Disabling a trailer.
Author
Discussion

dhutch

Original Poster:

17,747 posts

226 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
Slightly odd request, but im wondering if anyone has any clever ideas for disabling a trialer.

Basicaly im at uni and in need of a garage or somewhere dry to put a car and have hatched up a plan to buy a racebox/covered trailer or possably a flatbed car transport and cover it. And use that.

Park it in our drive at uni, and put the car in it.

Only thing im worried about is the who sheband geting pinched, it will be insured, but im keen it doesnt happen.
Also as the trailer wont be on a car at the time. Will the brakes/jockeywheel be upto holding it?


Daniel

VladD

8,196 posts

294 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
I'd remove the tow socket from the trailer and get wheel clamps fitted.

Scuffers

20,887 posts

303 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
VladD said:
I'd remove the tow socket from the trailer and get wheel clamps fitted.
sadly, that won't stop the pikey's...

it's dam near impossible to get them insured now...

if your looking for a temporary garage, use a container...

dhutch

Original Poster:

17,747 posts

226 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
Yeah, ive certainly heard that hitch locks are fairly pointless, becuase they just stick a wire round it or ratchet strap it to a modified hitch.

Apprently taking the wheel off is quite good. But on a 4*4 you would need to take a minium of three wheels off! Effort!!

We use one of these on the box trailer, which does well in reveiws, but it doesnt look that good to be, and the lock mech feels like turd to operate.
[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL]


Ofcause a decent chunk of the time we will proberbly have enough cars to park it in, and when i go home i'll take the lot with behind the tintop.

I would consider a container, buts its a student house on a main road. Only there for a year.
- And also a trailer can double as a trailer for geting to trackdays and the like.



Daniel

VladD

8,196 posts

294 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
Fix a tow-hitch to the house and attach the trailer to the house.

Or, what about putting an alarm on the trailer so that if it tilts the alarm goes off.

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

311 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
Wire up a Judas socket. Just dont forget about it.

Regards
Iain

Derek Smith

49,740 posts

277 months

Tuesday 26th August 2008
quotequote all
I remove the wheels from my trailer and replace them with steel 'blanks' that can be bought at any trailer/caravan place. This has the added advantage that you can take your tyres indoors and it slows deterioration.

But I'm with the poster above. If someone wants your trailer and is prepared to work at it then there's little you can do to stop him.

dhutch

Original Poster:

17,747 posts

226 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
Yeah. I did think about geting some 'blanks' knocked up, so interesting to know they are available. (and there was me thinking i had come up with an orignal thought!)

Also hadnt thought about an alarm system. I guess it wouldnt even have to be anything posh. Almost a quick DIY job.
- The bloke next door is a car buff as well, so would no doubt keep an eyue on it and get the police out asap should anything happen like an alarm go off. Although fitting a towball to the house is a non starter, becuase as i say its studnet house. The landlord seams a right good bloke, already good freinds before we've moved in, but i think a towball is a no-no.

Derick is ofcause right, as with anything, you only trying to make it hard enough they wont bother, After that its upto the insurence i guess.

Infact thats a point too, i'll certainly mention that it will be living on a trailer (on the drive) some or most of the time.


Daniel

mcBontempi

108 posts

217 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
does the aframe connect directly up with the axle, if not, can the entire thing be removed?

but.. an alarm + one of the other methods should do.
could you also run some chains through the wheels? and padlock them somewhere, and have the alrm sound on them tampering with that.

jimmystratos

2,405 posts

261 months

Wednesday 27th August 2008
quotequote all
Judas socket - wossat?

dhutch

Original Poster:

17,747 posts

226 months

Thursday 28th August 2008
quotequote all
jimmystratos said:
Judas socket - wossat?
I think he's suggesting making the chassis/trailer live. Or otherwise boobie traping it.

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

311 months

Thursday 28th August 2008
quotequote all
Yes, basically a socket that has every wire connected together, and hide the true light socket in the A-frame. At best for the thief it will blow all the fuses in their lighting circuits, at worst it will totally knacker the electrics, ECUs and electronics in the tow vehicle.
Regards
Iain

ETA, echoing what's already been said ultimately if someone wants your trailer they'll have it; but you can make life as difficult for them as possible.

Edited by Chassis 33 on Thursday 28th August 07:20

RobM77

35,349 posts

263 months

Thursday 28th August 2008
quotequote all
When ours is parked up I remove both wheels from one side, apply a clamp to one of the wheels on the other side; use two motorbike locks to seperately secure the trailer to the garage; and it also has a lockable tow hitch.

It may sound over the top, but it takes about 45 minutes to load the race car up, and 30 minutes to unload, so the five minutes that the securing takes is relatively quick.

dhutch

Original Poster:

17,747 posts

226 months

Friday 29th August 2008
quotequote all
I like the idea of a dummy socket with an alarm.
- Bridge all the +12v together (sides, brakes, indicators) and wire a siren across that and earth. Although they would just drive without lights!!

But yeah, certianly some good suggestions.

Ive not actaully bought the trailer yet, but having a look round there seams to be a define scattering of sub £1000 covered trailers.



Daniel

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

311 months

Friday 29th August 2008
quotequote all
Having pleaded the case of the Judas socket, is a thief really going to worry about anything more hand hooking the hitch up in the first instance?

Regards
Iain

Chassis 33

6,194 posts

311 months

Friday 29th August 2008
quotequote all
Suppose they'll pause a moment to put the correct number plate on too tongue out

Regards
Iain

falcemob

8,248 posts

265 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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Don't forget the pikey with the Hiab/grab truck/JCB.

sniff diesel

13,125 posts

241 months

Saturday 30th August 2008
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Sounds like a lot of hard work, can't you just rent a lock-up from the local council? Mine was only £6 a week and I've got a mate paying only £3.50 a week for his.