How to prevent trailer theft?

[Farmer17]

I bought a cheap little trailer to haul my four wheeler but I'm wanting a good way(s) to secure it because trailer theft around here is totally out of control!
My carpenter buddy just had his trailer and tools (about $10K) stolen last month and it was parked only two blocks from the police station. I was thinking of some kind of receptacle lock plus a wheel lock plus something else so at least three ways to lock it. Bolt cutters and sledge hammers are the theft tool of choice and I know if they have enough time, anything can be stolen I just want to make it is difficult as possible so they choose someone else's trailer.

 

[Bkreutz]

Bolt a Port o Potty to the bed

Seriously, receptacle locks are the hardest to defeat quickly. But the fact that it's a cheap trailer might be your best defense. (unless they plan to use it, there isn't much "profit" in stealing a cheap trailer.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Sorry to say, locks don't keep theives out, they just keep honest prople honest. In a locked building would be my guess, maybe with a vehicle parked in front-- it can still happen however---

 

[NYlakesider]

I like a hitch lock with the safety chains tightly crossed over the hitch lock and tongue and securely pad locked. That makes it even harder to get to the hitch lock and stops some one from simply crossing the chains a couple times and towing the trailer away by the chains only.

I also like to run a heavy chain through the wheel and around the frame and padlock, you can x2 if you want more protection.

 

[Scrapper]

If someone wants your trailer they'll get it when your not looking. Even if you take the wheels off it they'll use a flat bed to take it. If you put a tongue lock on it they'll get it anyway. Your best bet is to not leave it alone. Don't ask me how I know this. Surveillance is key. Locked up in a garage with cameras that you can monitor with a cell phone is most likely your best bet. Criminals are great actors and can fool almost anyone that's how they get things. Usually a friend of a friend is the culprit.

Someone needed their yard cleaned up so they hire a few people to clean up. They came back when that someone was at work. Later they we're caught at the junk yard with 400lbs of that someone's scrap lead. They were not instructed to clean up that stuff and it wasn't in a spot they were supposed to be in. Thankfully the scrap yards check everyone by getting them on video, their ID, they even fingerprint you at this one. Luckily the police were notified in time and the scrap yard was alerted.

 

[cass]

Utility trailer theft is also a big problem in my area, especially if they are stored out of sight of the house. Master lock makes a hitch lock that is very very good, but as an additional safety measure, I remove all the lug nuts from the wheels. They won't waste the effort with those two obstacles.

 

[1morethan8]

No problem.. tie this to the trailer!

 

[A10]

If anyone wants my old travel trailer, I'll PM you my address.....seriously!

 

[Maddog 521]

Leave a detailed note with the address of one on the next road over that's nicer than yours. Good luck.

 

[smokey04]

The greatest guard dog in the world is no match for pepper spray especially bear spray.If a dogs sense of smell is 400+[?] times as acute as a humans think what that spray will do to your best 4 legged friend.I wouldn't want my dog to have that happen to him/her. Nick

 

[NCW Ray]

Pretty hard to "prevent" the theft. If someone want's it bad enough they'll get it. About all you can do is try and make it more trouble than it's worth. Another thing to try is to make the tongue removable along with chaining the rear wheel(s) to the frame.

 

[billwill]

Any spot for a game cam where it is parked? Taking the lug nuts off one side sounds good.

 

[Scrapper]

You could use reverse psychology and post large signs on it saying >>> "Please Steal This". This will have them looking all over the place before they finally leave, LOL. Oh yeah, if they're illiterate it won't work.

 

[Squarebutt]

If you've got a quad, can you put a trailer ball on it and tow the trailer to a part of your property that can't be accessed by a bigger motor vehicle?
I've had a box trailer broken into and lost $1000 in tools and $500 in damage. My brother launched his 19-footer near Boston and went fishing. When he got back to the ramp his trailer was gone. He managed to arrange temporary dock space at a nearby marina and walked back to his truck. He had to buy a new trailer the next day and fetch his boat. Never found the stolen one. I hate trailer thieves.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Mobile homes are anchored to the ground by attaching the home to large eye-bolts that auger several feet into the ground. Get a couple of those installed where you intend to park your trailer and secure the trailer to the eye-bolts.

I have such an eye-bolt in the ground at our home in the mountains. We also have motion sensor outside lights.

 

[Hellraiser]

Don't use an electrical deterrence. I had a device hooked up to mine that would convey a shock... but I kept finding small animals around it where the trailer would arc off on 'em... just smoke 'em, literally. Got tired of cleanin' 'em up. Tried to think of a method of using dynamite... but couldn't figger out how not to blow up my trailer in the process. Finally said to hell with it.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Wheels off-set on blocks-heavy cable from axle to house trailer tie down under trailer-loud alarm that activates when trailer is rocked, even a little bit. Use trailer for dog house for 200# Rottweiler.

 

[Jessie]

If you're lucky, and things happen to the thief as it happens to you, the tires will go flat, the brakes will lock up, the springs will corrode through and break or the bearings will be dry and lock up welding themselves to the axle.
Other than that, insure it.

 

[boykinlp]

No problem.. tie this to the trailer!

Absolutely terrible advice!!!! I copied your picture, blew up the size, and tied it to my trailer. Trailer GONE!! Bet the dog is riding in it with the wind blowing in his face.

 

[Airpark]

My brother launched his 19-footer near Boston and went fishing. When he got back to the ramp his trailer was gone. He managed to arrange temporary dock space at a nearby marina and walked back to his truck. He had to buy a new trailer the next day and fetch his boat. Never found the stolen one. I hate trailer thieves.

Same thing happened to a friend of mine. Public Marina with lots of folks in and out all the time. Never did find it.