Heads up on trailer theft

1086 Views 18 Replies 15 Participants Last post by IcutMetl, 3 d ago

LETMGROW

Discussion Starter · 17 d ago

There have been a couple trailer thefts in my area lately. It seems like the thieves have a new strategy for stealing a trailer with a lock on the hitch. My trailer has been sitting in my yard with a Master trailer lock which has a ball on it which fits into the coupler and locks in place. I also run a bicycle padlock through the safety cables and the hole in the coupler's unlocking handle.
What these thieves are doing is to remove the entire coupler from the trailer and replacing it with one of these: Ball Coupler - Harbor Freight Tools
Remove two bolts, let the original coupler hang and install a replacement coupler and tow the trailer away.
Now I have gone a couple steps further and I have put a weld on the bolts and nuts which hold the coupler to the trailer's framework. It could still be taken apart but it will surely slow someone down.
I also bought 2 cable combination bicycle locks which will go through my trailer's aluminum wheels and tie the wheels together.
All of this is an inconvenience when I want to move the trailer to mow grass under it but replacing a $15,000 Blizzard enclosed trailer with four sleds stored in it would be a much greater inconvenience.
Lord, I hate a thief!

Reactions: 5

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

DooYouYou

· #2 · 17 d ago

LETMGROW said:
There have been a couple trailer thefts in my area lately. It seems like the thieves have a new strategy for stealing a trailer with a lock on the hitch. My trailer has been sitting in my yard with a Master trailer lock which has a ball on it which fits into the coupler and locks in place. I also run a bicycle padlock through the safety cables and the hole in the coupler's unlocking handle.
What these thieves are doing is to remove the entire coupler from the trailer and replacing it with one of these: Ball Coupler - Harbor Freight Tools
Remove two bolts, let the original coupler hang and install a replacement coupler and tow the trailer away.
Now I have gone a couple steps further and I have put a weld on the bolts and nuts which hold the coupler to the trailer's framework. It could still be taken apart but it will surely slow someone down.
I also bought 2 cable combination bicycle locks which will go through my trailer's aluminum wheels and tie the wheels together.
All of this is an inconvenience when I want to move the trailer to mow grass under it but replacing a $15,000 Blizzard enclosed trailer with four sleds stored in it would be a much greater inconvenience.
Lord, I hate a thief!

"It could still be taken apart but it will surely slow someone down."

That part right there is the most important part.

If they want your trailer they will get your trailer. Anything you can do to slow them down might make them pick a different trailer or someone might notice before they can get away. My trailer is at my business in a gated lot with a camera system yet I still have ball coupler lock, pin lock, and cables around my tires. Also there is absolutely no indication of what is inside my trailer other than it has front/back ramp doors. The way I see it is that a huge Doo sticker on the side of the trailer makes the trailer more of a target. People suck. Even if you lock it up and take extra precautions they still will try and steal it.

mile9c1

· #3 · 17 d ago

Location?

Reactions: 1

krm

· #4 · 17 d ago

Dirt Bags Everywhere

Reactions: 1

OwnedEmAll

· #5 · 17 d ago

Put a giant ACME Sewer Service sticker on that enclosed trailer. You probably won't even need a lock on it.

Reactions: 5

XrsRene

· #6 · 17 d ago

Put a picture of any year Polaris on both sides and the back. Better than any lock or cable

Reactions: 2

nm9stheham

· #7 · 17 d ago

Same solution on my equipment trailer which gets driven cross country a lot. Bolt ends where they protrude out of the nuts are welded to the nuts.

Reactions: 1

Skioutty

· #8 · 16 d ago

With todays cordless tools there is no stopping them, if yours is what they want they will get it. Slowing them down or deterring them is doubtful.

Reactions: 1

nm9stheham

· #9 · 16 d ago

The back door on the trailer used for the snowmobiles has the common cam lock latches. Easy to cut through the bars with a cordless grinder with cutoff wheel.

I have welded anchor tabs on the edges of the door frame on the inside where they can't be seen. A couple of rachet straps go from the anchors to the roof bows on the inside and the thieves can cut the cam lock bars all day long and never get in.

Sometimes I put a logging chain through both wheels on one side and through a hole in the frame and through the springs. Makes it just about impossible to take the wheels off and put others on. Another thing is to put a logging chain around the truck frame and through the trailer frame, so that it it easy to see. Part of that is just the idea that "this will be harder and take longer... let's move on..."

Been hauling sleds and race cars and job materials and tools for about 45 years now. No issues (yet). A lot has to do with choosing good motels, etc., IMHO.

The only break-in was at hotel when not towing anything. They broke the side glass, ignored the race helmets and suits and such, and stole the...... owner's manual for the truck.... I am not kidding!

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Reactions: 1

bobn

· #10 · 16 d ago (Edited)

The lock that you are using, is it the Master lock with the ball mounted to a flat plate and then a lug that fits over the lip of the coupler? If this is the one, replace it as it can be picked in a matter of seconds. There are several Youtube videos out there on how to do it. It appears that some bright engineer at Master lock designed a release override located with in the key barrel. Wonder who was the manager was that signed off on that.

I have looked at those bolt-on couplers for a long time and thought just how easy it would be to just remove the bolts and replace the couplers. All you need to do is determine if you have the correct bolt pattern and tubing size.

Years ago, I was looking at a new exhaust tip for my truck. The owner of the shop told me to add a bit of weld to the clamping bolt. Said the tips were a very popular item to end up missing. Tips were rather pricey at the time.

Bob

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LongtimeSledder

· #11 · 16 d ago

I hid a GPS Tracker on my trailer with a large sticker on the front above the coupler...
"THIS VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A GPS TRACKING DEVICE"

Reactions: 3

rider 915

· #12 · 16 d ago

I take the tires off and lower it to the ground, you want it you are working for it. Air tags are discoverable and locks can be cut quickly. Trailer and two sled's approach 30k these days.

Reactions: 1

LETMGROW

Discussion Starter · #13 · 15 d ago

rider 915 said:
I take the tires off and lower it to the ground, you want it you are working for it. Air tags are discoverable and locks can be cut quickly. Trailer and two sled's approach 30k these days.

You mean a used trailer and two used sleds will approach 30K.

Reactions: 2

rider 915

· #14 · 15 d ago

LETMGROW said:
You mean a used trailer and two used sleds will approach 30K.

No I dont, 22 renegade, 23 Neo+ and a Hybred trailer new are just short of 30k

Reactions: 2

Go Fast or Go Home

· #15 · 15 d ago

rider 915 said:
I take the tires off and lower it to the ground, you want it you are working for it. Air tags are discoverable and locks can be cut quickly. Trailer and two sled's approach 30k these days.

This will certainly discourage any would be thief.

However, seems like a lot of work, especially when you would want to use it on and off during the season. I would insure everything to the max.

Don~

Reactions: 2

rider 915

· #16 · 15 d ago

Heavy on insurance as homeowner is not going to cover squat. I'm always taken back when someone will spend top dollar on toy's then complain about insurance. The argument these days that they should not have to just doesn't hold up when things disappear.

_Jack

· #17 · 14 d ago

LongtimeSledder said:
GPS TRACKING DEVICE

The Apple Tracking Dots cost $25 each. Have them on all my sleds and the trailer. No ongoing cost. The batteries last a year and then you toss them, get a new one. Now I just need the sticker.

Reactions: 1

Boylstonrider

· #18 · 7 d ago

All the cordless tools available now make short work for locks and cable cutting. Those Diablo torch metal cutting sawzall blades are just one option. We use tongue locks etc, but nothing is fool proof.

IcutMetl

· #19 · 3 d ago

I secure mine with a low deductible and lack of worry.

Reactions: 1

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