Trailer Security

Jbob

Where I park my trailer I don’t really have any way to chain it to anything. So what I’ve done is to put one end of the axle on blocks so the wheel/tire is just off the ground. Then pull the wheel/tire off the trailer and put that in the garage. So basically nothing there but the axle spindle. The opposite wheel/tire has a steel cable looped around the chassis.

One thing I’m thinking of is how to block the spindle where the wheel/tire have been removed? Something to temporarily install to prevent someone from simply putting another whee/tire on. I’ve googled for something and the only thing I can find it some gizmo sold by one company but seems too much trouble to install. Removing the wheel is easy enough with an electric impact tool.

PL1

Jbob Where I park my trailer I don’t really have any way to chain it to anything. So what I’ve done is to put one end of the axle on blocks so the wheel/tire is just off the ground.

While I was reading this, I was thinking of the wheel boot locks our city puts on ticket scofflaws. I just did a search and they sell something like it on Amazon.

takeahike

Jbob

We had one stolen about five years back also from our driveway. We had no security, so they just rolled it away–it was like taking candy from a baby. It never occurred to me to have comprehensive insurance–stupidly, I never really thought about the possibility that it could be stolen (it was pretty old, a 1997 Jayco popup). I never got the impression that the police did much, if anything at all, to try and recover it. Needless to say, it never was. My GF was devastated, as she thought of it as a second home and had put a lot of effort into decorating it, etc. Then even though it was stolen five years ago, just about a month or two ago we received this notice from a nearby city that it had an outstanding parking violation (was issued two days after the theft). That was ultimately excused after we produced the police report filed but we had to pay for and go through the hassle of getting the report. There’s got to be a special place in hell for this type of scum that fucks you over then kicks you in the ass on the way out the door.

Thane_Bitter

Jbob Studded axle flange? Could add on security nuts, but they would not add much given someone could attack them with a pipe wrench.

Too bad no one makes a smaller axle stand that actually bolts up to the axle wheel, you would need a jack to install it but it would keep the trailer at its nominal road height and being like a pylon certainly isn’t going to pull too well. Such a thing exists for bigger stuff: https://varnbilt.com/products/bolt-on-axle-stands

Jbob

I chose to not use those style boots even though I had considered them.

real_aurgathor

Ihttps://www.northerntool.com/products/trimax-deluxe-universal-dual-purpose-trailer-coupler-lock-with-an-integrated-u-lock-feature-model-umax50d-65692

Jbob

real_aurgathor Coupler locks do no good on trailers. They just wrap a chain around things and drag the trailer away. Had a coupler lock on my last trailer but they stole it anyway. Right out of my driveway.

planet

I use something like this for my travel trailer. It’s also stored in a gated/fenced storage area.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+coupler+locks+for+travel+trailers&rh=n%3A2102313011&crid=DMSN48KL1PGR&sprefix=trailers+coupler+lock%2Caps%2C115&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_21

planet

Visible cameras. Good insurance policy.

Jbob

Thane_Bitter I had thought about those security wheel nuts that require a special socket to install/remove but was thinking since there’s nothing there but the wheel nut threaded pieces not sure how the locking wheel nuts would work.
With the wheel/tire assembly removed it seems all a dedicated thief would need is to bring a spare wheel/tire assembly, install it and then attempt to drive away. So something making it harder for that to happen makes sense.

Thane_Bitter

Jbob Ah, it’s a threaded flange that uses bolts, the same setup my dinky little 70’s boat trailer uses; You might be able to find a padlock with a shackle that can pass through the bolt hole and around the outside of the hub, the thing is most people know that if you just smash them hard enough they can open. Populating all the holes might slow them down a bit especially if the lock is behind the flange hub, but its also a PITA to get the key in blindly.

Could just remove the entire hub, to replace it the thief would need the wheel & tire, bolds, wheel hub, seal bearings, castle nut and harpin, plus grease if they want to get any distance, but its work to put that all back on, check and adjust the loading on the bearing.

Since its parked someplace can a ground bolt be installed, something you can loop through and run heavy chain from it around the axle and other non-removable trailer parts?

Jbob

I had thought of something like a heavy metal plate anchored to the driveway with a ring device connected. Something to run a heavy chain through. I went ahead and put some washers on the bolt studs and put the wheel nuts back on the hub for now.