they can come back at 3:00 a.m. and have all the time in the world and no one would ever see them.

I couldn't find my old 2 5/16 ball to lock in the hitch so I'll probably buy a hitch lock and chain the wheels. Doing more than this will be too much of a hassle and, as mentioned, probably not provide much additional protection. In fact, I might not even bother chaining the wheels. I can just see me (or a friend borrowing it) forgetting about those chains and trying to drive off.

 

[two_bit_score]

ALL good ideas though.

 

[FredH]

This is what We use on Our 14' Big Tex Dump . Or at Least it is similar to this one . Ours appears to be thicker ??? , But it is pretty heavy duty . Seriously though , if Somebody wants it , they will find a way . A lock like this , Then a big chain through tires and frame with big lock will only slow people or deter them some .
A few months back , a local company had a dump trailer stolen from their yard . Tires had chains through both tires on both sides . Thiefs jacked up trailer , removed tires , added their own tires and drove away . The owners had not looped chain around axle or frame though .
Were they Caught ? Yep . First , the yard had security camera's , thus busted there . But These Fools actually had staked out the trailer before , so they went to the Big Tex dealer here and Bought 4 Tires and rims . Thus When the theft was reported in the local news , Dealer called police with the idiots name on the invoice !!

Besdies a lock of some sort , Also gets signs that a made that say " Smile , Your are on Camera " . The Commercial made signs would likely be more effective than home made as it would give a more " Commercial " Look , thus may deter people more .

Fred H.

Amazon.com: Blaylock American Metal TL-23 Coupler Lock: Automotive

 

[PILOON]

My friend rents trailers and last fall we needed to repro from a deadbeat client.
The 'client' had used a 3/8" grade 70 chain thru the rim holes and around a tree.
The padlock was 'top of the line'.

Took us 5 mins with an angle grinder and the trailer was back in our yard.
(Funny that 'client' never reported a theft.)

 

[joefromga]

I wonder if electric fence power supply would make the trailer "shockey" . That would probably deter some on first touch.

 

[GLyford]

If someone finds my place and my stuff they can come back at 3:00 a.m. and have all the time in the world and no one would ever see them.

Or more likely, 3 in the afternoon. A guy poking around a shed at 3am is usually up to something. A guy at 3 in the afternoon is just working...and if your neighbors never see you, how are they to know that it is not just you or your friends working on something?

Guy two streets over had a bronze bell, several hundred pounds, taken from in front of a suburban garage, facing the street, while he was at work. It was chained. He had a sign out for months offering a reward, with no results, it even hit the paper. If he had been able to put the bell inside the garage and close the door, it would likely never have happened.

The second irony is now everyone with ill intent knows he collects large, valuable, antique bells, and to look in the garage.

 

[GLyford]

I wonder if electric fence power supply would make the trailer "shockey" . That would probably deter some on first touch.

Friend told a story of coming back to his car after hunting a buddy's land, and the pasture fence that was dead on the way out was live on the way back...until he shorted it to ground with his shotgun.
"How'd you like the fence?" with a smirk.
"That was fun. If you don't replace your fuse, you'll be chasing cows." No more smirk.

All you would need to pull a "fenced" trailer is a chunk of chain or a prybar to short it out long enough to find and clip the wires and go to work.

 

[joefromga]

But you'd have to know it was there. It would certainly keeping the cat from sleep on it!

 

[TractorGuy]

I have always just padlocked the hitch. Last year I purchased chains for the wheels. They never left the back of my truck.

 

[N80]

Last year I purchased chains for the wheels. They never left the back of my truck.

Security measure that are so much of a hassle that you don't use them....are useless. And I think I would be the same as you. I've got chains and padlocks but just don't think I would be diligent enough to use them regularly.

Now, if I drop the trailer in an unsecured area at a racetrack then I probably will chain the wheels.