Trailer security

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Insure it. Nothing else will solve the problem.

The police waste too much time due to their inadequate procedures. Crimes are delegated to individual officers and even when there's adequate evidence they refuse to prosecute. The number of laws is endless but enforcement is entirely lacking.
 
I have a few trailers and have travelled extensively with one loaded and unloaded. I usually keep mine locked to the hitch in use and chained and padlocked to the jeep when parked and with it backed hard up against a wall or a foot path.

Surprising how you get used to locating a suitable spot to park.

I would have a tracker or two now with a mercury switch or a vibration sensor of some type now that these are so easy to obtain.
 
But is it enough to have you worrying that your car and trailer will be gone when you come back from a few days sail? I'll have to get on to my insurance chaps to see if the trailer would be covered by the car insurance or the boat insurance?. likely they'll have some minimum security provisions before they'll' extend cover?
 
I used to sell Ivor Williams Horse Trailer which are apparently the most stolen trailer in Europe.
I sold one to a lady who stored it at my compound. I insisted that she had a Wheel Clamp. She asked me if the wheel clamp would stop it from being stolen and I replied No, but it will make sure that your Insurance will pay out.
She bought the cheapest wheel clamp available. The trailer was stolen a week later with the wheel clamp having been cut off.
With my own trailers I follow the principal "Act as if you are not insured"
My last boat trailer could not be stored where I live (retired and downsized) and was parked at a local farm next to the road.
I did 3 things to make it difficult to steal.
1. Bought a Bulldog Titan Wheel Clamp which is supposed to be the best.
2. Removed the Towing Hitch from the front. Put a black bag over it the front as then a theif would have to turn up with one
3. When the trailer was stored without a boat on it, I would remove the castellated nut which held the brake drum on and pull the wheel off while still attached to the brake hub, which pulls off easily and take it home. Again a thief would have to turn up with a brake drum, with half a bearing inside and a wheel.
Also on some trailers you could drill out the chassis plate and remove it. A stolen trailer is harder to sell without a chassis plate.

A Stolen Trailer Story.
One farmer I knew sold eggs and stuff at his farm One day a transit van drives in and the occupants are giving his horse trailer a lot of looking at. Later that day he sees the same van driving past and they are looking over the hedge at the trailer.
He aparrently said to his son "They are going to be back for that trailer and I am going to sleep in it tonight"
So he puts straw on the floor of the trailer, gets a sleeping bag and goes to sleep.

He wakes up because he feels movement. He looks out of the back of the trailer and he is on the M6.
He recognises a road junction and rings the Police on his mobile phone.
A short time later the Police arrive, They walk the driver to the side of the Trailer and ask "Is this your trailer ?"
Yes the Thief says. A booming voice comes from inside the Trailer "No its bloody not"
Obviously they were arrested and together with other offences went to Jail.
 
Jim@sea said:
I used to sell Ivor Williams Horse Trailer which are apparently the most stolen trailer in Europe.
I sold one to a lady who stored it at my compound. I insisted that she had a Wheel Clamp. She asked me if the wheel clamp would stop it from being stolen and I replied No, but it will make sure that your Insurance will pay out.
She bought the cheapest wheel clamp available. The trailer was stolen a week later with the wheel clamp having been cut off.
With my own trailers I follow the principal "Act as if you are not insured"
My last boat trailer could not be stored where I live (retired and downsized) and was parked at a local farm next to the road.
I did 3 things to make it difficult to steal.
1. Bought a Bulldog Titan Wheel Clamp which is supposed to be the best.
2. Removed the Towing Hitch from the front. Put a black bag over it the front as then a theif would have to turn up with one
3. When the trailer was stored without a boat on it, I would remove the castellated nut which held the brake drum on and pull the wheel off while still attached to the brake hub, which pulls off easily and take it home. Again a thief would have to turn up with a brake drum, with half a bearing inside and a wheel.
Also on some trailers you could drill out the chassis plate and remove it. A stolen trailer is harder to sell without a chassis plate.

A Stolen Trailer Story.
One farmer I knew sold eggs and stuff at his farm One day a transit van drives in and the occupants are giving his horse trailer a lot of looking at. Later that day he sees the same van driving past and they are looking over the hedge at the trailer.
He aparrently said to his son "They are going to be back for that trailer and I am going to sleep in it tonight"
So he puts straw on the floor of the trailer, gets a sleeping bag and goes to sleep.

He wakes up because he feels movement. He looks out of the back of the trailer and he is on the M6.
He recognises a road junction and rings the Police on his mobile phone.
A short time later the Police arrive, They walk the driver to the side of the Trailer and ask "Is this your trailer ?"
Yes the Thief says. A booming voice comes from inside the Trailer "No its bloody not"
Obviously they were arrested and together with other offences went to Jail.
Click to expand...
Thanks, some good ideas there. I'm in the same position re downsizing but have organised storage in a locked yard for most of the time. I'll be taking down to Wexford to sail out of Kilmore Quay, but I can leave the trailer at my son's holiday gaff. It only leaves the more remote venues to worry about.
 
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