Any way to lock a trailer against theft?

[Yarnie]

Stupid question, but I am looking at a drift boat...and I live in an apartment complex...in Oakland, CA.
I am moving soon but that's beside the point.
What I want to know is, is there any way to immobilize a trailer? I was thinking of running chain through the hubs?
Any advice, other than not living in Oakland, is appreciated..
Thanks.

[Bloom]

I think if you run the heavy chain through the wheels, another from the axle to a nearby post as well as a coupler lock, you're doing about as much as you can to at least deter the thieving $@&*#%&s.What about a motion alarm?

[baitsauce]

Thieves are lazy by their very nature. You can use that against them by simply putting your trailer on blocks and removing your tires and wheels and stroing them someplace else (if possible). If not you can still remove the tires and wheels, put them in your boat, and run a cable and lock through them. Then take the lug nuts inside your apartment and keep them on the window sill or something. Since thieves are lazy, they'll consider it to much work and go on to an easier target. :D

:twocents:

//

[Highmark]

A friend of mine has had 2 drift boat trailer taken, Till he came to me.
First off have the hitch bolts welded so it can not be taken off. That
is how they removed one from his pickup.The other he is not sure about
But both times it was at the boat ramp and both had locks on them.
If you remove the hitch. they can not pull it. That stops them dead
Some one said that thieves are lazy. If there is no hitch they can not
hook it up to pull it away. And I do not think they are going to push it
down the road. BUt if you have it welded on make sure to have the
bolt that holds the ball retainer welded to. they can just remove the nut
and the hitch will come right off the ball.....it's gone. it's gone again...

[bluehewes]

Thieves are lazy by their very nature. You can use that against them by simply putting your trailer on blocks and removing your tires and wheels and stroing them someplace else (if possible). If not you can still remove the tires and wheels, put them in your boat, and run a cable and lock through them. Then take the lug nuts inside your apartment and keep them on the window sill or something. Since thieves are lazy, they'll consider it to much work and go on to an easier target. :D

:twocents:

//

Not to mention it's good for your tires to put on blocks if you plan on not using your trailer for a while.

[fishkisser]

When I lived in unsavory neighborhoods I built a trailer tongue that could be removed and stashed in My apartment ...
Not only was there nothing to hook up to , but my trailer fit in closer quarters than before ...
It only works if you have no brakes though , should be fine for your trailer ...:twocents:

[pathfinder]

[quote=baitsauce;2498676]Thieves are lazy by their very nature. You can use that against them by simply putting your trailer on blocks and removing your tires and wheels and stroing them someplace else (if possible). If not you can still remove the tires and wheels, put them in your boat, and run a cable and lock through them. Then take the lug nuts inside your apartment and keep them on the window sill or something. Since thieves are lazy, they'll consider it to much work and go on to an easier target. :D

:twocents:
Yep,,,,cable and pad locks ...Lock up the tounge ,,,cable and pad lock through the wheel and around the axle....:flowered: Then lay some 45acp brass around on the ground by the trailer,,,hopefully they get the hint!

[benny boy]

I would say to make sure and lock the tongue as always and perhaps lock it down with just a ball inside so it is tight on something, weld your bolts on for the tongue as well so it can't be unbolted and either run chains or cables through the wheels. The more you do the better you are, as was said most criminals are lazy. Also if you back your boat into a spot think about unhooking and pulling it straight into a spot, this requires the thiefs to manually push the boat out before they can hook up, meaning they would have to get rid of cables and locks ahead of time too. Good luck, I guess there is always the rental of a storage unit?

[Road Rage]

We cut the "bolt" off of a trailer ball, and lock it into the coupler. The coupler is welded to the frame of the trailer. With the ball in the coupler, it makes it more difficult to use any smaller ball inside an empty/locked coupler to drag the trailer away.

The best chains to use are forged-link chains, as you can not cut them with standard bolt cutters. Motor cycle shops sell these chains, for cycle theft prevention. Also the links are octogon is cross-section making them more difficult to cut.

[Yarnie]

Wow guys, some great ideas here. I really appreciate it.
While were at it, any thoughts on Gorilla Guard coupler locks versus other less expensive brands? Are they better than just locking a ball in there<I hadn't even thought of that>?
Thanks again,
Jeff

[IDWITHELD]

I use the standard coupler ball lock. The one with the steel hoop that locks over the top of the coupler.
last summer I rented a wood splitter from Home Depot. The guy could not locate the key for the coupler lock. He returns with a cordless sawz-all. Took him 10 seconds to cut through that steel hoop. Geez, that sucks for me.

The secret to perfect security is..................layers.
The more layers the more time it takes to penetrate.
Time is not a thief's friend.

[loveseafood]

im going to put a nice enclosed top pad lock on the hitch then since my trailer has small 12' wheels im going to use one of those criptonite/titanium u locks for bicycles and secure it to the frame or spring and through the rim