CT Security

[theins]

Hi,

I have a question around security for CTs. Saw the article re the broken into pioneer and the subsequent installation of an alarm.

Don't see the point of getting into a discussion of what should happen to those low lifes who don't respect other peoples property, rather I am keen to hear what other people are doing re security. I'd hate to park the car/trailer somewhere, go on a hike and come back later only to find that the CT has gone walkabout.

I heard about replacing the d-shackles with padlocks and am considering a wheelclamp,  but to me that seems to be against the etiquette I have so far experienced in the camping world...

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

[D4D]

Any thoughts?

Been discussed before, have a search as there are several threads already on this.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=33843
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=26131
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=28684
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=8312

[theins]

Been discussed before, have a search as there are several threads already on this.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=33843
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=26131
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=28684
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=8312

Thanks for your help - I obviously used the wrong keywords when searching...

Cheers,

[Young Camping Family]

I don't want to hijack this thread but I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for deterring people from stealing stuff from out of a trailer?
We will be getting our trailer next week and will only have a fitted tonneau style cover - no hard cover to lock.  At this stage we won't be doing much touring but will likely in the future where we will potentially be stopping off at places along the way.  I assume people would have the same deal security wise with ute trays?  Not that we have anything particularly expensive (apart from the tents and the trailer itself) but more the hassle of trying to replace stuff.  Is there some sort of insurance you could get for just a regular trailer and contents?

[Bird]

have a look through some of the other threads

[Young Camping Family]

I did look at the links above but they all talk about the trailer itself or when the camp is set up.  A true "camper trailer" would be lockable when packed up so not exactly the same as our situation will be.  Will have to do a bit more research.

[chester ver2.0]

I did look at the links above but they all talk about the trailer itself or when the camp is set up.  A true "camper trailer" would be lockable when packed up so not exactly the same as our situation will be.  Will have to do a bit more research.

When i used to have tools in the back of my ute i bought one of those personal alarms. The ones that you pulled the pin out of the box and the siren went off. The box was mounted in the ute tray and the string bit extended and tied to the tornu cover so if someone pulled the cover off the alarm would go off

[scarps]

Here's some ideas I have used on occasion when I have to leave my CT unattended for any length of time.

When at home, my CT is parked out of sight behind locked gates, with another box trailer parked in front of the gate, also chained to the gates. We then also park a car in front of the trailer. In the back yard with the CT is a ferocious black dog that let's us know when someone's hanging around etc.  Possibly a bit extreme, but I get to sleep at night.
I've read at least 2 stories on myswag and facebook of CT's being stolen from front yards. Some were chained and padlocked and the nasty critters used bolt cutters to remove. When at home and out etc, best option is out of sight.

There was one occasion that I had to leave the CT out the front and noone home for a couple of hours. I ran a chain and padlock through one of the wheels and around the leaf springs. On the drawbar, I chained another spare tyre across the front of the hitch. While it would have been possible to use bolt cutters, I made it as hard as possible.

Neighbours of ours had moved their Harley Davidson Motorbike on Custom Trailer out of their garage one evening, hitched it to the back of their car ready to take off next morning. When they came out next day, bike and trailer goooone......

[Tim - Stratford]

Young Camping Family could you use ggpatrol security cables through things in the trailer and padlocked to the trailer some how?

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=6942.0

Sarah

[scarps]

In terms of when we're travelling on the road, you're right, it would be possible for someone to remove the torneau cover, but not much there to steal. Couple of camp chairs and a folding cupboard. Worse scenario here would be if someone decided to slash the cover and tent, but not heard of that to date.

Both when on the road or set up at camp our rear tail gate where the fridge and food etc is, the front toolbox and the bed base are all lockable with spring clasps and padlocks. Possible they use bolt cutters on the padlocks, but in my case, there's 2padlocks on each. Again, I would only use these if I had to leave the CT unattended for a long length of time.

Of course, if you go camping with a bunch of myswaggers, then at best you only need to lock up your alcohol, and maybe your camp chairs:-)

[GraemeL]

We are lucky I guess, one of the features that I wanted in a camper, was the ability to lock it up when we were away from it. The only thing that is left open is the tent, with nothing but bedding.

But when we were just tenting it I used cables and padlocks for everything. Real valuables were also taken with us.

If you can, use good quality padlocks on everything that opens and shuts. If this is too hard, use good quality cables and padlocks.
It may be a pain, but it beats getting stuff stolen and anything that looks too hard is more likely to be left alone.

For security when we are parked with the camper attached, I have drilled a hole through the pin and fitted a good quality padlock. This stops them simply removing the pin and sliding the hitch out. I also have padlocks instead of D shackles.

When parked on it's own, the chains are brought up over the A frame and padlocked under the A frame. A very heavy chain is run through the rim, over the suspension and padlocked. The Treg Hitch also has a pin lock.

So if they want it, they will have to put in the effort to take it. Then I have insurance that will cover everything we take camping.

have a good look at your Contents Insurance, ours covers us for everything, excluding the camper trailer. The Camper cover also covers us for the big ticket items that we take with us.

[Young Camping Family]

Young Camping Family could you use ggpatrol security cables through things in the trailer and padlocked to the trailer some how?

Sarah

That is a great idea.  There won't be any tie-down points inside the trailer but maybe if I string a few of the heavier items together it may make it rather difficult to remove them.  Eventually we will probably look at getting a fixed top (like tradies top) so it can be padlocked but I don't think we could squeeze it in the budget yet.  It is really only a concern if we are stopped off somewhere along the way and leaving the car and trailer unattended.  We always camp with mates and there is always someone at camp to keep an eye on things... and about 6 dogs. 

[chester ver2.0]

Half lap around Australia never broken into

5 days in perth car window smashed and camera stolen

Its the capital cities rather than the camping areas you have to watch

[gordo350]

When our camper is parked at home I do all the usual things like hitch lock, chains wrapped around the carport corner post etc but I also take the wheels off. If they wanna steal it they have to bring there own wheels and get the lock nuts off first.   By which time I should be out there with the 12 Guage

gordo350

[fuji]

I am looking at the Barrier. Its what the Sheriffs use when wheel clamping. Heavy buggers.
http://www.barsec.com.au/Vehicle-Parking-Products/wheel-clamp.html.
Quite exxy, around $500+

[scarps]

Here's a couple of other options:-)

[theins]

Thanks everybody for the comments.

Looks like it is always going to be a compromise between security and being able to get away for a weekend without too much effort...

Thanks again!

Thomas

[Ciscokid]

Have a read of this http://www.clubmarine.com.au/internet/clubmarine.nsf/docs/MG16-6+Theft

I bought chains and padlock but the chains wouldn't go through the rims of the Jayco  I then returned it and got myself a Klamp it.  Cost wise the Klamp it almost cost the same as chain and lock.  I've never used it yet camping and haven't got walking around for very long with camper hitched but I have chains padlocked vehicle.

The wheel klamp is very obvious from afar and hopefully those buggers will see it and not bother coming for closer inpections

My wheel clamp sits out of sight and out of mind on the spare wheel.   

[theins]

.

The wheel klamp is very obvious from afar and hopefully those buggers will see it and not bother coming for closer inpections

My wheel clamp sits out of sight and out of mind on the spare wheel.   

That's what I am thinking, too...

[Barry G]

Have a read of this http://www.clubmarine.com.au/internet/clubmarine.nsf/docs/MG16-6+Theft

I bought chains and padlock but the chains wouldn't go through the rims of the Jayco  I then returned it and got myself a Klamp it.  Cost wise the Klamp it almost cost the same as chain and lock.  I've never used it yet camping and haven't got walking around for very long with camper hitched but I have chains padlocked vehicle.

The wheel klamp is very obvious from afar and hopefully those buggers will see it and not bother coming for closer inpections

My wheel clamp sits out of sight and out of mind on the spare wheel.   

My old trailer 'walked' with one of those fitted - to road wheel not the spare  - AND a locking bracket around the hitch connector!

[GraemeL]

You could put it inside a tank and they would figure out a way to steal it if they think it's worth it and valuable.

All we can do is try and make it harder for them and hopefully they leave it and look for something easier.

[wilson79]

I have chains padlocked vehicle.

Im a little worried of having my trailer Pad locked to the Tug as I have heard a couple of horror stories where the trailer has caught fire and the owners were unable to unhitch trailer before the tug also caught fire.
I believe there is an example on here somewhere where a Brand new Jayco caught fire and the owners could not get it unhitched in time to which it burnt also burnt their 200 series to the ground in the middle of the desert..

[scarps]

Im a little worried of having my trailer Pad locked to the Tug as I have heard a couple of horror stories where the trailer has caught fire and the owners were unable to unhitch trailer before the tug also caught fire.
I believe there is an example on here somewhere where a Brand new Jayco caught fire and the owners could not get it unhitched in time to which it burnt also burnt their 200 series to the ground in the middle of the desert..

Hi Mr Wilson:-)
It's a fair point. I only padlock mine to the tug where I have to leave it unattended for a long length of time. So in effect, if it was to catch fire, I wouldn't be there to unhitch.  My other thought is that due to the articulated hithces (in my instance Ozhitch), it takes me a fair while to unhook the anderson plug, unhook the trailer plug, undo the 2 x 3T shackles, drop the jockey wheel, wind it up to a height that I could pull the hitch pin out. 
If mine were to catch fire, I'd be devasted, but not sure having it padlocked would make it any harder than it already can be if you're talking minutes of safety.

The other thing that concerns me re padlocks to tug is the holes on towbars these days are not that big to take both a padlock and a shackle, so I hope swaggers don't use a padlock in place of a shackle.  Not a safe thing to do!

[wilson79]

Hi Mr Wilson:-)
It's a fair point. I only padlock mine to the tug where I have to leave it unattended for a long length of time. So in effect, if it was to catch fire, I wouldn't be there to unhitch.  My other thought is that due to the articulated hithces (in my instance Ozhitch), it takes me a fair while to unhook the anderson plug, unhook the trailer plug, undo the 2 x 3T shackles, drop the jockey wheel, wind it up to a height that I could pull the hitch pin out. 
If mine were to catch fire, I'd be devasted, but not sure having it padlocked would make it any harder than it already can be if you're talking minutes of safety.

The other thing that concerns me re padlocks to tug is the holes on towbars these days are not that big to take both a padlock and a shackle, so I hope swaggers don't use a padlock in place of a shackle.  Not a safe thing to do!

Good Point Scarps..

We use these from Bullivants for our work trailers they are rated and they make hitching and unhitching very easy. But trade off also make it easier for the "grubs" if they want the trailer...
I'm not sure that if a padlock was used in replacement of a shackle that it would be "rated" and therefore legal either?

I guess there is a trade off no mater which way you go.

[D4D]

When at home, my CT is parked out of sight behind locked gates, with another box trailer parked in front of the gate, also chained to the gates. We then also park a car in front of the trailer. 

Sounds like the Kerrigan's