Don't now run a trailer but if twer me I'd get a cheap red box type hitchlock plus a suitable lockon wheel clamp and keep nothing of value in the trailer. A thief would have to brazen out the stares of other campers and and either destroy the locks or physically lift it in to the back of a van. Anything else I think is overkill.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
Bulldog hitchlock which secures it to the car if we have an overnight stop on the way to the main holiday or when we stop for foodbreaks and a wheelclamp too, when travelling the wheel clamp fits to the spare under the trailer and stops that geting nicked when we stop for food/comfort breaks. cost less than £100 and meets the 10% of the cost of what you are securing , guidline for how much to spend. i.e worth a grand spend at least £100 .
NEVER secure lock the hitch when its going to be fitted to a moving car.
We use a wheel clamp on ours both at home and on campsites. Firstly there is nothing that is safe if they are determined, but making things difficult for the casual thief is all you can do.
If you have never used a clamp before they are difficult to find to suit trailer wheels, this is not just the diameter, ours has 13" wheels, it is the depth of the wheel. Many of the clamps can be moved away from the tyre enough to allow access to the wheel nuts.
<img style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 8px" id=il_fi src="https://newcarbitz.co.uk/images/wheelclamp-10-14.jpg." width=350 alt=350>We found that this one worked well and was not too expensive. The more valuable camping items that are transportable tend to go in the boot of the car and out with us each day.
If your trailer is staying on site for the duration of your trip why not take a 12v compressor and let the trailer tyres down? Get a valve key and unscrew the cores completely and put them in your wallet, just don't lose them... Obviously not a stand alone solution but as said it's all about making it more difficult for the casual tea leaf.
If your trailer is staying on site for the duration of your trip why not take a 12v compressor and let the trailer tyres down? Get a valve key and unscrew the cores completely and put them in your wallet, just don't lose them... Obviously not a stand alone solution but as said it's all about making it more difficult for the casual tea leaf.
In answer to this reply to my post all I can say is each man has his own way, however the thought of letting down the tyre every time I want to secure this trailer is not workable. Our clamp is on in the car park of DIY stores when we go in to buy stuff, remember trailers have many uses outside campsites. Also motorway services are a great place to clamp it for 30 mins. I am not sure what damage might be caused to the wires and other structure of the side walls of a tyre when left deflated under load. Again I am happier not to screw with the tyres when towing loads on motorways at high speeds !
I know you said you were leaving valuable stuff in it during the day and I understand the need for some degree of security, as a deterrent if nothing else. I don't know where you are going camping and I think that would make some difference. If you are at a large busy campsite in/on the edge of a large city, for example. Overall, levels of theft on campsites are pretty low. Some of the cheaper suggestions here involve something that would wake you up if the thieves were trying to get stuff at night or look pretty darn odd to anyone around on the site during the day, if someone started trying to dig out one of those ground spikes near me I would certainly alert a warden/campsite owner.Service stations etc are the riskiest places as mentioned, there are loads of simple devices that will make the thief look for a trailer without one - hitchlocks, quick wheel clamps etc without breaking the bank.
I'm not saying don't take any precautions and it's no holiday if we have no peace of mind, I am just saying balance the level of time/money spent on the security measure with the level of risk and since nothing is absolutely thiefproof, have good insurance cover. You could also look for campsites that have security barrier systems and/or onsite wardens you can ask to keep an eye on things for added reassurance.
------------- August - Carsington Water CC Site. Don't know where else yet - only picking up the caravan on Friday!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Securing a trailer on a tent pitch.
