Removable tongue security

[Yellow Yota]

So, like a lot of you, I have to keep my boat stored outside. I have a removable tongue, which allows me to not have the sidewalk blocked. My question is, what do you do to keep a thief that has a tongue with them from driving off with your baby?

I'm thinking I'll take a piece of 3" square tube about 8" long, cap one end of it so it can't slide in too far, and drill a hole for a locking pin.

Anyone doing it this way? Or any other ideas?



Thanks,
Chad

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Removable tongue security

If you are that worried you can try one of theese. http://www.trailerlock.com/

 

[woosterken]

Re: Removable tongue security

sink a steel pipe in the ground about 3 feet with cement and put a chain around the trailer to the pipe.
put a flood lite on a pole beside it with a sound sensitive switch to turn it on.

woosterken

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Removable tongue security

How about a piece of galvanized pipe and pipe cap, then drill the hole for our lock pin, cheap and easy.

I have a swing tongue that I chain/lock back against the trailer frame, lock on the ball latch, 2 locks where the swing tongue pin goes, cable that I lace between the tire and frame... If a thief wants it he's going to get it, but this should slow them down a bit, and make my boat less appealing.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Removable tongue security

Anytime you use a chain or cable you are only fooling yourself. Bolt cutters will take care of that in a heartbeat. A more sophistcated and effective method is a simple alarm made from one of the remote wireless light switches or a wireless doorbell. The post idea is one that works in which the coupler holds down a switch embedded in the cap. Should the coupler rise off the post, the switch closes activating the wireless switch which rings the bell, turns on a light in the house or via a relay triggers outside light flashers and a siren. The wireless switches and doorbells are cheap. Another way to trigger it is to use a mercury switch in the boat. Set the mercury switch so it is level when the bow of the boat is raised real high which is preferred anyway since it allows water to drain. Any attempt to lower the tongue triggers the mercury switch and sets off the alarm. I have given a couple ways this can be done so use your imagination to complete your plan. You could even trigger a camera to photograph the attempted theft if you wish. NEVER use wires running from the boat into the garage or house, etc. Thieves are generally stupid but they will soon figure out whether the alarm goes off by cutting a wire or shorting the two. The wireless plan will work if you take the receiver along on your trips so you can use it at motels and resorts as long as the rig is within range of the remote. I won't relate how mine is done.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Removable tongue security

Don't the swing away tongues use a bolt and a pin? Couldn't you put a pin in there with a lock on it, akin to the locking pin for when the trailer is hooked to the car?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Removable tongue security

That locking pin can also be cut like it's peanut butter. As for locking your coupler when hooked to the car -- did you ever bend over and look to see what is actually UNDER the coupler? I suggest you do so. You will find a nut that allows adjustment of the yoke that goes under the hitch ball when the coupler lever is down and locked. Removal of that nut causes the yoke to fall off and hence your trailer is no longer locked. And yes -- that's how trailers are stolen as the tongue weight will keep the trailer hooked on the ball until the thieves get to a spot where they can remove the entire coupler or simply replace the yoke with one from their stash. Ever seen the multi-ball set ups where the ball mounts on a pin which allows quickly switching ball sizes? You guessed it, they simply set the coupler on the pin if there is a coupler lock installed. Gone in 30 seconds. Folks -- don't get suckered into all this hitch lock stuff until you really understand how a thief thinks and what they will do to get your boat and trailer. To give you an idea of the extremes they go through, I have a snowbiling friend (an apartment dweller) who used a car leaf spring as a wheel lock. It went through the slot in each wheel and secured to the frame with a padlock under the trailer. The trailer had a coupler lock, sleds were chained to the trailer, and the trailer chained to a parking lot light pole. Yup -- gone. Police followed the two tire marks to an alley where the sleds were cut free, loaded on another trailer and gone.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Removable tongue security

I use a ball coupler lock and heavy duty cable locks on each wheel. Agree with above poster who said if someone wants it bad enough they will steal it but at least it's gonna slow them down. Plus, buy a house next to a guy with better boat!!!!

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Removable tongue security

I use a ball coupler lock and heavy duty cable locks on each wheel. Agree with above poster who said if someone wants it bad enough they will steal it but at least it's gonna slow them down. Plus, buy a house next to a guy with better boat!!!!

HA!

Insurance FTW!

 

[Expidia]

Re: Removable tongue security

I too use one of these wheel lock devices as another poster pictured.

Amazon sells it for $79 plus shipping, but you could find it cheaper if you search around.
(it's cheap insurance)

Don't get the above model confused with the one for a motorcycle. I made that mistake when I found a site selling it for $39. It looks the same only tiny, but costly in postage to send it back for the correct one.

Nice to use at those lonely boat launch sites where you might come back in the dark from a days fishing and your trailer is gone

I paid about 13k for my rig new in 2007. Insurance is the cheapest thing you can buy. Mine is around $200 a year for full coverage.

Like others have said . . . security devices only slow the theives down, if they are looking for a specific model, no matter what you do . . . your boats gone (hence the need for insurance).

I like the poster's idea who said "just park your boat next to a nicer boat"

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Removable tongue security

Take a good look at the wheel lock. Removal of the wheel is a snap. The thieves will have another with them. They can be slowed down but not stopped except perhaps with Smith&Wesson, a big Rottweiler or a neighbor who would have the courage to call 911 if you were gone at the time.

 

[Yellow Yota]

Re: Removable tongue security

All decent ideas, but I was thinking of plugging the hole where the removable tongue section slides in. Making it impossible to hook up to a truck. With most of the other ideas posted, the boat could already be hooked up, and then after they quickly disable the wheel lock, or simply remove the wheel altogether, they drive off in a hurry.

I'll make one real quick tomorrow and try to post pics of it.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Removable tongue security

Take a good look at the wheel lock. Removal of the wheel is a snap. The thieves will have another with them. They can be slowed down but not stopped except perhaps with Smith&Wesson, a big Rottweiler or a neighbor who would have the courage to call 911 if you were gone at the time.

This is true about the wheel nuts being easy to take off and I've been meaning to buy one of the wheel locks that goes over a bolt like I use on my spare tire which is attached to the trailer too!

Something like these (iboats probably carries them too)
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...ailer-Tires-Rims&aID=603H&merchID=1009&r=view

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Removable tongue security

Locking wheel nuts are not a solution either but granted it is another way to slow them a bit. But here's the issue. Any lockable device is generally hardened steel. Small items like wheel locks can be easily broken with a sharp blow from a hammer. Thieves don't just drive by and decide on the spur of the moment to make off with your boat. They do, but they look over the scene before acting -- at least the smarter ones do. If they see locking lug nuts, they simply remove the dust cap, spin off the spiindle nut and remove the entire wheel and hub and replace it with another from their stash. No problem determining which hub they need as the vast majority of trailers use either 1-1/8 inner and out bearings or 1-1/8 outer and 1-3/16 inner bearings. Tire size alone will provide an 80% answer as to which one is required as will a quick look at the spindle with the wheel removed. Again, anything you do is better than nothing but don't look at these items as 100% effective.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Removable tongue security

paging alarm in your boat and a tongue that looks and feels solid but pulls off when they try to take off..... Also a camera......
I believe in giving them a false sense of security and catching them up prepared

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Removable tongue security

why not have a spare ball hitch pipe and put it on the hit, close the hitch and secure with some type of lock

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Removable tongue security

well if by ball hitch pipe you mean ball mount then all they have to do is line it up with their reciever and back up... slip in the pin and haul...

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Removable tongue security

oh wow, dont i feel dumb
haha i never thought of that
maybe just the ball, and remove the threaded bolt part

 

[Expidia]

Re: Removable tongue security

Locking wheel nuts are not a solution either but granted it is another way to slow them a bit. But here's the issue. Any lockable device is generally hardened steel. Small items like wheel locks can be easily broken with a sharp blow from a hammer. Thieves don't just drive by and decide on the spur of the moment to make off with your boat. They do, but they look over the scene before acting -- at least the smarter ones do. If they see locking lug nuts, they simply remove the dust cap, spin off the spiindle nut and remove the entire wheel and hub and replace it with another from their stash. No problem determining which hub they need as the vast majority of trailers use either 1-1/8 inner and out bearings or 1-1/8 outer and 1-3/16 inner bearings. Tire size alone will provide an 80% answer as to which one is required as will a quick look at the spindle with the wheel removed. Again, anything you do is better than nothing but don't look at these items as 100% effective.

Thx Silvertip, that's funny, never thought of them popping the dust cover off and the hub nut! Good luck to them though cause the two times I tried on two different trailers to attempt to pull my bearings myself and re-grease them I couldn't even get the nut off to start the job. Had to bring it to a trailer shop for them to do.

Here is the ultimate but pricey solution . . . It's a Lojack device that is hiiden inside the frame. At least you might get your rig back (even if it's in boxes after they cut it up )

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/c...pn/LoJack-For-Trailers/erm/product_detail.jsp

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Removable tongue security

This is a good thread on how to steal a trailer.

Fortunately, most thieves go for the easy jobs. A few theft deterrents, such as locks and alarm systems, usually will make the difference. But if your trailer or boat is nice enough or the thief wants it badly enough, they will get it. I'll keep on spending money on alarm systems and locks. Hopefully insurance will take care of things if that overly persistent thief shows up.