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Trailer theft prevention

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  • 27-04-2008 2:17pm
    #1
    Yorky
    Registered Users Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭


    I've recently acquired a trailer with a hitch lock but as an added theft prevention fitted a wheel clamp to it . The problem is the trailer has a spare wheel so all a potential thief has to do is remove the clamped wheel and replace it with the spare - can anyone suggest a way of preventing this inexpensively?

    The trailer wheels are attached with 19mm wheel buts and the spare is attached with nuts and bolts.

    Thanks in advance.


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    #2
    phog
    Registered Users Posts: 24,318 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Is the trailer easily accessable to the public? You can never have anything thief proof but you certainly have already made it difficult for the opportunist thief.

    You could drill through one of the retaining bolts for the spare and add a lock there or could you store the spare away from the trailer?

    If you keep it on your property it there a way for you to anchor the trailer to something - using a bicycle type lock?


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    #3
    Yorky
    Registered Users Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭Yorky


    You could drill through one of the retaining bolts for the spare and add a lock there or could you store the spare away from the trailer?

    This seems like a good idea - do you mean drill through the thread and put a shackle lock through it? Would this affect the threading of the nut on the bolt?


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    #4
    bushy...
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,467 ✭✭✭bushy...


    Usually the spare is only held on by 3 bolts , you could drill the plate its held onto so you could slip a lock though one of the bolt holes in the wheel . It would mean you could use a bigger lock


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    #5
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,570 ✭✭✭Rovi


    Provided the threads are tidied up properly, the nut will spin down past the hole no problem.

    A favourite trick of those dedicated to the unauthorised removal of trailers is to cut one side off the ball on their towing vehicle and slip the 'locked' trailer hitch on over the cut. Their towing ball will either be rotatable or will have the cut off side aligned to one side so that the trailer won't disengage while making their getaway.
    In light of that, I'd give some consideration too to putting an obstruction of some sort into the ball hitch: either a plain ball cut off a regular hitch or a dedicated locking ball (THIS sort of thing), you'll find both at most motor factors.

    Another favourite is for them to unbolt the complete locked hitch off the trailer and bolt on their own; this also gets them around you leaving your trailer hitched and locked to a vehicle or to a fixed post.
    They also carry spare wheels for when owners remove a wheel or two.

    A full sized wheel clamp that covers the centre of the wheel will go a long way to preventing the unauthorised removal of the wheel and replacement with a spare.

    Unfortunately, the best thing is to keep your trailer in a secure location.


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