Trailer security while traveling

[dkutz]

I would love to search for this topic, but the search function still doesn't work....

We are staying one night at a Motel on our way up to santa cruz this summer.  Whats the best way to secure the pup from someone taking it over night?  If its not hooked up, I am thinking a receiver lock, and maybe a cable lock through the wheel to keep someone from dragging it?  Or should I leave it hooked up and lock it to the car and secure the hitch to the car?

What does everyone else use?

[Hoagie]

Our hitch secures to the truck with a locking hitch pin. If I was concerned about someone trying to take the trailer off the truck over night I would then use a locking pin in the hitch latch. A heavy duty chain or bike cable through the wheel(s) and around the axle/frame wouldn't be a bad idea either.

The two hitch locks are available at any Pep Boys and I think I saw them at Wally World yesterday.

Other than that, do your best to park in a well-lit area where there is a lot of traffic.

[austinado16]

Master Lock makes a really nice 3 lock set, that comes in a little zippered case.  I've had one for about 10 years and use it weekly. $48 at NorthernTool.com  http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200172124_200172124


There's a receiver lock to keep your hitch or your bitchin' logo'd receiver cover locked into the hitch assembly.

There's a lock pin to keep the trailer tongue lock from being raised....or lowered depending on how you put the locking pin through that handle.

There's a big locking ball assembly that goes up into the tongue.

I've done what you're talking about quite a few times, both with the camper and with my car tow dolly (both empty and loaded with a car), and I've never had an issue at a hotel.  I park where there's good lighting, perpendicular though a bunch of spaces so I can pull out in the morning.  Some hotels even have long spaces because a lot of people do this with RV's, U-hauls, 18 wheelers, etc.  

Not a big deal at all, and if you stay in a $80/night + hotel, it'll be in a nice area, have night security, and be safe.

Besides, they want your car, not your camper.  The camper's not worth a felony strike.....the TV is.

[sacrawf]

I agree with everything already noted, but add making sure that the popup itself can't easily be broken into.  I carry extra padlocks to lock the front storage trunk and the popup roof to keep someone from looking for easy loot rummaging through the camper or storage trunk.

[Dray]

Locks only keep out honest people.  If you're so worried about it maybe you shouldn't stay there.

[Dee4j]

Locks only keep out honest people.  If you're so worried about it maybe you shouldn't stay there.

Locks keep out the opportunistic thief..the one who isn't necessarily looking to steel stuff but if an easy mark happens to be there he will take the opportunity to rip you off. If ittakes work to get at it they will hit the next person that isn't so easy

[wavery]

Those hitch locks are great. Like Dee says, if it's going to take a thief more than 30-seconds to hook-up your trailer and drive off, he's not going to risk it.

The funny thing is, most trailers are stolen right out of the RV parks. The thief watches the camper drive off, pulls in and calmly puts all the stuff in the trailer, hooks up and drives off. Nobody thinks a thing of it. How many of us lock our trailers at the CG (besides me)

We even saw a guy pull up to a tent site one time, take down the tent, pack it and all the gear in his SUV and drive off. We thought nothing of it. About 4 hours later, a young lady came up and asked if we saw who took her stuff :yikes:.......There were 3 or 4 of us there (including DEE) :morning:......none of us thought a thing of it until the lady told us that it was her stuff.

[cjpoppin]

Those hitch locks are great. Like Dee says, if it's going to take a thief more than 30-seconds to hook-up your trailer and drive off, he's not going to risk it.

The funny thing is, most trailers are stolen right out of the RV parks. The thief watches the camper drive off, pulls in and calmly puts all the stuff in the trailer, hooks up and drives off. Nobody thinks a thing of it. How many of us lock our trailers at the CG (besides me)

We even saw a guy pull up to a tent site one time, take down the tent, pack it and all the gear in his SUV and drive off. We thought nothing of it. About 4 hours later, a young lady came up and asked if we saw who took her stuff :yikes:.......There were 3 or 4 of us there (including DEE) :morning:......none of us thought a thing of it until the lady told us that it was her stuff.

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"]We lock our trailer but the pop up we didn't they could just reach around the canvas and open up the door anyway......
I was there when that young lady lost all her stuff what a shame and what a welcome to California........It pays to meet your neighbors so maybe they can keep an eye on your things while you are away from camp.....This is one of the great things about camping with SCCampers we watch out for each other......even if it's only to watch the other guy take your stuff.....LOL
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[austinado16]

I don't lock my camper door because it's faster to open it by simply pulling the velcro'd canvas off the door jamb.  But I always have a hitch lock on the tongue.....either the latch lock, or the ball lock and latch lock together.

I'd be a bummer to have stuff taken from inside, but I'd throw a hissy if someone stole my $250.00 Starcraft:D

[surffishjimmy]

I saw something that looks pretty cool and that would certainly work.   It is called trailer keeper wheel lock.   It is worth a look just to give you peace of mind if you are worried.

[treephiz]

I would think that if the hotel/motel was up to date they would have a security camera system.  I would ask the front dest where the best coverage is outside from the cameras and ask to park it there along with some sort of locking system that was mentioned here.  Atleast if someone did get thru the locks and stuff you would have a fighting chance at catching the culprets!

have a good trip!

[wavery]

I would think that if the hotel/motel was up to date they would have a security camera system.  I would ask the front dest where the best coverage is outside from the cameras and ask to park it there along with some sort of locking system that was mentioned here.  Atleast if someone did get thru the locks and stuff you would have a fighting chance at catching the culprets!
have a good trip!

Forget that.........99% of security cameras are a joke. It takes some very expensive cameras to get adequate information to be helpful in IDing people or vehicles enough to be useful in any investigation.

Most police won't even bother looking a security video unless it is a very serious crime (like murder). We had a pretty violent purse snatching in our secured, subterranean garage a few weeks ago. My cameras caught decent images of the criminal on 2 cameras. The police didn't even want to see it.

[austinado16]

.... The police didn't even want to see it.

Nice.....welcome to the LA area huh?

A few years ago my brother's '89 Blazer was stolen from the hotel parking lot, next to the sailboat harbor in Long Beach.  We were there for a big car show, our cars were in the parking lot that started about 40yds from the parking lot where the Blazer was parked.  Broad daylight and we'd just driven the truck to get lunch and then gone back 30min-1hr later to get something out of it because we were using it to stowe all of his and our gear (we drove our show car and he trailered his).  Bam, it was gone.  I couldn't even get the cops to answer the phone, let alone show up.

A sheriff unit found the Blazer in Compton about 4 days later.  All that was left was the shell of the cab and back end, on the frame with different wheels.  It was gutted to the steel shell, inside and out.  A trail of AFT led up the street and into the driveway and side driveway of some local "residents" who denied knowing anything about it, or it's parts in the back yard, or our belongings in their house.  The cops did nothing, and we got nothing back.  State Farm paid out $11k for the truck and the contents.

Yep, welcome to the LA area.

[Old Goat]

Wavery, Sounds like you have a big security problem as well as a police problem...