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Securing trailers from theft !

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:33 pm
by Swerve
OK as I got a $hit hot boat I'm worried about it getting stolen.

Even more so heading to Logan QLD at Christmas to see the inlaws and even more worried.

So what is the best way to secure trailers whilst hitched on the tow and parked stationary ?

As I have a hayman reese hitch I have weak spots straight away as they can
1- Unhitch the trailer
2- Undo the ball if I lock the release lever
3- Pull the receiver pin and take my whole hitch

Whilst hitched I'm thinking of running some additionial BIG chain which is padlocked onto the tow bar (in such a way they cannot undo anything) and then padlocked onto the trailer. This will atleast mean they need to take the complete car and boat or cut the chain/ padlock.

Hmm insurance claim would be nice, but don't want it affected

Now whilst parked in the front yard ?
Bodgy trailer hitch lock ? wheel lock ? padlock again to a fixed object ?

What do you reckon ?

Steve

PS- I remember seeing some steel chain which was almost impossible to use Bolt cutters on ?

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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:03 pm
by JWB
mmmmmmmmmmmmm

I shall keep an eye out for ya! :D

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:10 pm
by turkey
I used to do what u said of thinking of doing. I had some hell heavy duty chrome moly chain that i used to run through the drawbar of the trailer and then loop around through the towbar itself secured with a real big heavy duty lockwood padlock. Worked for me anyway :armsup:

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:12 pm
by Swerve
turkey wrote:I used to do what u said of thinking of doing. I had some hell heavy duty chrome moly chain that i used to run through the drawbar of the trailer and then loop around through the towbar itself secured with a real big heavy duty lockwood padlock. Worked for me anyway :armsup:
Where do you buy the GOOD chain, my local fastener shop, don't do chain, Bunnng is crap ?

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:44 pm
by zagan
Swerve wrote:
turkey wrote:I used to do what u said of thinking of doing. I had some hell heavy duty chrome moly chain that i used to run through the drawbar of the trailer and then loop around through the towbar itself secured with a real big heavy duty lockwood padlock. Worked for me anyway :armsup:
Where do you buy the GOOD chain, my local fastener shop, don't do chain, Bunnng is crap ?
If your after real chain look to the UK and get some motorbike chain, there's a bike chain/lock the chain is 2kgs in weight and the lock is 1.5kgs in weight.

A link is 1.5inches thick with steel lined plastic cover it's 1/1.5metre long.

Still doesn't stop bikes being stolen in UK but it makes it real hard.

You can get that chain here, cost a bit though.

lol in the bike mag they said if you want to pop wheelies easy just have that chain/lock on the back.

nah

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:45 pm
by stormpatrol
Forget the chain idea go the cable MASTER LOCK make a big range of cable locks , very hard to chop takes a deal of time as for chain one or two chops and your are away , also were ya hayman reese pin goes through the hitch you can also padlock this pin , instead of the [R ] clip , also padlock the safety chains to ya car , how far do you go trailer wheel locks etc , it can be endless :D

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:47 pm
by BundyRumandCoke
Remember, any theft deterrant is only that, a deterrant. It wont stop a commited thief. You can only slow him down.

Does your coupling have a hole through body and handle? A lock can be placed through both so coupling is locked onto towball. The same can be done for the HR pin. You could also crossdrill the towball nut and shaft, and pin this.

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:58 pm
by Ruffy
Have a look here at these products.
http://www.couplemate.com.au/index1.html?c35.html&1

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:46 pm
by SIMMO84
Dont know wat kind of trailer brakes you have but i do know people that adjust the brakes on the trailer so there locked. Depending on your brakes only takes a couple of seconds but like the others said it wont stop them just slow them down.

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:19 pm
by pongo
the chain your thinking of is made from cast iron.

at the end of the day theyll just flog your car as well

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:54 pm
by turkey
Swerve wrote:
turkey wrote:I used to do what u said of thinking of doing. I had some hell heavy duty chrome moly chain that i used to run through the drawbar of the trailer and then loop around through the towbar itself secured with a real big heavy duty lockwood padlock. Worked for me anyway :armsup:
Where do you buy the GOOD chain, my local fastener shop, don't do chain, Bunnng is crap ?
Not sure if ya have Nobles over there, thats where I got it I think was a long time ago. And it would take a fair set of bolt cutters and some pretty fuggan hefty biceps to cut this shit

Re: nah

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:59 pm
by bogged
stormpatrol wrote:Forget the chain idea go the cable MASTER LOCK make a big range of cable locks , very hard to chop takes a deal of time as for chain one or two chops and your are away
I agree with tis.
If your really keen, change the hitch to a Treg type...
Not many thieves will have one of those on the stolen commodore they will tow your boat away with.

Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:53 pm
by azwa
insure it ;) because if thievin scum want it then it doesn't matter what you do :!: dont flaunt it or leave it on the street for easy pickins & you should be right ;) the scum would rather take ya gps as they can go swap that for a whack up the arm :D

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:08 am
by rigger329
Hi

had 24ft on dual axle tralier. i used to put a length of good chain through the rims on same side and lock with big lock ( sometimes i did both sides )
never had any problems it takes them too long and too much noise getting it off.

cheers ed

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:05 am
by ofr57
I know people who have set bloody big chains into the concrete slab then pad locked it on.

also you can get one of those trailer locks that go around the hitch

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:33 am
by SIM79
Take all the wheels of the trailer.

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:13 am
by sierrajim
There is a trailer coupling lock called Talon, when on the car, you can lock the trailer on, when off you can lock the safety chains inside the clamp which disables the hitch and the ability to drag the trailer away using the chains.

Beyond that buy a wheel clamp as well, they're not too dear.

Chain is a waste of time, when you buy the stuff they cut it to length using bolt cutters :idea:

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:21 am
by phippsy
I drilled the pin on the hitch out a little bit and used a padlock on it, only downfall was when the lock filled with crap, it made it hard to unlock and remove the hitch.

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:54 pm
by bru21
pad locks are weak as. 95% of them can be undone without any tools.

I think a good insurance policy is the best anti theft.

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:03 pm
by V8 Middy
SIM79 wrote:Take all the wheels of the trailer.
sierrajim wrote:
Beyond that buy a wheel clamp as well, they're not too dear.
I think you have your best 2 options there... and of course insure it anyway cos you never know what might happen on or off the water

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:58 pm
by Skegbudley
If you want some chain that you won't cut with bolt cutters. Check out Serafini Chains. We tested some at work once and my boltcutters that used to cut 24mm y-bar wouldn't cut it. No match for my 9" grinder. :twisted:

http://www.serafinichains.com/

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:44 pm
by michael a
I Would stop puttings ads all over the net that you have it.

Re: nah

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:36 pm
by zagan
stormpatrol wrote:Forget the chain idea go the cable MASTER LOCK make a big range of cable locks , very hard to chop takes a deal of time as for chain one or two chops and your are away , also were ya hayman reese pin goes through the hitch you can also padlock this pin , instead of the [R ] clip , also padlock the safety chains to ya car , how far do you go trailer wheel locks etc , it can be endless :D
Do you mean this crap?

http://www.masterlock.com/cgi-bin/class ... earch.y=14

Get ya self a cold chesil and a hammer and spend an half hour to hour and you'll be through it.

Have a mate who had his dirt bikes with this cable lock crap and the 2 kid out the back were using a wood chesil and a hammer and was about half way through they got busted by the guy next door who rang up my mate who chased the kids away he showed me the cable lol onbly 2-3 strands left before it was cut through.

And these 2 videos show you how to open a locked master lock.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WbVZER_WhPc

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=zHXgOxSGznE


This is the bike chain I'm talking about something decent.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcyc ... ock-chain/


ANother the beast Chain.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-lock/

The whole reason why I say look to the UK and bikes is that bikes get flogged like kids grabbing lollies in a shop.

So companies over there go above over board in terms of chains and locks.

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:26 am
by amtravic1
I use a Talon Lock to secure my work trailer. There is no way that is coming off without an angle grinder. Secures the coupling to the car or off the car. They are much cheaper now than when I bought one.
http://www.bilock.net/talon.pdf

Ian

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:28 am
by Eddy351
Everyone is focusing on the mechanical sides of security but dont forget to let your neighbours know you will be away and to keep an eye out.


If you will be keeping your boat in the same position most of the time dig a hold underneath the rear axle and fill with cement or if you already have concrete just get a plate bolted into that. Then just wrap a chain around the axle and hook it into the plate with a padlock. Its not obvious so if the thieves dont check it then they will take off hard and get one hell of a shock and make a hell of alot of noise

Re: nah

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:15 am
by bogged
zagan wrote:Get ya self a cold chesil and a hammer and spend an half hour to hour and you'll be through it..
which you could say about any device. 20mins with an oxy will get you through most things too...

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:27 pm
by me3@neuralfibre.com
Where do you keep it?

I'll *watch* it for you :)

Paul

Re: Securing trailers from theft !

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:40 pm
by 80's_delirious
Swerve wrote:OK as I got a $hit hot boat I'm worried about it getting stolen.
Best bet is. . . Dont post pics on the internet saying "look at my shithot boat thats not secured. Wanna come and get it?"

Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:08 am
by Yom
SIM79 wrote:Take all the wheels of the trailer.
he's parking it in Logan.

The locals will do this for him. Free of charge too.

:finger:

Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 8:45 am
by chunderlicious
its great that everyone is saying put hitch locks etc. on it, but your forgetting the hitch is bolted on. if i was going to steal something that big id sus it out then go buy or steel a new hitch and replace them.

anything that is BOLTED can be undone. padocks are piss easy to bypass and most have picking directions on the net for anyone who wants to do it.

give it to a mate or someone you trust and tell them they can use it just make sure it is safe. im sure it is insured allready as that getting stolen wouldbe painful.

get something made from plate, like 50x4/5mm plate and make something that covers the whole hitch and brake then lock the brakes.do it up with a padlock in an impossible to bolt cut or grind place, done... trust me they are hard to get off when you forget where the keys are, took me 45mins of grindingto cut the whole contraption off.