Re: Does anyone use "Trailerlock"
I've drilled most of my coupler latches to take an armored pad lock, the others get a standard hitch lock, I also lock the receiver into my hitch and have the bolt and nuts on my hitch tack welded. It all depends on the area where you boat and what the security is like. I normally leave my boat at a guarded ramp where someone that I know is there at all times. I could leave my keys in the truck there and not worry.
A lock is only a deterrent and the best you can hope for it that they pass over yours for one that's not locked. If they want it bad enough, they will get it, even if they have to drag the whole rig onto a car hauler.
There's also not much that will stop a thief that's armed with a torch. I've seen bumpers, hitches and trailer tongues cut off in order to get at a boat. So I doubt a wheel boot style lock would stop them. A power saw of any type with an abrasive disk will also defeat most locks if they aren't concerned about noise.
(You would be surprised at what some people will let go unnoticed at a busy ramp, most people wouldn't even stop or say a word to someone hacking at a trailer, a buddy of mine used to chain all four of his trailer wheels to each other, including the frame and anything he could get close enough to the wrap the chain around. He upset his boat one day and lost his keys, he called me from a pay phone and I showed up with a small torch and my Stihl TS350 just in case. The chain he used had links nearly 1/2" thick, so I opted for the power saw, which is basically a large chainsaw motor with a metal cutting wheel. I made short work of the last link on the chain, and there was people everywhere, not a one said a word or paid any attention to what I was doing. I was there by myself, my buddy was dealing with getting the boat ready to load. I could have been steeling it and not one person would have cared or noticed. The proceeded to slim jim open his truck, pull the ignition switch plug from the dash and hot wired the truck and backed it down the ramp. I would have at least expected someone to wander over to see what I was doing, I was expecting someone to call the police, we even took our time after loading figuring that someone had to have at least called the police, but no one did anything).
