Preventing trailer theft

[Iowa Dave]

Seems to me that insurance companies ought to give a little better rate for customers with proof of a paid anti theft/ locator service contract. But I don't think it happens on cars so trailers and boats are probably not a likely goal for them. ( insurance companies that is. ).
I do get a break on my homeowners for having a metal roof and on my Accord which is driven only a few thousand miles a year. When I worked for the city we suffered break ins regularly even with burglar alarms but not near as much actual theft as before we installed them. They were hell on them candy bars in the pool concessions before I started though.
Dave

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

More than likely it will be your insurance company suing since they paid you for the loss.

Probably not, Jim, because the moment the trailer moves I get an email on my smart phone telling me that it has moved. I don't expect they get 10 miles before the law is all over them and the trailer is likely recovered. I don't expect the insurance company to even be involved unless the scum bags damage it. In any event, I will go after anything they used in committing the theft.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

why not just remove your tongue jack? no way they can drag the trailer with the stabilizers down

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

My point being on the tongue jack is unless the thief's vehicle matches the hitch height, without the jack the front can not be raised.
...
It would take 2-3 men together to lift the trailer onto the hitch.

This makes sense to me on the "anything that slows the thief down will help" basis.

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I don't need the trailer jack. Just let me bring a good floor jack and a 4x4. Or even a crappy floor jack and a chunk of pipe. If I've scoped out your trailer, I'll know what I need to bring. Sad huh?

I agree... and a "farm jack" would be even easier. It would only slow them down, not make theft impossible (or even very difficult).

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by JohnB

My understanding is that the stabilizers are not designed to support the weight of the trailer??

No, they're not intended to be extended significantly while under load, but they are designed to support as much as the entire weight of the trailer, once extended. I agree with Jim:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The stabilizers are designed to hold the weight but not raise the trailer. I have taken my jack off several times with just the stabilizers holding the weight.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by gocamp

an easily stored idea if it could work somehow on an escape wheel
Amazon.com: Brinks 3020-057 Trailer Wheel Lock, J-Lock Style: Automotive

That would work with the leaf springs on a 5.0TA (before the new-in-2016 version). To work with the trailing arm of the Torflex suspension on all other Escapes, it looks like the hook opening would need to be wider.

A more sophisticated version of this, for trailing-arm suspension, is sold by Al-Ko in Europe:

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

The best wheel lock design I've seen (but just online) is the AL-KO Secure, but it is specific to the wheel design, and specific to the AL-KO suspension (which is not sold in North America and specifically not used by Escape). One could custom-fabricate something similar, but it would be a lot of work.