Trailer security recommendations

[Starcraft5834]

Super thrilled to pick up our new Starcraft Toon tomorrow on new galvanized Shorelandr tandom with breaks.... fear is.. if I was a criminal, I'd sure like to steal the trailer off my tow vehicle while I was in the lake floating around.... that said.. I've got locking pin and also want to purchase case hardened chain to run though the trailer frame back to the hitch holes. Abus? any other security chain you guys are aware of I should consider. thanks much...

 

[GA_Boater]

Use the case hardened chain on a Doberman and put out a large bowl of water.

Put a padlock through the coupler latch. The ball mount is locked to hitch and the coupler is locked to the ball.

 

[gm280]

Let's face it, if a thief really wants your trailer, they will take it. Make it as hard for them to do that is all you can do! Short of welding everything together, locks are all you can do!

 

[porscheguy]

Also remember that most criminals are lazy. Even a simple theft deterrent like a padlock on the coupler will convince 99% of thieves to move onto the next (easier) target. That aside, keep your insurance premium paid up. If someone really wants it, you’re covered.

 

[Starcraft5834]

yea.. true, removing hitch ball with pins on the BW hitch I got not much of a chore for thief.. cutting a case hardened chain off from the trailer frame to the hitch where the safety chain connects with heavy lock my best option.. I plan on making it as hard as possible...

 

[JASinIL2006]

By locking pin, I assume you mean a locking pin for the ball hitch latch. Don't forget to lock the hitch receiver to the vehicle with something like this.

 

[MTboatguy]

I honestly can not remember hearing of an empty boat trailer being stolen at a boat ramp. During the boating months, normally there is a pretty good flow of traffic at boat ramps and to much activity to make it an attractive target. I just put a hardened padlock on the coupler to ball mount and really don't worry about it. I have seen guys run a long bike chain lock through their trailer wheel around the frame of the trailer so the wheel won't turn, but that is about as extreme as I have seen.

 

[Silvertip]

Even if the coupler has a lock, unless the yoke adjusting nut beneath the coupler has a bit of weld on it, a thief with a wrench can undo the nut and the trailer is gone. A Bar through the wheels with a lock and anything else you can do to at least slow them down and draw attention to themselves in the process would help. I've told the story here before about a buddy who had his snowmobiles chained to his trailer, the trailer chained to a light pole, and a bar through the wheels. The thieves cut the chain around the pole and dragged the trailer with wheels sliding for about a mile to an alley where the sleds were removed and put on another trailer. Never found. Cops followed the skid marks but little good it did. Point is, if they want your trailer bad enough, they will get it. Just a thought, but why not install a hidden GPS locator. Won't prevent theft, but may allow it's recovery.

 

[Sprig]

However many locks you use, keep keys for them on your key ring and most important keep spares hidden somewhere in your vehicle. I have a friend who lost his keys while out fishing. He had a spare for his truck but not for the security locks on the trailer. He found out first hand how difficult it would be to steal his trailer.

 

[Cortes100]

I agree if they want it they'll take it. But to slow things down, I do have a padlock on the receiver, on the coupler, and also lock the spare tire.

 

[dingbat]

I've never heard of a trailer being stolen at the ramp.

A couple of years back there where several incidents where someone (kids) where removing receiver pins and walking away. Nice crash as you backed the trailer down the ramp,... if you made it that far before the receiver came out.

I have a MasterLock coupler lock and replacement value boat insurance....

Someone stealing the boat is probably doing me a favor

 

[GA_Boater]

Boy are you gonna be mad when the trailer is towed away with your own tow vehicle.

 

[tramsdell]

Boy are you gonna be mad when the trailer is towed away with your own tow vehicle.

This. Lock the car, put a padlock on the tongue. Make it look secure. In all reality it's just about making it look like hard money. Idk if u guys have ever tried to swap a trailer to another vehicle by taking the ball mount oit of the reciever... not easy. Make it nearly imposible by locking the tongue jack "up". Two pack of matching combi locks is maybe 15 bux id call it done at that point. Personally i dont like the locking pins because they are a pita and if it corrodes while its in because you left it on for a month or so... that's not gonna knock out with a drift punch.

 

[JimS123]

Well, y'all haven't heard of stolen trailers at the ramp, huh!!! A few years back we had a rash of them at the heaviest used ramp in my town. I told my buddy about it and suggested he get a lock. He said "don't worry 'bout it", and the next week his was gone too.

Secure the trailer coupler to the ball with a lock, with a second lock between the ball mount and the receiver. They even make kits of the 2 locks that are keyed alike.

All too often I see trailers sitting at the ramp with no such provisions at all.

As others have said, they will get it if they want it, but an unlocked trailer sitting next to a locked one will be the first one to go.

 

[H20Rat]

Mentioned above, depending on the trailer, locking the jack up is actually a really good idea! If you have a trailer that is heavy on the tongue unloaded, locking the jack up will make it really, really difficult! My deck boat is pretty hefty, and even though it is a single axle trailer, that thing is HEAVY. I wouldn't stand a chance of man-handling it around without the jack, it probably is 250 to 300# of weight.

Depending on your ramp, just back into your parking spot. Put the trailer tire against the curb. Without moving the vehicle or the ones next to you, your trailer is pretty much theftproof. (obviously if you don't have parking spaces with a curb behind it, won't work)

 

[JASinIL2006]

If you want to go full bore, you could buy a boot for the trailer tire....

 

[Starcraft5834]

thanks all.. yes locking the jack up on a heavy unit is one of the best solutions... true.. the tongue weight is unmanageable without it... and yes, the locking pin referred to the hitch receiver... first time in my life Im out of the old boat/junk business.. new is exciting., want to protect it as best as I can...

 

[oldjeep]

Best bet would be to move somewhere with less crime Never heard of anyone stealing a trailer at a launch around here, and it isn't un common for there to be a couple dozen expensive inboard trailers in the parking lot.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

I think insurance is the only real solution. There’s some very difficult to remove wheel locks ( wheel chalks not lug nuts) but there also heavy expensive and less easy to install a removable tongue is a good idea but its not an option on bigger boat trailers. As far a theft proof pins and locks for the tongue no tongue lock makes me feel secure . I’ve known several people whose trailers were stolen on a boat launch.

 

[Cat nip]

Have someone talented airbrush the trailer to look like a rusty piece of junk then lock the receiver the tounge and the tounge jack and finally get a couple pitbulls with aids and tie them up to it with twine. Seriously though a few locks and good insurance is your best bet.