How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

[BJM]

I bought something called a hitch Gorilla which sits over the front of the receiver and keeps someone from hitching on. I also keep the hitch lever locked too. I realized that someone could just unbolt the receiver and use their own so I welded the receiver to the neck of the trailer. I also use a Kryptonite stranded cable to lock the whole trailer to something solid.<br /><br />In the winter time I remove a wheel and hide it elsewhere as well. <br /><br />Does this seem extreme or is it normal? Anyone have some innovative other ideas?

 

[L Christopher]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Receiver lock, release latch lock, insurance.

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Storm is right, insurance is best. If someone wants it bad enough, it doesn't matter what you do, they'll get it. I am the voice of experience!!

 

[Spidybot]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

It drives you crazy when you know it can be stolen no matter what you do. To secure mine I use a receiver lock, park it in the back garden and use a cover that hides it's good looking. Yes, it looks like a boat but nobody can tell if it's a gem or a piece of junk.<br /><br />I used to live where a boat could not be parked. Those days I made a deal with a fella who had a barn 20 minutes from the ramp.

 

[wayne h]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

remember that most people dont what to steal your boat or trailer they want the motor.if you ever had an motor stolen you know its impossable to get back.boats are easy to spot and alittle hard to get away with but a motor is easy.just look at your motor 2-4 bolts and its gone.just like lower ends are stolen all the time because they can hid behind your boat and work without being seen.i would worry more about the engine then the boat and trailer

 

[DJ]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Colt 1911 A-1 .45 ACP.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

ditto djons

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

So, how does this Colt thing work? I tried it with a Glock. Layed it right out in the open on the tongue so everyone would be scared off. problem is, they used it to shoot the lock off the trailer, and took the Glock too. All I was left with was 4 empty casings. Maybe I should try a Colt. Do you have any tips or instructions on how this would work?

 

[golfer]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

I have a saying..."It's always worth more stolen than sold." Sick I know, but true. I do my due diligence on protecting from theft, but I do not go overboard. That is why we pay the insurance we pay, not just for an actual loss, but for the peace of mind. I would just buy a hitch lock, the kind that acts as a ball, goes into the ball receiver of the trailer and locks in...

 

[Boatist]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

I use a lock on the hitch lever and my saftey chains are case hardened and lock around the truck frame. At home keep in back yard and chain link fence is locked. Gate also has a sensor tied into home alarm system. When camping use a heavy duty bike cable ran thru one of the spokes of the wheels and around the trailer frame.<br /><br />I wish insurance was a good answer, but for me it is not. I look for a new 4 foot longer boat every year and have not found anything I like as well as my boat yet. Still boats about the same size $40,000 with motor and trailer. Max they will let me insure my boat for is $7000 and for that amount can not buy a boat half the size. Not even a old unkept boat with everything falling apart.

 

[Gunny77]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Boatist,<br />What insurance are you using, mine will go with agreed value. Granted my boat is a little cheaper but I have piece of mind that I will get paid the value we pre set, even after several years.<br /><br />My trailer tongue can be removed from the frame, two pins and it slides out. Makes the trailer 2 ft shorter for storage and nothing to hook up to when stealing.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

I take the usual precautions with a hardened hitch lock and pay insurance to cover whatever else may happen. Oddly enough, down here they will steal your reciever hitch too, so I keep mine locked on with a locking pin. I agree that if someone seriously wants it they'll get it, but try to slow them down some anyway

 

[Boatist]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Gunny<br />I do not remember the insurance name but got it thru west marine. Keep in mind my boat is 23 years old. They will not allow you to insure over high blue book. Even if it was keep in the grage and never used. I guess there affraid someone would sink to get money for a new boat.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

First off, my boat and trailer are insured for what we agreed upon at time of issuance.<br /><br />I keep mine in the garage all the time and when in use, use a hitch lock.<br /><br />But like was said, if they want it bad enough, they will get it.

 

[BJM]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Interesting spectrum of view points. While I maintain insurance on my boat I treat it like a duty on my part to make a potential thief's life difficult. If it's too onerous to secure the trailer I know I won't bother so I do what is effective and easy. I seem to be in the broad range of what seems normal.

 

[Terry H]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

I shouldn't have read this post...you now have me a little paranoid. A couple time a year I leave truck and trailer downstream at some remote boat ramp whilst I float downriver for a week or so. Maybe I should talk to the local sheriff and see if they will check on the vehicles when they are in the area...I don't want to spend the week camping, fishing, and drifting down the river thinking about that stuff. I see you all are from around the country and Canada, so I guess this stuff happens all over. What is this world coming to...just a Thought

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

No lock for me! I hate the hassle. I dont lock the truck, hide the keys inside it. No trailer lock, no hitch lock, no hiding the tire. Not even lights on the trailer. Instead of traditional safety chains I have a loop that i just toss over the hitch behind the ball. All in the name of speed and efficiency. Oh yeah and no insurance! How you ask? SMALL TOWN things get ripped off but its very rare, and when you find them yourself, lookout!<br />Craig

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

I keep the boat in the garage for weather protection and the lock on the latch is so it won't hit a bump and come unlatched.<br /><br />Bolts with nuts have a way of getting loose.<br /><br />In my 35+ years of boating, I have yet to have anything stolen.

 

[wayne h]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Craig Passeno hope i no one is ever behind you if that hitch ever comes lose.you will wish you took the time to lock it and have the safety chains attached the right way.its all in the name of safety not speed and efficiency.locking a trailer tounge 10 seconds hooking up safety chains manybe 10-20 seconds.WOW 30-40 SECONDS. that might save some 1ns life.no lights eather ??? maybe boating is not for you its not supose to be a hassel its supose to be fun and safe for you and others around you.i know i am going to be yelled at for saying all this but this is my 2 cents

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: How do you protect your trailer w/ boat

Wayne, I would only yell to agree with you. A trailer come loose a few months ago, went across the median and killed a very popular and competent local doctor. It didn't have any safety chains. That doctor won't ever be able to help anyone again because of someone else's carelessnes.