Securing your trailer

[c130king]

Based on my tentative Xmas trailering/sailing plan I may have to leave my trailer at a public marina un-hitched from my tow vehicle. Do any of you have a technique or suggestion on the best way to lock up the trailer so that nobody can steal it?

Did a search but couldn't find anything.

Thanks,
Jim

[dutchwinter]

for my trailer I use http://www.prolineracks.com/fulton-utl1 ... -lock.html Its the better version of the one for sale at west marine, and at that site, its about half the price. i think i ended up paying 70 for mine at a RV specialty store. that's what i get for shopping at a brick and mortar store.

[K9Kampers]

I got mine at Lowes for $30. I've seen them at West Marine and independant marinas for $40.

This is another tongue lock that I have and use (when I haven't misplaced it):

[c130king]

I did a search on trailer locks on Yahoo and found two types: Hitch locks and wheel locks.

Does anyone use wheel locks? Is a hitch lock enough. Someone could still use the chains and "tie" it to their bumper or hitch and drive off...if they wanted that trailer bad enough.

Come to think of it I do have the trailer insured...maybe I could get a new double-axle trailer...

Things that make you go hmmmmm...



Jim

[Kelly Hanson East]

JIm - you could block and jack and remove the wheels. Check with the 'caretaker' of the public place in case they have to move it though.

I use the tongue lock and once chained/padlocked through the wheel in plain sight.

[c130king]

I am still looking at my options.

Option 1 is to put the boat in the water at Keesler AFB and then leave the trailer at the base...my normal locked reciever will be fine on the base. And then motor over to Long Beach Marina and leave the boat there for the rest of the time until time to leave and then go back to Keesler to load on to the trailer. Keesler is almost 9 miles from the good sailing areas which is why I don't want to leave the boat there. Long Beach is a great location I think.

Option 2 is to leave the trailer at Long Beach Marina for the two weeks...but this Marina is pretty much public access. If I do this I will need better locks I think. Maybe I will see if I can find some heavy duty chain and chain the wheel somehow.

Don't want to remove the tires...worried that I will break a lug or a stud in the process...there is a little bit of rust on them.

Can't leave the trailer at my in-laws...too far away (50 miles).

Jim

[dennisneal]

Jim,

I understand that the MacGregor trailor is built specifically for the MacGregor boat. It is probably useless to the owner of another brand. So, I would guess that a MacGregor trailer is not a high-value target for a thief. None the less, a few easy steps can be taken to discourage a thief, if the trailor is left alone. This is what I do whenever I drop our trailor:

I use a small padlock to secure the trailor's hitch ball clamp in the "closed" position.

I made a short piece of cable, using 1/4 inch plastic covered steel cable with a steel thimble at each end. I wrap this through a wheel and around the axle and secure it with a large padlock. The wheel cannot move more than a few inches and it would take someone many minutes to remove this item. A short piece of chain might accomplish the same as the cable.

Good Luck,

Dennis

[Love MACs]

Thieves know no bounds nor are they that bright in general. I had a small homemade trailer for a jon boat that I owned. It cost me almost nothing to make and would only fit my specific boat as I made it that way. Very cheap and rudimentary as the launch was only 1/2 mile from my house. But some one saw fit to steal it after I had parked it and the truck there on numerous occasions. Don't know what the heck he intended to do with it, but made for a long day getting the boat back to the house on that day. Insurance paid me enough for a real trailer!

Allan

[David Mellon]

For extended stays at Lake Powell with my old V-Hull Twin V8 cruiser (I measured gas consumption by gallons/minute) I made a wood block to support one side of the trailer and put the wheels from that side in my truck. On the other side I locked a cable through the wheels and around the frame. I also padlocked my safety chains to the truck making the whole rig a pain to steal.

[c130king]

Thanks for all the tips.

I will lock my hitch ball clamp closed...already do this and have a padlock for it. And I will back that up with a chain/padlock around/through my wheel and frame.

Cheers,
Jim

[KayakDan]

Length of chain thru a wheel slot and around the frame,and padlocked. Both wheels if you're really worried. Highly unkikely anyone will take the time to remove the wheels,or wrestle with both padlocks. I secure my spare tire this way.