STOLEN 1976 Boler

[mwebster310]

Hi all,
My 1976 Boler was stolen yesterday from my home in Denver, CO.
Please let me know if you see it anywhere out in the world!!
License Plate: AJPU32
Thank you so much.

[Jon in AZ]

I think this touches a nerve for all of us, especially owners of the little ones. So very sorry. Hope you are able to recover this nice unit. Looks like it’s had some love put into it.

[julmar]

There was an escape trailer stolen in Arvada recently. From a storage lot.

[barrry smithe]

Anybody title their rolling stock? If it doesn’t have a title, don’t buy it regardless of a good price!!!

[Jon in AZ]

You are preaching to the choir here. Guess it bears repeating from time to time, though.

There are exceptions. One is a trailer that originates in a state that does not title certain classes of trailers. You'd want to verify that independently. There are also rare situations in which a title has been lost, the original title-holder is deceased, and the seller is a relation, perhaps several degrees and years removed. These are often the "barn find" kind of situations. I'd generally only get involved if I had personal knowledge of the people and situation. States do have procedures for granting title that usually include a waiting period, public notices, and posting a bond. Know going in that it'll take some time and expense before you can legally register and use the trailer.

Always get a notarized signature from the seller. Always. Title states typically require notarization of the title reassignment, but if not (or even in addition), insist on a notarized bill of sale. Arizona DMV has the form online. You want the seller's identity verified by an agent trained to recognize fraud. Do it at a bank where they will know their face is on camera. That will protect you and weed out most of the bad actors.

Unfortunately, there are always ways to fence stolen units to people willing to skirt the law, so the demand will always be there.

[drdoyle]

Probably need to put trackers on our little trailers.

[Gilda]

...and Denver boots wheel clamp.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18180676749...MaAljtEALw_wcB

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by drdoyle

Probably need to put trackers on our little trailers.

I use find my I phone and only one other person has the P/W, same with TRAK-4, it is subscription but daily check in with hourly reporting keeps the cost down. I also use ham radio APRS ( APRS.FI and search for ac0gv) and leave it open to the public until about 10 miles from my stop and then turn it off. I also use four Tiles, but they are not trackers, they are where did I loose contact with my I-phone devices.

Let me add that the first set of Trak-4s from Amazon did not work well. The second set came directly from Trak-4, are 12 vdc powered and have never had to be reset. I have them hidden in the frame work of tow items and they work well when in an area of good cell phone service.

TRAK-4 map below:

[parmm]

Originally Posted by barrry smithe

Anybody title their rolling stock? If it doesn’t have a title, don’t buy it regardless of a good price!!!

Don't know where you live, but we here south of the border live in 50 different little countries when it comes to motor vehicle laws. Not all of our 50 little states issue titles for trailers - even if you want one. I can't get one for my Thule utility trailer that grosses 2200 lbs. It only weights 458 lbs empty. My state (NY) requires it to have a unladen weight of more that 999 lbs to get a title. If I leave it in the front of the house for to long when I'm using it, people stop and want to buy it. I've had offers higher that what I paid for it new! Thule quit making them. Keeping on topic, my Scamp 19 is titled.


The one thing I really like about the Scamp 19 is that not everybody out there can hook to it. Makes it very difficult to steal! They would have to plan ahead and not many do that. .

[AC0GV]

Originally Posted by parmm

Don't know where you live, but we here south of the border live in 50 different little countries when it comes to motor vehicle laws. Not all of our 50 little states issue titles for trailers - even if you want one.

Here in Wisconsin trailers under 3000 lbs need not be registered/titled. A Scamp however is not a trailer, it is an RV and needs to be registered/titled.
My utility trailer can be but I have not due to the cost. I do keep the "certificate of origin" on file and a copy in the document tube on the trailer.

[Jo in CO]

Any news? I live just outside of Denver so I posted this info to our Nextdoor account. No sightings but someone asked what neighborhood or storage facility it was stolen from. Really hoping you get it back! I'm so sad for you.

[jwcolby123]

Originally Posted by parmm

Don't know where you live, but we here south of the border live in 50 different little countries when it comes to motor vehicle laws. Not all of our 50 little states issue titles for trailers - even if you want one. I can't get one for my Thule utility trailer that grosses 2200 lbs. It only weights 458 lbs empty. My state (NY) requires it to have a unladen weight of more that 999 lbs to get a title. If I leave it in the front of the house for to long when I'm using it, people stop and want to buy it. I've had offers higher that what I paid for it new! Thule quit making them. Keeping on topic, my Scamp 19 is titled.


The one thing I really like about the Scamp 19 is that not everybody out there can hook to it. Makes it very difficult to steal! They would have to plan ahead and not many do that. .

Amen. Not a common hitch.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by parmm

The one thing I really like about the Scamp 19 is that not everybody out there can hook to it. Makes it very difficult to steal! They would have to plan ahead and not many do that. .

Determination wins every time. Don't develop a false sense of security. Remember, they don't need to take the trailer far, just far enough to properly hook to a proper tow vehicle and that could be where the preparation comes in...

[parmm]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Determination wins every time. Don't develop a false sense of security. Remember, they don't need to take the trailer far, just far enough to properly hook to a proper tow vehicle and that could be where the preparation comes in...

Ah but "proper tow vehicles" are few and far between. Plus I have a title and insurance.

[Shangie]

Please post some inside pictures and any information about unique features of your Boler a potential buyer could look for if it comes up for sale. You can also do that in a CL and Facebook Marketplace free ad under RV's for sale. Describe those features (mods, etc) to help prospective buyers be your eyes on the ground.. This will also alert people to the fact it is stolen and they could call the police in their area.

They will probably try to sell in a state that doesn't title trailers.

So sorry- I can't imagine though I did wake one morning to find my car stolen and it was quite a shocker.

Something new to think about with a smaller trailer that can be towed by many vehicles- argh! Is there a solution?

[Shangie]

Is there any locking system we could put on a small trailer to prevent this from happening? We are in the market and have read about this happening more frequently. I don't wanna camp and worry about this, especially in my state where camping can be remote and there is a lot of drug users desperate for income.

We once went to look at a trailer in Corvallis, Oregon where we were sure we were being set up to be robbed and left. The alleged owner claimed the trailer was just off the street in a little lot about a mile from where he met us.......

Once we approached the opening to the road that the trailer was supposed to be on things felt a bit off kilter and then downright scary because there was no reason for the trailer to be there whether was parking at the home we met him at. While we could see the trailer wet thought we would be put in a vulnerable position if we went inside were we would be separated from our vehicle. Our gut feeling was to leave and call the police.


We called the police and gave them address where he met us, etc. They later called back android the man was a known drug user, jailed often and was probably trying to sell his father's trailer, unbeknownst to his father, or to rob us as apparently he had done that in his past criminal history. We were congratulated for paying attention to our intuition.

[parmm]

This was the first and only post that mwebster310 has made. We don't even know for sure where he/she is from except what the post told us.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by parmm

This was the first and only post that mwebster310 has made. We don't even know for sure where he/she is from except what the post told us.

mwebster is more active on some of the all-molded-towable Facebook groups. The post here was strictly to get more eyes out on this trailer.

[parmm]

Originally Posted by Shangie

Is there any locking system we could put on a small trailer to prevent this from happening? We are in the market and have read about this happening more frequently.

Yes, but the better deterrents are usually more expensive that what one normally spends. There are some very good. www.amplock.com makes some of the best, but at between $199 to $250, most will end up opting for something under $50.



And even the Amplock can be defeated. Someone just chain up the trailer to the back of their pickup and tow it away to some out of the way place when they can cut if off with a cutting torch. Best to add more deterrents such as a wheel chock lock. The longer it takes a thief to steal a trailer, the less likely he will try to steal it. Google is your friend to check all this stuff out. And Youtube will show you how long it takes to defeat these locks.



Another thing is to live in a state that issues a title for travel trailers. But the title is only as good as how well the manufacturer has marked his VIN on the trailer. Many use just a visible sticker on the frame with no hidden markings anywhere. Many states will allow a trailer without a VIN to be registered as a home built trailer.

[Shangie]

We use wheel chock locks for our boat and our RV. In all reality, a few hundred dollars to create a deterrent seems money well spent. Thanks for the information.