A dirty trick I learned in my farm boy days that I posted about on another camper's video is to loosen the lug nuts on the passenger side. Yeah the hub will get wrecked but typically you'll find your trailer a couple miles down the road. A farmer down the road from my uncles place did that with some hoppers full of grain that he left parked next to his field overnight. Someone stole one of them but he found it down the road and the perps truck was upside down in the ditch in front of it. The cops traced the vehicle and of course the owner tried to say it had been stolen but that didn't fly and the guy ended up doing prison time for grain theft.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. As a police officer I always advise people to do layering as you suggest. Something else you might do is park the trailer behind a locked fence or in a shop if available. Some folks park equipment or vehicles in front of their trailers so they can't be unlawfully hauled away. As far as out in the woods camping, your ideas are spot on. And like you said, anything you own can be stolen by a thief no matter how much security you have. Add a small inexpensive tracking device to the trailer if you think it could get stolen so guys like me can track down the thieves and see that they are arrested.
I use a coupler lock, outrigger pins with padlocks, removable chains, (which have a link welded to the frame and can be used to lock the wheels to the frame, a wheel boot, locked hardened steel bar through both wheels and leaf springs, GPS tracker, motorcycle alarm, a 130lb dog and a 10mm auto.
I pull the hubs off on mine if they have to be left. But I ziptie a plastic bag over the spindles. There will always be some residual grease once you pull the hubs, but if left exposed long enough, they will rust from the rain washing the grease off.
I'm doing a cargo trailer build right now. The base trailer is from Colorado Offroad Trailers. The trailer came with a removable ball hitch. It has a hitch pin just like what your truck has to secure the ball hitch in the square receiver tube. When traveling I use a locking hitch pin (again, just like my ball hitch on my truck). When I'm camping, I remove the ball hitch from the trailer and stash it in a nearby bush. Unless the thieves have a trailer ball hitch that fits in the square receiver tube on the trailer, the trailer is not going to be towed anywhere.
You could cut some bicycle inner tubes up to the size ( width) of your puck locks to keep dust/ dirt out of the locks, or perhaps some size of plastic cups cut down to fit, or perhaps a tennis ball cut to go over them, loved your granddaughters at the end, cracked me up, the little camera hams, lol.
I use xchocks with a padlock, chains wrapped around the hitch, 3/8 in steel rope around frame and a tree or post. Locking lug nuts also. The more time it takes the thief the less likely they will look for something easier.
Much better security than your last video on the subject! I am a retired cop and ran a dump trailer rental business for the last three years so trailer security was a serious subject for me.
I never leave anything of much value behind in my trailer and prefer to keep it with me in the car. For one thing, I think the insurance is better that way in case my car gets broken into.
Again thank you for the informative video, excellent advice as usual. Down by us in the city of Milwaukee they use battery sawzalls. They steal catalytic converters like mad. The car theft here is horrendous, 6600 cars stolen last year that's what the radio program said anyway.
I park my travel trailer in my yard. It is visible from the road. My main theft deterrent is a logging chain through the wheels, around the axle and then the chain goes around a tree trunk that is 2 ft. diameter. In the case of a WalMart parking lot, you could wrap the chain around a lamppost. The determined thief can use a power cut off grinding wheel to cut the chain. Same is true of the extra short safety chains. A respectable thief will carry the safety chain extensions as part of his tool kit for criminal activity. A more expensive (and effective) theft deterrent would be the tire boot, like the cops use for illegally parked cars. That would require the use of theft-proof lug nuts to prevent the thieves from bringing their own wheels to replace the booted wheels. The trick is to make it more difficult for the thief to circumvent your trailer's security system. But not so difficult that you can't unlock it yourself :-) I think the best design is a Hurbo Clamp wheel lock. Expensive (about $70) and heavy (about 15 pounds). www.amazon.com/Hurbo-Adjustable-Anti-Theft-Parking-Trailer/dp/B07D73FYWY
When I extended my tongue I welded the new tongue back on. Now I'm drilling pin holes for future pins and grinding the welds off so the tongue will be free. Then I'll use appropriate hardness bolts/nuts to secure the tongue and then I can easily remove it when parked, along with my chains. then I stash all of my towing equipment into my tow container and store in my Hauler
Most modern cars need you to put your foot on the brake pedal so they will start the circuit won't work with a blown brake light fuse I put an extra wire on my camp trailer plug from the stop light to ground I came back from a hike to new friends at the camp site with a car that would not start
hello from the Ozarks! I just use the removable tongue and hang my motion sensors in my camping area like trees bushes to make loud noise so the theifs or critters go somewhere else. cheers!
You are right about the Master padlocks. Don't buy anything made by Masters. It is true any lock can be picked but some are very hard to be picked. Buy ABUS locks made in Germany or buy Bowley padlocks made in Canada. These locks require special tools and a very skilled locksmith to unlock them.
Awesome locks, but for many of us they are just to expensive. True it's money well spent to prevent a major loss, but for people like myself, a disabled Vet on limited income I can't afford them. Maybe some day. Great video, thanks
Excellent video and observations about layers of defense. I used an ABUS lock with a Blaylock coupler lock for my RV because of price and reviews. The locks you used look pretty bullet proof.
Watched this video and subbed. Wow. You are setting viewers up to keep their trailers safe. I also camp remote by myself- I have driveway alarms set up in a perimeter that let me know someone/something has entered the perimeter. Seen a lot of deer and one bear who was ran off with a marine air horn.
I don't travel with a trailer but do tow my Honda CRV behind my Class C. When I had the tow bar installed, I had a locking bar attached where the hitch goes into the receiver, and additionally the pins that attache the tow bar to the car are locking as well. Because when you are towing a car with all four on the ground, the keys are in the ignition, making it easy pickings for anyone deciding to disconnect the tow bar from the car. As you suggested, a determined thief is hard to stop, but anyone looking for an easy mark, will look twice when he realizes how tough it is to disconnect my car from my RV. We do what we can to protect our stuff. If you catch them in the act, well, all bets are off.
@@gonagain ,yes waste of money on the others, I have purchased 👎Thanks for the great review,I will definitely be looking into getting them for the Future.👍👊😉
I like that hitch lock. I had seen one a while back on RU-vid that also held the chains which I thought was a good idea. Also safety chains I wonder how many times they’re actually needed and when I think of semi’s driving down the road with thousands of pounds of cargo and no safety chains and a 2 1/2 inch pin or so in the hitch, makes you go HUM.
That's a Proven Industries ball hitch lock. They're not cheap, but I think they're the best. I also use their wheel boot along with two different brands of anti theft lugnuts on that same wheel. That's why I feel that I can leave my trailer unattended for awhile at times.
Very informative! I agree with your comment to get out and enjoy our travels! Understandably, one should not allow the actions of others to effect our quality of life! Thank you for bringing to light the risks associated with our hobby! Take Care
Have you thought of the way a less positioned person might have to combat theft, because it happens to us on the road and rv parks etc... My favorite is an array of tiny fish hooks, it is a spool and their leaving DNA. Another thing is the old fashioned window stick lock block. Odd things to trip them inside, if they get in, their going to fall, if the twist open my cargo door, their leaving dna. I use a combination of fine dust, one that can only come from my camper and impossible to get off in a hurry, and never fully come off and out of shoes, socks and clothing.
I run a thick stranded cable through both wheels and springs with a heavy duty lock under the trailer. When stopping for the night at a hotel I run a thick cable from the trailer through the rear wheel of the truck as well to keep them together. i also do many of the things you do. In the end I have good insurance, but would hate to lose the time and experience of the trip I am on.
Yea, some things I agree with, but I also buy insurance that covers the replacement Set at quadruple the value of the trailer and what’s inside ( video serial numbers).
1. Remove all but one lug nut, they might not notice and will be surprised when the wheel comes off. 2. Id like to figure out a way to trigger the emergency brake if moved. 3. An interior dead bolt that only a magnet can move. 4. Interior remote control electric locks. 5. A remote or keypad alarm or at least an alarm sticker. 6. Dead bolt one door from the inside then get creative on the remaining door. 7 remove one rivet or screw from the exterior and have a solenoid switch on the other side or deadbolt that you stick a nail or rod through to unlock, no one will notice a missing screw.
Put your trailer on jack stands, take the wheels off and take them, take the head off the tongue and take it with you, get a tazer and wire both sides to the door, frame anywhere they may touch. An electric fence wired to your trailer can keep hands off.
As you know, I work PT at our local gun shop. Well, it is also home for our local Master Locksmith and I get to fiddle with many different types of locks. We have available many different devices for picking locks, but I stick with the tried & true picks method. The internals of those proven locks are quite difficult to pick, but they can be picked. My set of picks stay at the shop, because even as an employee, if they are found in my private car and not the business vehicle, I'm just another thief & would certainly do a stretch, that's how the law is here. "Locks only keep honest thieves out."
Stone the crows no, lmao. Those locks you have look like disc tumbler locks and they are really hard to pick. I’ve fluked it once, or twice lol. They’re far more secure than pin tumbler locks.
The key looks similar to an Abloy disc detainer. Would be rare to see someone with a disc detainer pick. Good choice. One thing to note is that often times on those puck locks, there’s a core retaining pin or screw that can be drilled and exposed if the pin is perpendicular to the face of the lock. Basically what that means is if someone pulls the core, measures the retention pin placement, then locates the spot to drill, they can do that to all of those locks. Basically what a locksmith would do. So I suggest checking that out, and if it’s vulnerable, look for a puck lock that can’t be drilled.
If you trailer has things inside, just to make the theft difficult, put a solar feed alarm with a sirene and the alarm must be those that start when the trailer is shaked .
The Brahma Wheel Lock is outstanding. It prevents access to the lug nuts and prevents the wheel from even turning. It's expensive but worth it. I also use the Proven Industries ball hitch lock too. The two of them together make the opportunist go somewhere else. As you say, it deters the amateur. Cheers! BTW, video idea... what spare parts do you travel with?
There is something that I would like to add to this video. If the trailer has a shore power connection, unplug and remove the shore power cord. Lock out the shore power connector. If this is not possible to remove the shore power cord, lock the hatch for the shore power cord. Make it very difficult for thieves to be able to plug into shore power. Then, lights and electrical outlets aren't going to work. That greatly reduces the value of the trailer to a thief. My work trailer has two fluorescent lights and a 15-amp GFCI inside. I lock out the shore power cord so that a thief isn't able to plug my trailer into shore power. Lights don't work. That also makes it very difficult for thieves to find things.
The cheap little magnet switch alarms are another deterrent, you can even wore them up to a louder horn. So if they bypass something, they it starts squalling and they won't know how to shut it off if you hide it.
Need some camouflaged tire spikes that can be hidden under some leaves right where the vehicle would back up to the trailer. It would be hard to drive off with 2 flat rear tires. Just dont forget it is there.
I like that. One guy said that he would reverse his trailer wiring (he had a battery) and that anyone who hooked up his trailer lights immediately shorted out their vehicle wiring.
Great information on the locks saw a video that they drill a hole in the center of it and pop the lock open and they get in so I don't know if they have something is not drillable on the face of the puck lock.
In doing these two videos I've learned that all locks can be defeated if a person really wants what it is that you have. That's why I recommend that you use "layers" of defense and don't just rely on one thing. If you put a couple of good locks on your trailer and keep it lit up at night that's the best you can do. It'll make the thief look for easier pickings. Thank you for watching Thomas!
Yeah, it's a big problem for sure. That's why I suggested putting on more than one lock and that you use good ones that would take a little while to cut through. Make the thief either go away or have to create a lot of noise to get what he wants. I never keep anything of value in the trailer at all.
Thanks for the video. After watching, I went to the Proven Locks website and discovered that the hitch lock also is made to lock the chains so it covers two bases. You didn't mention that in you video. Perhaps you weren't aware or neglected to mention it?
Not at the time this video was made. They are constantly improving their products and made the newer ones a little larger so that there's room for the chains to pass through.
Hello DA, after some research I did find out how to lock my chains with the Proven Industries hitch lock. It wasn't exactly intuitive! Thanks for mentioning it.
Hey Gonagain, Came across a u tube video. About installing a car alarm in a cargo trailer. They had all the trailer lights flashing and siren. That could be one to add to your list.
That's actually one idea that I think has merit. One commenter said he cut a hole in the floor and aimed the horn down through it so that it couldn't be disabled from outside. Thanks for your comment Thomas!
Proven Locks sure look good, but they are beyond most peoples' budget. I am going to have to start off with the "cheap" ball lock like the one you had. I also already have the "cheap" boot. My biggest concern on the trailer that I just bought is that the side door only has a weak door handle with a weak deadbolt that someone could break in seconds. So, I am going to have to buy a cam bar lock assembly for the side door as soon as I can.
The cam bar secures it pretty well, but I have to say that the Proven Industries ball hitch lock and their wheel boot really do give you peace of mind whenever you leave your trailer unattended. They're better than any other thing out there, so try to save up as you can so that you can get them at some point. They're the reason that Linda and I can go off exploring or shopping and not have to worry about our trailer while we're gone. Thanks for watching!
I’m going to be a newbie camper next September (picking up my Casita). I am preparing ahead of time, but is camping worth all this? I’m really starting to have buyer’s remorse already. At age 69, this seems like a lot of hassle just to “enjoy” the outdoors. Well, at any rate, I subscribed to your extremely interesting channel. Guess I’ll do what I can (I like the motion sensor/loud siren idea as well as those Proven Industries locks), keep good insurance, and travel with plenty of ammo.
Hello Michelle, yes it's more than worth it and you are going to love every minute of the time you spend traveling and exploring this country. Keep us posted on how you're doing!
I have moved chicken coops and buildings with my trailer and no winch. 2-3 people some pipes and small buildings will roll. Neighbors ice shed was the biggest I have moved it is 8x28 and heavy.
Never want to make people worry, just to know there are ways to make it harder for a thief to get so easy , like my dad said lock are to keep the law abiding that way ...
Thanks again for the great info! I have the cheap ball hitch lock you showed, and the master locks on the rear end and side door. I think I might want to invest in something a bit “toughr” for sure! Beautiful grand children!
Great Video! I am curious, why do you have a Cam Bar on your man door? Is it for security or safety? Is there an issue with these doors opening while driving?
@@docholiday6421 that was going to be my comment and I think I'll follow that advice and get a GPS tracker however if I caught someone hauling a weigh my trailer I am afraid I'd want to mangle their body then call the cops
@@perriprevost Track! $25 on Amazon + $20/month (but you can turn the monthly plan on and off as needed). Works fairly well unless there is no cell signal. Hide it well and power it with 12v to USB adapter. It messages you when it moves and you can track it real time or by the history logs.
FYI I had my trailer broken into . Had a similar lock on back doors. Thief actually cut thru the latch with bolt cutters . So the lock itself was no help what so ever
There's nothing to stop a determined thief, if nothing else they will cut right through the walls of the trailer. I try to keep my trailer parked where it's visible from the house and is well lit. I also use multiple devices to secure it, like both a ball hitch lock AND a wheel boot or chain. Then there's insurance. Some people use GPS trackers, but that only works AFTER your trailer has been stolen. I think it's best to do all you can to secure it in the first place. Good luck!
This is good .. oh my how things have changed and not all of them for the better .. Back when i went to my favorite hardware store 30 years ago , in one isle there were 4-5 hooks that had Master locks hanging up , today the same store has 2 isles filled with items to stop thieves from hauling off your cargo trailer , ya it's changed alright .. 20 years ago even you didn't find these toys on the market , but today you have welding kits to weld your lug nuts on so thieves don't steal your wheels .. oh my and the std ball hitch , now on that item , the sky is the limit for what you can do or install .. Hitches that come off just like the stinger in your truck hitch , pretty cool idea .. I have seen RV units parked that looked like Fort Knox good way to put it , has the owner been hit before , i'll bet they have ... I see where the dealers are installing computer key pads on diesel tractors in their lot for sale , they got tired of trucks pulling up @3am and thieves driving brand new tractors inside a cargo trailer , shut the back , drive off just like they owned it .. unreal ..
The quality locks aren't cheap either, but it's the best a person can do these days and it's the only reason that we're able to leave our trailer for any length of time.
@@gonagain Oh for sure I agree with you, that's the way it is, and there seems to be no end to it... This couple was headed to the next side to camp ( this is good) they didn't stop anywhere in the town they were driving through except long stop lights.. When they arrived at the new site, backed in and parked . Walked around back of their RV and the rack on the back of their RV that contained their Honda generator and fuel , was all gone, tie down straps were all cut just hanging there.. Stoped at one of the two long traffic lights was the only way it could have happened he said as they made no other stops.. I had to think about that one.. When I pull up camp anywhere, my Honda is locked up inside the vehicle, fuel (metal can ) also..My spare tire is on the back has lock and chain on it..
@@normanmallory2055 We leave nothing of value in our trailer, but that doesn't stop it from being stolen from our car. I cover everything to keep it out of sight at least.
@@gonagain I cover items inside my RV .. If thieves did get in , they are going to have to do a search to find nothing of value.. I cover items inside my truck with just a fleece throw before I hit the trail.. One very popular trailhead here where I live became no man's land at 3am .. 30+ vehicles parked , every one had a side window smashed out.. I used to have my friend just drop me off at the trailhead.. not leaving mine parked there..
Alsu,beware filling. Stations where someone rushes up too your xehicle when you are clearly traveling. Have cash and want tostay un the move. Gut could squirt some flud, say you goy a leak. Tell him or that you drove through some p. Oak or ivy. Do not act passive. Only time to be that passive is whe you have a thermometer in your .....
I want to put vinyl business sign on the 14' cargo trailer I want to convert into a camper that says: "NRC Industries Asbestos and Radiological Decontamination"
Just attach a bomb device to it with a 2 second delay. Add a warning sign that if activated will blow up. Or... about 100 feet away add a few land mines around... Kidding of course... great video!
Good you asked. Replace the lugnuts with anti theft ones and use two different brands. It's going to take a thief time to get those off and I think that would be a good detriment. The boot from Proven Industries isn't cheap, but it's really tough. Kinda heavy though, but that's what I think makes it a good choice.
that yellow ball lock is cheap, i used to pick up my trailer with my loader on my tractor and drag it around... it broke after 1 use (would have taken it off if it knew it was that easy to break)
I ended up getting a very well made boot from Proven Industries to add to my collection of layers of protection. I figure if you make it difficult enough the thief will pass you up.
