Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

[pullin]

I'm considering a trip from DFW to Powell this year. Obviously there will be a few overnight stays on the drive. For those of you who've made multi-day trips with your trailered boat, how did you handle security during overnight stays?

I've pulled my boat on long trips before, but it was while moving and the valuable equipment was in the moving van. My only worry then was ensuring the trailer was securely locked to my truck. Even then, the ne'er-do-wells ripped the cover off my boat while in the hotel parking lot. (There was nothing for them to steal, though).

Don't laugh, but one option I'm considering is staying in RV parks, and using the boat as a "camper" for my overnight stays. It's a fair-sized cuddy with toilet and sink, and I could cook on my propane grill and use the shower in the park. This would have the advantage of always being near the boat at night (and in my experience, RV parks are fairly secure when compared to the local Motel-6). FWIW: I'm making the trip alone, so I don't have to provide all the comforts for the missus.

Your thoughts, experiences?


PS. Mods; My apologies if in the wrong forum. This seems more about security than trailering so I put it here.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

If it was only me I would stay in the boat if I could. You have everything there that you need, you won't be able to run all of the systems but you won't have to spend the money on hotel rooms and it would be a step or two above camping.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

We travel extensivly with the boat and never have issues, knock on wood. Then again, we don't stay in "budget" lodging or an area with budget lodging. We also don't keep a cover on the boat. If you want to climb in and look around, you do so w/o a cover to protect you from view.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

I pulled my boat across Canada when it was new. Never had any trouble.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

I never had an issue. I selected a moderately priced motel and parked in a well lit area with full view from my room. Additionally, I removed easily stolen articles or put them in locked hatches.

A couple of years ago I was going to get together a family reunion there since half are in TX. and the rest in CA. I declined for several reasons. One was the current level of the lake. I hope you have a safe and fun trip.

Mark

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

I made a 4 day trip last year and I try to stay at places that have security cameras in their parking lots. The one place that didn't I lost a fuel tank. I have been thinking on adding a after market car alarm. I make at least one 3 to 5 day vacation type of trip once a year.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

Staying in the boat is good idea. Otherwise, take everything that is valuable and easily removed with you....yes this can be a pain. You can also put a portable motion alarm in and around it as well. Check out the website below. I would also run a heavy chain through the wheels on the trailer with a lock. A prop lock is good too. There is also the concern of personal safety as well.

Portable Motion Sensing Perimeter Alarm for Camp and Tent-Go Fast and Light


It all depends upon where you stay.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

drive at night and sleep during the day while the thieves are also sleeping.....................

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

Don't laugh, but one option I'm considering is staying in RV parks, and using the boat as a "camper" for my overnight stays.

Years of long distance Baja travel with our 25' boat found us in a variety of overnight situations, from pulling off on the side of the highway to staying in 5 star resorts. The RV park option is a good one, and if I were you, I would search out their locations in advance to see if they are conveniently located. When we would stay in cheap motels, we had our favorites. These would be ones where we could back the boat into a spot directly in front of our room. We never had a problem, and did I say this was Mexico? Parking alongside the highway posed more of a personal security risk. That's not something I would consider doing anymore. If you are unfamiliar with your route, and where you will end up at the end of your driving day, I think you just have to play it by ear, and have a plan B in mind once you see what's up.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

I tow to Powell but I do it in one shot 8 hour drive from Denver, the only advice I can give you is carry spares, once you get on the two lane highways the roads eat tires, my first year I had 3 failures, second year two, I know what your thinking and my tires the first year were two year old tires on a tandem trailer so they were not old by any stretch.

I talked to a professional fisherman who drives from Grand Junction to Powell and he carries 3 spares for the 4 hour drive, it was the only advice he had for me, his spin on it is that the heat from the road destroys trailer tires, I was thankful for his advice especially since he loaned me one of his spares as I was putting on my only one on my way to Powell...

Have a great time Powell is a great lake, I hope to go again this year...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

There's always the Wal-Mart parking lot idea.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

Trailered from Washington to SE Alaska last fall and used plan B. Two drivers and a box of those little energy drinks. Drove straight through but got to nap on the ferry ride which turned out to be one expensive nap! And I'm not recommending plan B the way we did it but it did buy us a couple extra days fishing.
I like the idea of sleeping in the boat at a campground. Kinda wish we'd thought of that one.....

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

i would get a good lock and when you park overnight if you have a swingaway tongue pull the pin and bring it with you just remember to put the pin back in in the morning also you could drop the anchor.:laugh:

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

Don't laugh, but one option I'm considering is staying in RV parks, and using the boat as a "camper" for my overnight stays. It's a fair-sized cuddy with toilet and sink, and I could cook on my propane grill and use the shower in the park.

I'd do this. I prefer camping to cheap hotels, and this seems a step above camping. Saving $, with the added benefit of increased security for the boat, is a win/win.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

On our Roadtrips, No boat, but other gear still in the SUV.
We tended to stay in Economy lodging also.

We take a Wireless Driveway Alarm System and put the Transmitter in the SUV,
And the Receiver in the Motel Window.
It easily worked for a few hundred feet.
Never had an actual alarm, But our sense of security was better.
You will know if someone is snooping around.
Press the Panic button on your Truck's Key Fob to sound the horn and draw attention.

Loosely set one in the boat and another on the truck dash for the night.

Search for "Driveway Patrol" on ebay. (~$15)




If you don't cover the boat, it appears you are not trying to hide anything.

Rental Car companies in the Caribbean suggest NOT locking the cars when parked and leaving the windows open if rain is not expected.
We kept absolutely nothing of value in the car.
One morning we found the passenger seat fully reclined and assumed someone had slept in the car during the night.
Nothing damaged ... The third world is a different place!

 

[tazrig]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

The RV park idea sounds the safest. If you do stay at a motel see if you can back up against a solid wall. This will prevent a potential thief from having the room to steal the trailer, protect your drives or outboard and your props. Keep anything valuable out of sight. Run a chain through your steering wheel (truck) and around your brake pedal too. If they don't see anything and it looks like it would be hard to take the boat they'll most likely move on to the next one and leave you alone. There are lots of easy targets out there. Don't make yours one of the easy ones. As lippcj7 pointed out some extra spares are a good idea also. Trailer tires don't have the same tread depth as regular tires and as such are more susceptible to puncture.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Long distance trailering (multi-day). Overnight security advice?

You can have thieves at any hotel/motel. Bachelor parties and weddings don't typically happen at Motel 6's but have a much higher potential for damage to your boat, not necessarily theft. You might wake up with someone having incorrectly used your boat as a bathroom! That said, do as others stated and park next to your room window if possible - ask ahead of time if this can be accomodated. Definitely back into the stall and hopefully park under a light in a visible area.