How To Secure a Trailer?

Magwych

Magwych

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I just managed to pick up a Trelgo trailer for transporting our his'n'hers pogos around :bounce1

I have some questions about security ...

How do you go about securing your trailer to the car. e.g. Stopping overnight in a motel/pub car park, or even when just stopping for a bite to eat? It seems to me a fairly easy jib to unhitch from my car, hitch to another and then drive off, with 2 bikes nicely strapped down for a quick getaway! Looking at the hitch itself there is room to get a padlock in there to stop this kind of opportune theft.

Next one. Lets say we have driven up to a village pub in Staffordshire, to stay a few nights whilst playing out on the green lanes by day. I can chain the bikes to the trailer, but how do I secure the trailer when I nip out for a curry? Is there some clever security device that stops some scrote from hitching up my trailer and driving off with it, with the bikes securely chained on ?

What do you do ?
 
I have a good quality chain and lock which i loop around the trailer and then around my tow bar bracket, this will make it harder, but not impossible for someone to steal my trailer from the back of my car, i also use the same chain to lock the trailer to when un hitched from the car, dont forget to lock ur bikes to the trailer as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, this is not an infallable method, but what is?, just makes it a bit harder for the scrotes.
 
Trailer Security

You need a good hitchlock to lock trailer onto car towbar and (as a second line of defence) possibly a chain from trailer to somewhere under car.

Next you need to chain the bikes to the trailer. Tie downs are easily cut. A mate of mine had 3 enduro bikes on a trailer in Calais, popped in somewhere for coffee and on return found an empty trailer.

Also, if you are towing bikes on trailer on motorways be careful not to succumb to the scam of a van waving you down or forcing you onto the hard shoulder, taking the bikes and f#cking off.

I have towed trail/enduro bikes all over the place without any dramas until some pikey b%stard took the trailer from my garden where it had been chained up for about 5 years without a problem, was a good 3 bike galvanised trailer with built in ramp as well, that was about 5 years ago and it still riles me. TW@TS!! Hey ho....life goes on. :blast
 
trailer crime prevention

Magwych said:
I just managed to pick up a Trelgo trailer for transporting our his'n'hers pogos around :bounce1

I have some questions about security ...

How do you go about securing your trailer to the car. e.g. Stopping overnight in a motel/pub car park, or even when just stopping for a bite to eat? It seems to me a fairly easy jib to unhitch from my car, hitch to another and then drive off, with 2 bikes nicely strapped down for a quick getaway! Looking at the hitch itself there is room to get a padlock in there to stop this kind of opportune theft.

Next one. Lets say we have driven up to a village pub in Staffordshire, to stay a few nights whilst playing out on the green lanes by day. I can chain the bikes to the trailer, but how do I secure the trailer when I nip out for a curry? Is there some clever security device that stops some scrote from hitching up my trailer and driving off with it, with the bikes securely chained on ?

What do you do ?
Click to expand...

Consider that there are two sorts of bike thieves oppurtunist who stumble across your trailer loaded with bikes when out on a routine pillage.

Or bike theives who want a type or style of bike.
The best crime prevention is to make it harder for them to steal your property so they go elsewhere. This is known as target handling.

So a padlock on a hitch in a dark car park away from observeration, could be dealt with by driving the van up, bolt croppers re hitch to there vehicle and gone.

A large heavy chain wrapped loose so they can not use the trailer as an anvil parked by reversing up to something under illumination, close to reception or a bedroom would be target hardening. try not to think like a motorcyclist when we are normally concerned with weight and space. You have a trailer to transport the chain of off an oil tanker.

The other way of target hardening is reducing the use or value. this can be covered with identifaction. Fixed on VRM. make a visible id number on the trailer. Make a sign Such as PLEAS STOP if MOBILE AT NIGHT.r

With a big enough chain you could pass it through the bikes round the trailer and chain it too the lampost.
Dependant on what time you start in the morning i have always found private hotel's and B+B most helpfull locking the trailer in there yard or blocking it in with the owners vehicle.

RS
 
Standard trelgo erde hitch needs one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Security-Hitc...ailers_Transporters_Parts?hash=item2559540210
Make sure that you put a drop of weld on the hitch nuts as some bastard pikeys turn up with a new hitch and just unbolt yours...same goes for towball nuts and bolts ....
Secondly I also use a lock that covers the hitch and bolts when travelling
similar to this, but change the lock if it's a typical cheap one :(
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Milenco-New-I...ervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item35a7a7331b

HTH :thumb

EDIT....
This is the one I actually use now,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trailer-Carav...ervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item2eab342d21
When parked at night it stops the opportunist thief, it IS possible to tow with it still on but not recommended.
I still also use the little keyhole lock as well tho, at ALL times :rob
 
Last edited:
Proff said:
Standard trelgo erde hitch needs one of these

http://my.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...BayNextAllBuying&ssPageName=STRK:ME:LNLK:MEBX

Make sure that you put a drop of weld on the hitch nuts as some bastard pikeys turn up with a new hitch and just unbolt yours...same goes for towball nuts and bolts ....
Secondly I also use a lock that covers the hitch and bolts when travelling
similar to this, but change the lock if it's a typical cheap one :(
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Milenco-New-I...ervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item35a7a7331b

HTH :thumb

EDIT....
This is the one I actually use now,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trailer-Carav...ervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item2eab342d21
When parked at night it stops the opportunist thief, it IS possible to tow with it still on but not recommended.
I still also use the little keyhole lock as well tho, at ALL times :rob
Click to expand...

Can you check the first link Keith, takes my to my ebay... :blast
 
When parked up i use a chain around the trailer frame and then fix the ends with a padlock to the car towing point. (Not the tow bar)
Plus always lock the front wheel of the bike to the trailer.

If someone wants your bike they will find a way of getting it, no harm in making it a little harder for them.

:thumb2
 
jamesv said:
You need a good hitchlock to lock trailer onto car towbar . . .
:blast
Click to expand...

+1 when I was karting I had a very good hitch lock - maybe ALKO - that had an integral ball on a flap that locked the hitch closed when not in use and ensured the trailer was locked to the car when it was hitched up, so I could sleep easy when on the move.

I now a have a Bryan James that has a simpler version without the added flap.

or you can start with these simple add-ons, but I like the integrated kind. Hitch is locked whether on or off the tow car.

http://www.towsure.com/category/6848-Hitch_Locks

http://www.twenga.co.uk/dir-Cars-Motorbikes,Car-body-exhaust,Trailer-hitch-lock
 
I used to put my trailer arse end against a wall or some other immoveable object and then drive the car over the 'A' frame to wedge the trailer tight,then wrap a chain around the trailer rails to the tow eye whilst i was on the trails..

i have 2 SAS hitchlocks sat in the garage if you want one of those :)

like this one
Paints tatty but thats because its been used...
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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