Unlike conventional shelters or storage, most trailers are readily mobile. This attribute makes them ideal for storage, moving or setting up base in isolated areas. Trailers come with the risk of being easily stolen or in some cases, invaded and the property taken. For every trailer owner, the biggest worry is usually the security of their belongings or the trailer itself.
A simple padlock on the hitch won’t exactly solve your security concerns given the ease of breaking by thieves. Here are few ways to ensure your hard-earned items or trailer is intact even when you are away.
How to Lock a Trailer Hitch: Hitch Locks
One anti-theft device that secures a trailer is a hitch lock. Hitch locks ensure no opportunistic thief can attach your trailer and drive off. It acts as a deterrent against easy attachment by covering the hitch.
Most of these locks are brightly colored, visible enough serving as a deterrent to opportunists. The disadvantage of this is, and it serves as an attraction to thieves. By locking the hitch with the receiver together, coupled with the easy unlocking using a key, gives the owner a sense of security. They prevent lifting the receiver and ultimately connect to the other car.
Locks come in a wide range of sizes depending on your hitch size and weight of the load you are towing. Most locks come at a modest 1/2inches and 5/8 diameter. A perfectly fitting lock ensures that there isn’t enough allowance for breaking or manipulation of the lock from the hitch receiver e.g. using bars. It is important to ensure you confirm the size and design of the hitch before making a purchase to ensure a perfect fit.
There is a high likelihood of a thief to use brute force on these locks. To this end, most manufacturers opt for costly hardened steel. Alternative cheaper aluminum or zinc is used which are easy to break. Chances are that cheaper locks don’t exactly offer much protection compared to the more expensive steel variants.
U Shaped Coupler Locks
U shaped coupler locks prevent the trailer tongue from being fitted to another car. An additional ball shaped-top of the coupler lock ensures that the ball unit of your car can’t be fitted with other cars. The enclosing rubber hole that covers the keyhole does not guarantee your keyhole being picked.
However, for any thief with time, picking the lock may just do the job for most trailer hitch brands. These locks are primarily designed to prevent opportunist who may not have the luxury of adequate tools nor time on their side.
Using Trailer Wheel Locks
Trailer wheel locks are another option of ensuring nobody tows your trailer. It is possible that your hitch locks maybe compromised by thieves. However, the inability of your trailer to move offers adequate security. Using wheel locks hinders your trailer mobility. Clamps have adjustable claw clamps around your tires and wheel offer stable resistance against rotations.
Most of these covers come with soft-coated arms preventing the scratching of your rims. This is one measure of securing your trailer to the ground. On the other hand, this has the drawback of the inability to move your trailer in time during emergencies like fires.
There are several other ways to secure a trailer to the ground which can be used in collaboration with the above solutions. These include the use of GPRS tracking system of your trailer, parking in open areas, distinctive markings on your trailer to prevent your track from being stolen even if someone unlocks the hitch.