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03-13-2019, 05:55 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: Escape 17B
Posts: 49
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Hitch coupler lock
Hi there,
I am a newbie, and I am looking for buying hitch coupler lock these days. What I found is even the high rating locks from google or amazon could be broken by hand bolt cutter or craw bar in less than 10 seconds! Only 2 locks- Proven industry and Ft knox so far seem fight well against cutter, but they are over 300 US dollars and you have to buy them from US.
Just wondering what locks you guys use and if it's worthy buying a $300+ lock?
Thanks
Chester
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03-13-2019, 06:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Locks keep honest people, honest. Crooks do not abide. Keep good insurance coverage and use a coupler lock, although easily broken, still is a deterrent and will slow them down.. I'm sure in Canada, Princess Auto or Schwabs have something, even a reinforced cable through the wheels will slow them down.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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03-13-2019, 06:12 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mirage99
Just wondering what locks you guys use and if it's worthy buying a $300+ lock?
Thanks
Chester
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I use this one. I think it cost under $10. Been using it for ten years and nobody has stolen my trailer.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-13-2019, 06:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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People use the mega locks like you mention, chains thru the wheels, wheel locks.
If I were using a storage lot, I'd spend the $ for a mega lock or wheel lock. As I store at home I use nothing. Never had a need when traveling although I do have the optional $30 ETI lock I use once in a while when leaving the trailer in a shabby looking place, makes me feel better.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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03-13-2019, 09:01 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,716
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Sometimes if you do things out of the norm, you can stump the low life.
I have the hitch lock, wheel cables but I also put in a hidden switch so the power tongue jack won’t work. Unless they can lift 400 lbs and drive around with the jack down...they are kind of out of luck. http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...tml#post271270
If you have a manual jack you can replace the bolt on the jack handle with a removable pin. This will allow you to remove the jack handle.
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03-13-2019, 09:41 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia
Trailer: 1974 Boler, 2018 Escape 21
Posts: 125
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The above mods mentioned by Eggscape are smart, like those!
We researched all of the theft deterrent ideas from the cheap ones to the expensive ones, and found that most deterrents had some related experiences where people still in some cases were targeted by thieves. In the end, we just got a few different things to deter thieves- it may only slow them down, or it may make them look at another less protected trailer in a campground, who knows?! We got two wheel locks for the one side (tandem axle) so they can't just take off the one wheel with the lock on it and still tow away the trailer with the other wheel on the one side. We did get a heavy duty coupler lock- the one from Princess Auto was so cheaply made. We put a padlock through the pin of the coupler in the closed position with the coupler lock inside. We also put a lock around the propane tanks as these are commonly stolen off the trailer in some campgrounds, or so we've heard from fellow campers. Batteries are also commonly stolen if you have a trailer where the batteries are accessible from the outside.
We also got a lock for the hitch when it is on the truck so thieves cannot steal the expensive hitch, or remove it from the truck to steal the trailer when it is hooked up.
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03-13-2019, 10:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Arcata, California
Trailer: 2017-2013: 21C; Arriving 3/2024: Escape 23
Posts: 179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
I use this one. I think it cost under $10. Been using it for ten years and nobody has stolen my trailer.
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Not sure what that proves... I bet lots of people use no lock, and have not had their trailers stolen. Still, it does look like a nice lock.
__________________
Lee and Nancy Leer
2024 E23Q, March, 2024
2022 Ford F150 Hybrid
Arcata, CA
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03-13-2019, 10:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LRL
Not sure what that proves... I bet lots of people use no lock, and have not had their trailers stolen.
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I think that's the point. I've never used a coupler lock while camping or while in storage at home, only while towing (so it is locked while parked at fuel stops, etc). If a trailer with a big fancy lock is never stolen, that's not evidence that a big fancy lock is needed to prevent theft.
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03-13-2019, 10:53 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: Escape 17B
Posts: 49
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Thank you guys so much for sharing your ideas, really appreciate
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03-15-2019, 08:43 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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This is the only hitch lock I use. (note: elaboration in the tool kit topic.) My only other protection against theft is, when parked anywhere I think is potentially insecure, I make it my business to every 7-14 minutes eyeball the trailer.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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04-08-2019, 05:00 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Abiquiu, New Mexico
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21 2017 GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel
Posts: 328
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When we had our Flagstaff trailer, I read on their forum about a guy who had his trailer stolen from a campground in Big Bend NP. Hard to believe but it apparently happened. We lock our E21 up when we are out hiking or exploring for the day. We had a Reese cheapo hitch lock which I dumped in favor of this one below which I like. I also chain the chains together under the hitch with a heavy Stanley lock. https://www.amazon.com/Tow-Ready-632...e%2C209&sr=1-1
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04-08-2019, 06:12 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chama
When we had our Flagstaff trailer, I read on their forum about a guy who had his trailer stolen from a campground in Big Bend NP. Hard to believe but it apparently happened. We lock our E21 up when we are out hiking or exploring for the day. We had a Reese cheapo hitch lock which I dumped in favor of this one below which I like. I also chain the chains together under the hitch with a heavy Stanley lock. https://www.amazon.com/Tow-Ready-632...e%2C209&sr=1-1
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A thief won't care about a coupler lock - they just throw a chain around the tongue and drive off. The best way to keep your trailer from being stolen is a wheel lock.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
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04-08-2019, 09:33 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Left turn at Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: 505 5.0TA
Posts: 147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chama
When we had our Flagstaff trailer, I read on their forum about a guy who had his trailer stolen from a campground in Big Bend NP. Hard to believe but it apparently happened. We lock our E21 up when we are out hiking or exploring for the day. We had a Reese cheapo hitch lock which I dumped in favor of this one below which I like. I also chain the chains together under the hitch with a heavy Stanley lock. https://www.amazon.com/Tow-Ready-632...e%2C209&sr=1-1
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I have one of those plus one like post #3 on a utility trailer. Seems like a good lock and would deter most thieves. Camper has a whimpy hitch lock. Need to think on that one for a bit...
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04-09-2019, 01:06 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21 - 2016 GMC Canyon 4x4 Diesel
Posts: 118
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My research convinced me that a coupler lock alone, no matter how robust, was pretty much a waste of money. I use a Brahma wheel lock which is installed whenever the trailer is parked (we normally spend our days away from the trailer). It's of course defeatable with enough effort and noise, but that's what insurance is for.
__________________
Stan
"It ain't what you don't know that hurts you - it's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - S. Clemens
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04-09-2019, 05:14 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: alpharetta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 21' Escape
Posts: 494
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I'm lucky because of the business I own to have a warehouse to store our Escape inside but.......... about 2 months ago our business was broken into, my business partner keeps the Casita I sold him in our warehouse as well. The Casita was unlocked and they went through it, our Escape was lock but luckily they did not attempt to break into it, only imagine damage they could have done to door. Now I leave it unlocked in the warehouse, nothing left in it more valuable then a busted door.
My thought is don't make it easy, put the best lock you can afford on the tongue, I like the idea of doing one or the other to the tongue jack depending on manual or electric. I also suggest at least running chains through the wheels, wrap around the wheels through the holes in the rim. Most thieves willing to steal something like a trailer I think are looking for the easy target, just don't make yours easy.
Enjoy the journey.
Steve
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04-09-2019, 09:19 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Trailer: 2010 17B “MATT”, then 2017 19 “Lilly”
Posts: 1,584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas
A thief won't care about a coupler lock - they just throw a chain around the tongue and drive off. The best way to keep your trailer from being stolen is a wheel lock.
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I like a multi-tiered approach to security. I do use a hitch lock, and if I’m feeling extra paranoid will lock the safety chains with a hefty padlock through the propane tanks.
My favorite deterrent, however, is also my favorite set of chocks - Fastway’s Step Chocks. Fast, solid, secure set of chocks, and it’s easy to add a padlock to prevent the casual thief from removing them once they’re in place:
On the other side of the trailer I’ll add a boot if situation warrants:
And all five wheels, including spare, have one locking lug nut to prevent someone defeating either the boot or locking chocks by simply pulling the wheels.
__________________
💩-p+☕️+n
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04-09-2019, 09:41 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Baytown, Texas
Trailer: 2017 21' Escape - upgraded version
Posts: 2,697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sclifrickson
My favorite deterrent, however, is also my favorite set of chocks - Fastway’s Step Chocks. Fast, solid, secure set of chocks, and it’s easy to add a padlock to prevent the casual thief from removing them once they’re in place:
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Thanks for the idea! I have the same chocks but never thought to put a lock on it.
__________________
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Engineers believe in fixing it so that it never breaks.
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04-09-2019, 01:30 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdf-texas
Thanks for the idea! I have the same chocks but never thought to put a lock on it.
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Yup have same wheel locking wheel chocks ! Pat
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04-09-2019, 03:04 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
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I use a Master Hitch lock , less than $10 at Menards and I have insurance
Anything more elaborate than that is more than I am willing to do
They stole my neighbors Ford tractor that was chained , cabled and locked in every imaginable / conceivable way . Ten minutes with a battery grinder and they were in and out of there
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04-09-2019, 03:12 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I too use a $10 hitch lock. I've had it for ten years and neither it nor the trailer have been stolen, so it must work.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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