Who doesn't secure their trailer?

[puma4440]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

The only time I lock it is when I vist a new area. Few locks will keep even a cheap battery powered reciprocating saw out. People sometimes need a lock or reciever pin cut off at the campground, it takes me about 15 seconds to get through it.

 

[riptide09]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Slightly different but related. In 2004 I came back and someone had stolen the tailgate off my 2003 Tundra. Now I always lock my tailgate. I always have a lock on my receiver pin and a lock on my trailer pin. Keeps honest people honest and hopefully any potential thieves just move on down the parking lot to the next guy without a lock.

 

[canoemang]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

I lock my trailer when it isnt on my hitch and when it is.. When im going camping and leaving my rig over night not only do I lock my hitch to my trailer I run a cable through one of the tires and lock it around the frame.

As the economy was getting worse I heard horror stories about people getting the trailer stolen rite off there rig at the launch.

Same but different, I have heard of multiple peolpe packing up there rig's for ice fishing and coming out the next morning to find all of there gear stolen out of there SUV or the topper was ripped open and al the stuff gone.

Keep honest people honest!

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Regardless of how low the crime rate is or how unique the trailer is to your boat, imagine coming back to the ramp....you're in a hurry to get home or whatever and your trailer is gone? What are you going to do then?

Though locks are there just to keep honest people honest, I believe that if I were a thief and were looking for a trailer of opportunity, I'd go for the trailer that offers the least amount of problem....the easiest target and take the trailer that is unlocked versus the trailer that is locked.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Great posts

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

I also keep my locks on the receiver/trailer to establish a habbit. Half the times my boat is on the trailer- I certainly wouldn't want to leave that unlocked. So keeping the locks on when the trailer is empty just establishes the locking habbit with me. One less task to try and remember. While it is true that no locks will deter a truly determined theif, it's als true that crooks are opportunists. Make you stuff just a bit harder to take and hopefully they'll go looking for easier prey.
We had a gang of kids breaking into cars around here a couple years ago. They simply traveled around streets and parking lots lifting door handles. If the door opened, in they went. If the door was locked, they simply moved along to the next vehicle.

 

[hidef]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

I keep my trailer locked all the time. Doesn't matter if it is my yard or at the ramp hooked to my vehicle. I my area we have had thieves take boats right out of the yard. Yes a lock will keep honest people honest but most thieves don't want screw around any longer than necessary.

 

[skargo]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Regardless of how low the crime rate is or how unique the trailer is to your boat, imagine coming back to the ramp....you're in a hurry to get home or whatever and your trailer is gone? What are you going to do then?

Though locks are there just to keep honest people honest, I believe that if I were a thief and were looking for a trailer of opportunity, I'd go for the trailer that offers the least amount of problem....the easiest target and take the trailer that is unlocked versus the trailer that is locked.

Exactly, I live in a VERY low crime area, and boat in the same. Seems rather silly to leave it up to that
And kids playing jokes don't carry sawzalls around either

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

We don't register trailers here in South Carolina so trailer theft is very common so yes mine stays locked at the launch and locked and behind a fence when not in use. Not to say it is theft proof by any means, like already said, if they really want it they will get it. It is insured, but I would rather them pass up mine due to it not being convenient. I got lucky when I first moved here a few years ago and caught 2 dirtbags trying to hook to my unlocked car trailer. A big .45 and a few choice words and they were quickly on there way, but after that I realized South Carolina isn't much different than South Florida where I am from. If you want to keep it, lock it up and have good insurance just in case.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

A big .45 and a few choice words and they were quickly on there way, but after that I realized South Carolina isn't much different than South Florida where I am from. If you want to keep it, lock it up and have good insurance just in case.

I grew up in Pompano Beach and nothing was safe....even in the 70's and 80's.....if it wasn't locked, it was stolen.

It's a shame that folks feel they are entitled to your stuff more than you are..... must be the lack of values people are being taught. I can name a few things that come to mind but since this is not a political thread, I'll keep it to myself. But I think y'all know what I'm talking about.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

I use the lock on my trailer, but only to ensure it doesn't become dislodged while towing. I just found it easier to use a lock then it was to use a bolt with a nut. It takes longer to unscrew a nut, so I switched to a lock.

If you think that someone is going to go throught he hassle of stealing your boat or trailer they won't bring a $19.00 bolt cutter from Harbor Freight/Home Depot? If you're padlock makes you feel more secure, it's doing more harm than good. $20.00 for a universal padlock opener, haha.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

smart-alec kid popping the latch for a joke.

That happened to me once... I know it was locked before we left as I had to force it down with my foot, but 5 miles down the freeway it jumped off the ball. I knew who did it, *#$^ neighbor hooligan, he was infamous for doing this type of thing...

Since then I always lock the coupler closed and check the receiver pin,,, probably should lock the receiver pin too

 

[specmkr]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Always locked here as well..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

No lock here. Also, I use equilizing bars which makes the task of removing the trailer at a launch ramp a wee more difficult without getting noticed.

No lock on the trailer when it is sitting in the front yard either.

And for the person who says not locking your trailer is ignorant, saying that is arrogant.

 

[silverfox441]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

It just happened here in Pitt Meadows. They did not bother with trying to unhook the trailer , they took the truck with the trailer instead. Was a beautiful 3 axle with chromed wheels and the truck was a red F250. Me man, i got a very ugly trailer hooked to a very boring minivan, but i do use a lock. I compensate the minivan with my Kawi Ninja...

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

And for the person who says not locking your trailer is ignorant, saying that is arrogant.

Or they just live in an area where you NEED to lock the trailer... (never locked, not planning on it. I honestly don't think there has ever been a trailer stolen from the boat ramp...) Of course, I don't even lock my house half the time...

 

[skargo]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

No lock here. Also, I use equilizing bars which makes the task of removing the trailer at a launch ramp a wee more difficult without getting noticed.

No lock on the trailer when it is sitting in the front yard either.

And for the person who says not locking your trailer is ignorant, saying that is arrogant.

Saying that person is arrogant, is arrogant actually.

 

[Evinbuck]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Ok, which is it? Is it arrogant to be ignorant or ignorant to be arrogant??.......lol. Geez.....the whole deal here some people living and recreating in areas they feel is occupied by nice, decent folk and there are others living and recreating in areas likely to experience vandalism. It's just that simple. The question still seems aimed towards whether it may make more sense to take extra precautions in safety such as helping assure your trailer latch doesn't pop by using a lock. Same for the receiver. Why does this seem like a personal issue? Uh-oh.....I might be either ignorant or arrogant.....apologies upfront.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Why does this seem like a personal issue? Uh-oh.....I might be either ignorant or arrogant.....apologies upfront.

It's ignorant and arrogant to apologize up front.

Just sayin'.....lol.

 

[skargo]

Re: Who doesn't secure their trailer?

Ok, which is it? Is it arrogant to be ignorant or ignorant to be arrogant??.......lol. Geez.....the whole deal here some people living and recreating in areas they feel is occupied by nice, decent folk and there are others living and recreating in areas likely to experience vandalism. It's just that simple. The question still seems aimed towards whether it may make more sense to take extra precautions in safety such as helping assure your trailer latch doesn't pop by using a lock. Same for the receiver. Why does this seem like a personal issue? Uh-oh.....I might be either ignorant or arrogant.....apologies upfront.

Like I said, all these people saying they live in crime free areas, THAT is ignorant. I live in a very low crime area, and my ramp is in a state park where nothing usually happens. It only takes ONE bad apple.
AND using a lock to hold the latch down is just a safety thing.
I think it sucks to be berated and made to seem like we live in a crime infested crap hole because we choose to lock our trailers. Ludicrous at best!