"Stealability"

[Brian B-P]

There was an interesting anecdote and comment in the Sightings topic:

We were at lunch at another town, and spotted a 17' '77 Boler driving by on the Highway.
"Hey, that's just like ours!"
Uh-oh!
Drove back home in the aft to see our harvest-gold and orange-striped beast still in the driveway, ready to go.
Good thing most thieves don't have a heavy-duty hitch, don't know how to attach the sway bars, and et cetera.
Phew!

I'm guessing that this idea - that a thief would not be setup to tow a specific trailer away - is probably common.

Is this really true?

I'm not trying to start another discussion of security devices here... there are lots of those in other threads/topics. It's just a question: [b]do you think your trailer would be difficult for someone else to tow, without special preparation?

[Brian B-P]

Here's my guess:

Almost anyone who would steal a travel trailer has a truck that would tow the B1700 (and far heavier) without any need for the add-on hardware. A B1700 is about 2400 lb total and 200+lb hitch weight empty, perhaps 3000 lb total and 300-400 lb hitch weight loaded.

If there is a one-inch opening into the coupler socket (you don't need the right size ball to go a few blocks to a private site for to make a better connection), the wheels are free to turn, and there isn't something like a cable or chain connecting the trailer to a fixed object, I think it's readily towable.

I should note that my trailer, as it sits in my driveway or in a campsite, is readily towable if you can crank the stabilizers up (they have an oddball end, not a hex for a regular socket).

[jack maloney]

My UHaul could be stolen. My car could be stolen. My house could be burgled. My dog could be dognapped. Lightning could kill us. Life is full of risks. Take reasonable precautions, but don't let the worries get in the way of the pleasures.

[pjanits]

If my Burro gets stolen I get a new camper with a bathroom........
sweet.

[Pete Dumbleton]

Just a couple of years ago, I was talking to a couple in an RV park in Florida and a day later, all their stuf was piled on the pad and the trailer was gone. Turned out THEY had stolen it from an RV dealer and he recognized it from the highway (a distinctive brand). He came in, verified the serial number, opened it up, chucked out all their stuf and towed it away...

[Chester Taje]

Thats why I only buy REPLACEMENT insurance.

[james kent]

Yup! If they want it, they WILL take it.
Lost a 70 hp marine engine off my boat inside a supossed secure area. They left a larger, newer one that was parked next. Broke the dash to get the steering, smashed the side wall to get the controlls and crowbarred the transom to pull the motor off. The point being that if some jerk sees something shiny then he'll pick it up regardless of where it is. My trailer has been parked in the driveway with a latch lock and a vehicle parked in front of it most of the time with no problems. But then this has been a good neighbourhood to live in, just like the real estate guy says "Location, location location".

[Dan B]

Yup! If they want it, they WILL take it.
Lost a 70 hp marine engine off my boat inside a supossed secure area. They left a larger, newer one that was parked next. Broke the dash to get the steering, smashed the side wall to get the controlls and crowbarred the transom to pull the motor off. The point being that if some jerk sees something shiny then he'll pick it up regardless of where it is. My trailer has been parked in the driveway with a latch lock and a vehicle parked in front of it most of the time with no problems. But then this has been a good neighbourhood to live in, just like the real estate guy says "Location, location location".

we use a wheel locking device we got from Cabelas catalog not so muc to prevent theft as to prevent to random act of vandalism. i can just see some kids driving by and thinking "ill bet we could push that little capmer down the hill, shall we see if it can float?"
it attaches to a lug nut and there is a bar which goes from there to the rear of the tire and around it to the inside of the rim. the lock seems to be fairly hard , hopefully we will never have to find out if it works as intended.

[adamp]

Friends of mine had their 'stickie' nicked from a 'secure' lit lot. It was recovered 3 days later. The thieves (joyriders) jimmed the door, had pizza and beer, and left it in a mall parking lot about 2 miles away. No one knows why they went to all the bother to steal a 5000lb trailer and then dump it. Nothing taken, no damage, even the door was OK. They even got to return the beer bottles for the $.10 refund. Basically anything can be lifted if the theif wants it or is stupid enough to think they can get away with it.
Adam

[Bob Cupp]

Locks will only keep somewhat honest people, somewhat honest. True thieves will steal whatever they want. Make it inconvenielnt and they may go somewhere else. I use a lock in the coupler with a ball welded to a plate in the coupler, & reciever stinger lock while traveling. While at home I relie on the fact that I live on a dead end road with observant, trustworthy neighbors. While I was on vacation a few years ago, a friend of mine went to my house to borrow some tools that I had previously approved. When he was in the garage, he heard the distinctive sound of a Remington shotgun being pumped. The neighbor said that even though he has seen my friend there alot when I was home, my buddy was going to talk to the nice officer that showed up a couple of minutes latter. Good neighbors are a great thing to have. I bought the guy a good steak dinner when we got home to show our appreciation.

[Donna D.]

When he was in the garage, he heard the distinctive sound of a Remington shotgun being pumped. <snip>I bought the guy a good steak dinner when we got home to show our appreciation.

Ahhhh, that distinctive sound of PUCKER POWER. Your friend probably still breaks out in hives just thinking about it.

I love my neighbors

[Brad Judd]

My little egg fits in my garage...away from people!

[Greg A]

My little egg fits in my garage...away from people!

And so, they steal your car that is now in the driveway...

[Chris Z]

I'm not trying to start another discussion of security devices here... there are lots of those in other threads/topics. It's just a question: [b]do you think your trailer would be difficult for someone else to tow, without special preparation?

So my answer is YES but I won't tell you why because of the above LOL

[Sebastian H]

I do a lot of disperse camping and am away from my rig for hours at a time, hiking or mountain biking. I run two heavy motorcycle-type cable locks through my trailer rims and around the axle. It might help. It will at least slow them down.

Sebastian

[Frederick L. Simson]

.

[Brian B-P]

So, Frederick, with those locks and chock, what's your answer to the original question:
do you think your trailer would be difficult for someone else to tow, without special preparation?

[Frederick L. Simson]

So, Frederick, with those locks and chock, do you think your trailer would be difficult for someone else to tow, without special preparation?

I'm hoping it would make someone look for an easier mark elsewhere. Not actually difficult, but a little time consuming.

[Darrel Smith]

I think the more popular these lightweight trailer get the more we will see them stolen. In my restoration I made my coupler removable. I guess a thief could use the safety chains to hook it up no matter what we do to the coupler. All we can do is deter or slow down a would be thief if he really wants to steal it, he'll find a way to do it.

[Greg A]

I'm assuming that most of these precautions are being done when it is in storage or parked at home. I'm in the garage group, so not needing these things so much there. What about when you're in the RV Park or campsite? Do you use these devices there as well?