Hello all, I'm a newbie just today, SORRY if this topic has already been done to death but I've looked and looked and not found it ...
We've just bought a used Cabanon Stratos trailer tent, our pride and joy.
I need a recommendation please, for a good quality anti theft hitch lock to fit to it whilst it's in storage - I cannot use a wheel lock as it has to be moved about to get others in and out.
Then also - what if we are towing it to a camp site, and we stop en route at a services and go inside - is there some sort of lock to stop a thief simply uncoupling the trailer off my towbar and putting it onto his and driving away?
When stopping enroute most folks don't leave their pride and joy unattended whether it be a TT or FC or caravan. As you say it is so simple for it to be stolen.
We go in for the toilet separately and one of us will buy tea and sandwich or pasty etc for us both to eat outside by the car.
In regards to stopping at services, couldn’t you buy a wheel clamp? I know you said you couldn’t use a wheel clamp for storage but for service station stops it would do the trick. That’s what we do.
For storage couldn’t you get a hitch lock?
Seem to recall reading somewhere that hitch-locks on uncoupled trailers are of limited protection, it's too easy to improvise a lashed up chain/cable connection between trailer drawbar and vehicle hitch, then tow it away to somewhere quiet where hitch-lock can be dealt with without risk of being caught in the act.
Hitch-locks are far more effective if locking trailer to vehicle or fixed post (I know that's not an option for you). An unattached trailer is best protected by a good wheel lock (one that prevents the wheel simply being unbolted and replaced to over come lock!), I know that also not an option for you. To be really pessimistic, a smallish trailer isn't too difficult to get on/in the back of a pickup/van/truck, so doesn't even need towing away! The only way to overcome that is to lock it to something anchored into the ground, again I know not an option for you.
As others have said, I don't leave my caravan unattended in services.
Many hitch-locks can be used to both secure a unhitched trailer AND lock it on to the tow ball when attached, generally considered unwise to actually lock it to towball when towing, just in case you need to unhitch it in a hurry (fire or suchlike!), only use it when parked up.
Your real objective is not so much to make your trailer impossible to steal, reality is that cannot be achieved, but to make it too much trouble to bother trying to steal. Thieves hate spending time in the act of stealing, they want to be away quickly, so will move on to an easier target if yours looks troublesome.
We use an Alko hitch lock on our camper. In the last 15 years we haven't rolled it over and it hasn,t caught fire many times! It may be possible to tow a camper or caravan with chain but why make it easy by not fitting a hitch lock?
Quote: Originally posted by Dandyman Bob on 07/9/2019
We use an Alko hitch lock on our camper. In the last 15 years we haven't rolled it over and it hasn,t caught fire many times! It may be possible to tow a camper or caravan with chain but why make it easy by not fitting a hitch lock?
Don't think I even came close to suggest NOT to use one, just pointing out that they are not infallible! Think I was made aware of the old cable/chain lock bypass by Police security advice publicity many, many years ago!
And I guess you've never seen a tyre that has been run flat for a while catch fire! You'd likely notice a flat tyre on your car, but trailer tyres are much harder to pick up problems with, often it's only when other motorists flag you down that you become aware!
We have a SAS fortress 2 gold hitch lock. Very secure. When in storage the guy takes it off and on to move it. Don’t get an Alko hitch lock, on YouTube there a video of someone getting one off in seconds. I bought one then saw the video.
I also put a large motorcycle chain lock through the a frame and towbar when leaving it for a while.
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Topic: Trailer Tent Tow Hitch Lock
via mobile 02/9/2019 at 10:19pm
