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How to Secure a Trailer From Theft? – Tips for Ultimate Protection

Written by Philip Lopez / Fact checked by Paul Lemaire

how to secure a trailer from theft

If you are reading this, you might be tired of constantly being anxious about the safety of your trailer every time you plan on going somewhere else and leaving it unattended.

Worry no more! In this guide, we have encapsulated all the best ways to secure a trailer—from different kinds of heavy-duty locks to the installation of GPS and other time-tested methods.

So, how to secure a trailer from theft to reduce the chance of getting your trailer stolen or eventually discouraging thieves from making it their next target? You need a combination of different security systems and follow various safety precautions and practices. Read the full article for the complete trailer security tips and prevent trailer theft.

Use Anti-theft Devices

lock-a-trailer-so-it-can't-be-stolen

Trailer anti theft devices might not guarantee 100% protection against thieves. Still, a combination of these will surely make them forget trying to steal your trailer or even break in to steal your stuff inside.

The best way to lock a trailer is to use one of these devices:

  • Trailer Wheel Lock

The best way to secure a trailer is using a trailer wheel lock. It can lock the wheel of your vehicle so that it won’t be hooked and easily carried by anyone.

There are many options available in the market for different kinds of vehicles, including those for trailers.

  • Hitch Coupler Lock

This lock design can prevent thieves from hitching up to your trailer, which is an easy way of stealing it. It is best always to lock your trailer so that no one can move it without you knowing. There are different designs to choose from for this particular lock.

  • Hitch Pin Lock

The hitch pin keeps the coupler locked so that the ball won’t fit in it, making it unable to be connected. You use this device with your hitch coupler lock.

  • X-Chock Locks

This lock gives pressure to the tires if you have a dual axle which keeps them stable and stationary. A cable lock is also inserted to lock the X Chock to the wheels, adding extra safety and security.

  • Trailer Hitch Guard

The main purpose of the hitch guard is to protect the ball hitch. There are available good quality ball hitch locks in the market which are durable enough to prevent anyone from easily attaching the trailer to the hitch of their vehicle and stealing it.

  • Hitch Receiver Lock

This kind of lock is a bit expensive but worth an investment as it can give an added layer of trailer security. It prevents thieves from removing the hitch ball mount.

  • Locking Lug Nut

The lug nut gives additional protection to your wheels. They may not be that difficult to unfasten, but they can definitely give thieves a hard time.

Install a GPS Tracker

Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices are among the more popular tracking systems available these days. There are GPS trackers with advanced features that will be very helpful in finding the location of your trailer if it has been stolen or to prevent it from being taken.

One interesting feature of a GPS tracker is its geofence alert. These alerts will notify you via cellular phone or email if your trailer moves from a predetermined location. These geofence alerts let you act immediately on any suspicious activity on your trailer. It is definitely a game-changer in security systems for RVs.

Find a Safe Place Where You Can Leave Your Trailer

To avoid your trailer from being stolen, make sure to leave it in a safe place. You can hide it behind a wall, another vehicle, or someplace that will make it difficult to be seen by others who might be interested in stealing it.

Also, it is essential to select an area that is well-lit, not that easy to reach, and not isolated. One of the best ways to prevent stealing is to hide your trailer away from thieves.

Lock Your Trailer to an Immovable Object

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Apart from using the anti-theft devices mentioned above, another way of adding more protection is to lock a trailer so it can’t be stolen. The best way to lock your trailer is by simply using durable and high-quality chains and padlocks.

You can run the chains through the wheels of your trailer and the axle. Then, add another set of chains attaching it from the wheel to an immovable object such as a post, a pole, or a huge tree.

To complete the security system, use a heavy-duty and high-quality padlock available in the market to ensure that thieves won’t be able to steal your trailer.

Take the Wheels Out of Your Trailer

As mentioned above, one of the easiest ways for thieves to steal your trailer is by hitching it, and then they leave, bringing your trailer with them. To prevent this from happening, another helpful tip is removing a pair of its wheels. Obviously, it will be very difficult to move without its wheels, assuming that thieves will not bring spare wheels all the time.

Take a Picture of Your Trailer and Its Parts

It will save you in the future if you mark your trailer in distinct and easily recognizable ways. Also, you can reinvent these marks into something that is not explicitly visible so that thieves will not have the idea of removing them.

Photograph your trailer in a manner that will make you quickly identify your distinct markings. You can use these photos as evidence if needed.

Make sure to also take pictures of your trailer in all possible angles, together with all the things you keep in it. Be sure to also photograph the title and serial of your trailer.

Do Not Display the Registration Plates

If your trailer is not used for an extended time, you can detach your registration plate and keep it someplace safe. If, by any chance, your trailer is stolen and seen by police officers without its registration plate, it will catch their attention and give them suspicion that it might be something stolen.

Make Sure to Get Your Trailer Insured

Paying for insurance will give you peace of mind for possible incidents that may occur with your trailer. The cost of insurance depends on the kind of trailer you have and how it is being used.

Rest assured that insurance companies offer insurance to all the trailers such as car trailers, utility trailers, horse trailers, boat trailers, ATV trailers, etc.

Conclusion

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Therefore, trailer theft prevention is of utmost importance. We can create a security system and practice safety precautions to avoid any untoward incidents with our trailer and any of our vehicles and other properties.

How to secure a trailer from theft? Some of the tips above may require an expensive investment, but it will all be worth it with the kind of security they can assure us.

If you find these tips helpful, feel free to share this article with other trailer owners. We will also appreciate your comments and suggestions.

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