Lock for Hitch

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Doug, I don't doubt you could for most locks, but not all of them. The Proven Industries lock would be tough to grind off in less than a minute. Better give yourself at least 15. Hardened plate steel, and thick at that.

I work at a factory that builds 8X8 armoured vehicles from scratch. Armour plate is hard but cuts like butter.

[bailiej757]

A MacGyver question for the guys who like to tinker. Could a wire be run from the battery to a motion sensor to the electric brakes that would cause them to lock up if a thief tried to steal the trailer?

[Centex]

Originally Posted by bailiej757

A MacGyver question for the guys who like to tinker. Could a wire be run from the battery to a motion sensor to the electric brakes that would cause them to lock up if a thief tried to steal the trailer?

MacGyver says "do-able" but likely ineffective as a theft deterrent:

• Not known until already hooked up and ready to go
• Easily defeated with snip of wires behind the wheels
• A totally silent process of discovery and quick remedy by the thief - trailer gone ...

MacGyver says motion sensors and battery power are better applied to a honking loud alarm and flashing light that activate upon initial movement - that's a more likely effective deterrent.

[cpaharley2008]

Just keep your insurance paid up, that is all we do.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Just keep your insurance paid up, that is all we do.

MacGyver 'likes' this

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Just keep your insurance paid up, that is all we do.

Originally Posted by Centex

MacGyver 'likes' this

Phenomenal idea. And then you can have two years waiting for a replacement. That’s two years without the troubles of towing or the hassles of making reservations. And the best thing is that some scumbag thief has to figure out how to spend the “profit” made with the property you paid for, waited for, and now don’t have it to use.

[Craiger]

Somewhere between 85 and 90% of our crime in the United States is based on drug and alcohol abuse not use. The large majority of any theft crime is based on opportunity and ease of theft. The real secret of avoiding theft of a vehicle or trailer. The first is to visibly slow down or make the target more difficult. We do this by visibly adding those things that make it look more difficult i.e. big heavy nasty locks, added with wheel locks, in addition locking lug nuts. Movement activated exterior lighting. Make your target more difficult. The reason you have full coverage theft insurance is certain professional groups are not going to be deterred by anything but the physical presence of a person. Friend of mine's father a big mucky muck business owner in Los Angeles got his new Harley-Davidson special painted tanks etc. etc. was on a run with the LAPD motorcycle group. it was very visible LAPD presence. He was inside the bar for 25 minutes when he came out his bike with alarms chains and etc. was gone.

[bailiej757]

Originally Posted by Centex

MacGyver says "do-able" but likely ineffective as a theft deterrent:

• Not known until already hooked up and ready to go
• Easily defeated with snip of wires behind the wheels
• A totally silent process of discovery and quick remedy by the thief - trailer gone ...

MacGyver says motion sensors and battery power are better applied to a honking loud alarm and flashing light that activate upon initial movement - that's a more likely effective deterrent.

All deterrents by their nature can be defeated and are best when several are combined.

[Melusine]

With some effort, I can recall when "Lite" beer was new and the ads for it were pretty creative. Many involved celebrities arguing for the polar opposites of "less filling" vs. "tastes great." To me the best was from the irascible Billy Martin, who opined it's both.

Hence my replacement-value insurance AND my spiffy new Proven Industries 2178-A. And now I've gotta think about the new wheel lock they offer. Sheesh.

Thanks to all for the compelling arguments and thoughtful presentations!

Jon & Jen in AZ

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by Melusine

With some effort, I can recall when "Lite" beer was new and the ads for it were pretty creative. Many involved celebrities arguing for the polar opposites of "less filling" vs. "tastes great." To me the best was from the irascible Billy Martin, who opined it's both.

Hence my replacement-value insurance AND my spiffy new Proven Industries 2178-A. And now I've gotta think about the new wheel lock they offer. Sheesh.

Thanks to all for the compelling arguments and thoughtful presentations!

Jon & Jen in AZ

My favorite was the guys were sitting around a campfire arguing the "taste/filling" and talking about Bigfoot. Rodney Dangerfield comes crashing out of the woods and breaks up the party..

[ghosthunter]

I am in the layered security court with insurance.
Along with my trailer I also received a Proven Hitch lock.
I put that on.
I took the chains and wrapped they around the tong Jack and slipped links over the Jack handle than a harden padlock.
Near by are two dogs
Motion and sound sensing cameras which alert me to movement.
Motion driveway lights.
Motion drive way chime with receiver on the night stand.

On the road camping.
Proven hitch lock.
Motion lights which shine in trailer window.
Portable campsite chime
And I use a heavy cable bike lock to lock lawn chairs to the trailer.

They may get it. But they will make a heck of a racket.