Trailer lock embedded in concrete?

[bad_idea]

We have an enclosed trailer at the church for community outreach (yard work, fallen trees, etc). We have had theft issues at the church and someone stealing the trailer has become a concern among some. One of the old timers suggested a steel pipe set into the concrete with a trailer ball on the top of it. Lock the trailer down to it and the trailer goes no where. I agree it should detour all but the determined thief, but I am concerned about maneuvering the trailer around the steel post w/o hitting the post (think different inexperienced drivers w/ good intentions).

My question is: Has anyone incorporated a locking device for a trailer of this nature? What does yours look like? I am thinking a means of making the post removable or pivoted to drop out of the way when moving the trailer? I would really appreciate any input on this one. Someone at church found out I can weld and I have been asked anytime a welding project pops up.

 

[liliysdad]

At a shop I worked at years ago, we did something very similar. We embedded a female receiver in the concrete, just high enough to clear the pin hole. We then used a piece of 2" receiver tubing, and welded a ball on top. Back the trailer up over the stub, jack the trailer up, insert the tubing with ball, hitch trailer to ball, and lock it up. We used one of those locking receiver pins in the stub, and a round padlock on the trailer hitch. Somewhat complicated to describe, but very easy to use.

 

[SMKS]

Would it be simpler to put some sort of loop or steel eye in the concrete, whether it's cast into the concrete of just bolted down?

You could then run a chain through the loop and lock it to the trailer. Positioning would seem to be less of an issue with a small steel eye than a post with a trailer ball.

 

[liliysdad]

Chains are very easy to cut, and do little to deter thieves who are stealing trailers. I take reports of folks with stolen trailers secured by chains all the time.

 

[BackNBlackTJ]

At the family ranch in Cali... my Grandfather and I embedded a huge d-ring into the concrete of the pole barn that we used to chain down the welding trailer...

didn't used to be that way, but one night someone decided they needed the batteries out of the tractor, the pickup, and the water truck... batteries aside the part that aggrevated me the most was that they took my anvil as well... 500lb. blacksmithing anvil mounted into a beastly stand. My Grandfather who was not a small man said anyone who could move that thing was a monster of a man and can have it... so now everything is either chained down or locked in a conex box.

 

[liliysdad]

From what I have seen, trailer thieves are pretty well equipped. We see them a lot who make routes from Tulsa to Dallas, etc...stealing trailers and tools all along the way. The ones we have contacted typically have enough tools to quickly cut chain, cable, etc...and these are typically not deterrents.

 

[Gregishome]

We have an enclosed trailer at the church for community outreach (yard work, fallen trees, etc). We have had theft issues at the church and someone stealing the trailer has become a concern among some. One of the old timers suggested a steel pipe set into the concrete with a trailer ball on the top of it. Lock the trailer down to it and the trailer goes no where. I agree it should detour all but the determined thief, but I am concerned about maneuvering the trailer around the steel post w/o hitting the post (think different inexperienced drivers w/ good intentions).

My question is: Has anyone incorporated a locking device for a trailer of this nature? What does yours look like? I am thinking a means of making the post removable or pivoted to drop out of the way when moving the trailer? I would really appreciate any input on this one. Someone at church found out I can weld and I have been asked anytime a welding project pops up.

Industrial Fastener/Tool Supply houses have those specialty locks now for receivers that are impossible to bolt cutter and even have loud alarms on them. Just a thought....... good luck

 

[Imcrazy]

They don't make a specialty lock that can 100% stop a thief.

This trailer belonged to my close friend. Specialty lock plus tires chained together. It took 6 minutes of working.

Video of them working on lock and stealing the trailer.

 

[skyking]

I use the over the counter coupler locks ....the ball goes in the reciever and a locking flange runs in on it. They also have the kind that the hardened Rod runs across the top .I hope these are safe .???????

 

[kbs2244]

I use a chain.

But I also take off the wheels and take them indoors.
(Don't just put them in the trailer!)

I let the trailer down low.
A 4 x 6 under the axel to keep the brake drums out of the dirt.
You need a floor jack to get under it and lift.
It takes 30 to 45 minutes when you know what you need and come with the right tools.

I have had the trailer broken into, but since I keep it empty, I haven’t lost anything.
I am guessing they just don’t want to spend that much time.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Best thing I can tell people is "out of sight, out of mind"... Putting your trailer in a storage shed out of view of passerby's is probably better than trying to lock it down out in plain view.

As others have said, I would think that using like a D-ring on the ground then heavy chain to the trailer. Then also get a coupler lock for the trailer hitch. If a person *really* wants that trailer, there is nothing you can do to prevent them from stealing it short of sitting there 24/7. Otherwise you just have to make it enough of a deterrent that they will go steal someone else's trailer that would be easier to take than yours.

 

[Doozer]

You won't be able to secure the trailer with a chain or a lock for a long period of time. If they want it bad enough. They will drive by a few times and figure out what they need to do. Best bet is put a boot on it. Like the ones cops use.

 

[HOTFR8]

I have looked into the idea of doing the same thing. I have a trailer coupling lock that works well. I also have a piece of water pipe with a bolt and padlock through it that locks the safety chains. If I need at a later date the water pipe has two pieces so I could concrete the bottom half into the ground and when I unlock the trailer the top half of the pipe would simply unscrew that way you have nothing sticking out of the ground when you move the trailer.

 

[usdemt]

I am not sure if you are considering this or not but I want to put it out there. A ball alone no matter how well secured is extremely easy to steal if you ignore how the trailer connects to it. If you use a lock on the trailer the thieves only need to pull the nut off of the bottom of the retention rod. Then pull the trailer off the ball and put it back together.

 

[Murphy4570]

If you want to use chain to secure it, the only way to go where a thief can't cut the chain and make off with the trailer is use battleship anchor chain. I don't think your average bolt cutters or small portable cutting torch will cut through that.

Then again, the chain alone probably weighs hundreds of pounds...

 

[HOTFR8]

Ok further to my last post in this topic a photo speaks 1000 words.

As you can see I have a coupling lock fitted up as the ball would be. Safety chains are locked via a pin through the pipe with a padlock so it has two locks (the coupling is bolted and welded to the A frame of the trailer). The Pipe I have is in two parts and I have yet to put the other part in concrete (it is not in the photo). The top part of the pipe the trailer sits on will unscrew from the bottom half once you have undone the padlock then simply remove the top piece so you do not drive over what is in the ground.

As I stated I have yet to concrete the bottom half of the pipe into the ground but as the set up is at present it would be very hard to move the trailer with the pipe as it is even though it is only chained.

 

[HOTFR8]

This is the coupling lock I use

and after having a look for that on the net you could also use these ideas.

 

[geologist]

My grandpa has a motorcycle trailer that he secures using a bar through the back wheels which immobilizes them from moving. The way he's got it set up would make it a real pain to cut it out, as there really isn't enough clearance to slide under the trailer to cut it free.

 

[Tech Guy]

Do you have an alarm in the church ? If so, there is a special jack you mount to the wall and connect to the alarm system. You then have a supervised cable that you plug into this jack and loop around something on the trailer. If they cut the cable or unplug it, alarm goes off. When you want to move the trailer, you unplug the cable from the trailer and put it back into the jack and pull the trailer away. They use them for boats, bbq's etc.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I never really thought of those tire boots... I guess a good quality one would be a good deterrent. Unless they had an acetylene torch or the jaws of life I don't think they come off very easily.

 

[skyking]

I am not sure if you are considering this or not but I want to put it out there. A ball alone no matter how well secured is extremely easy to steal if you ignore how the trailer connects to it. If you use a lock on the trailer the thieves only need to pull the nut off of the bottom of the retention rod. Then pull the trailer off the ball and put it back together.

Thank you ,Another weak point to look at.I'm going outside and look right now'. I hate a frikkin thief.The cops are useless against them.

 

[2manytoyz]

I had a Popup camper stolen years ago. It had a hitch lock, but that didn't even slow them down.

When I replaced the camper, I poured a couple of hundred pounds of concrete in a hole, with a chain imbedded. I put a couple of pieces of rebar through the end of the chain. It was the heaviest chain I could find.

Someone tried to steal that camper too (neighbor was a witness), but the thief wasn't prepared.

For those wanting to attach their trailer to a ball attached to a post, take a look at the underside of your coupler. Does it look like this:

With a socket and wrench, the underjaw that clamps onto the ball can be loosed in seconds, allowing the trailer to be lifted off the ball.

Furthermore, any lock or chain will barely slow down a cordless grinder with a cut-off wheel:

I have a boot style lock on my travel trailer. It'll slow them down, but certainly wouldn't stop someone determined. I do have security cameras, and INSURANCE.

My biggest tip is to lock the wheels. A hitch lock is a waste of time. If the trailer can be pulled with safety chains alone, they will haul it off and work on the lock later. That's exactly how my first camper was stolen. If the wheels are locked, they must take time to cut the lock, chain, or boot before moving the trailer.

Here's what I'm using. A bolt-cutter has nothing to work with. Torch, cut-off wheel, or hacksaw (eventually) would cut it off.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Nice pics... Your first one kind of gave me an idea for the ball-on-a-post that people suggested. What if you had a piece of steel plate under the ball that was large enough to block access to that nut?

Also, the tire lock is nice, but couldn't they just take off the tire since that one doesn't cover the lug nuts? Even those special-key lug nuts everyone knows just find a close 12-pt socket and pound it in to get them off...

 

[ybnormal70]

http://stealshield.net/

I have one of those on my trailer and a locking pin underneath of it. Should at least slow them down considerably. It's pretty thick steel and nothing to get bolt cutters onto or anything.

L8r,

Kevin

 

[dwp99]

If you want to use chain to secure it, the only way to go where a thief can't cut the chain and make off with the trailer is use battleship anchor chain. I don't think your average bolt cutters or small portable cutting torch will cut through that.

Then again, the chain alone probably weighs hundreds of pounds...

With a chain that big could you imagine the size of pad lock you would need? It would be a PITA just to carry the key in your pocket.

Try looking at the road side sign and radar trailers. They all have removable couplers and tongues.

 

[southalabama]

A prepared dedicated thief is about impossible to stop. You need to slow them down as much as possible. The longer they are there the more likely to be caught. Dad and I use locks on the tongue, but figure they will come prepared with bolt cutters. We also use chains on the wheels, sure they can cut them off, but we hope they don't see it, and try to pull off. Perhaps that will make enough noise.

 

[jhelrey]

^ I disagree!!!!

You just need to secure your **** better than your neighbors! They will take the easy route.

I just love when people lock their trailer to their vehicle. All I have to do is pull the receiver pin. I lock mine to my truck using the safety chains. Then again, mine is welded to the trailer. Yes, I know they can be cut but I am the harder target of the others.

 

[Murphy4570]

With a chain that big could you imagine the size of pad lock you would need? It would be a PITA just to carry the key in your pocket.

Try looking at the road side sign and radar trailers. They all have removable couplers and tongues.

Is that a key in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

 

[carhunter]

Hang the trailer in the air like they do at construction sites

Like others said, build a better mousetrap and a better mouse comes along, but I'd vote for a good hitch lock (the masterlock Gorilla comes to mind) and a large wheel boot.
And keep your insurance premiums paid up just in case.

http://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-74319-Gorilla-Coupler/sim/B0008FUHA0/2

 

[EOC_Jason]

Do realize that a thief that *really* wants that trailer will just wrap chains between the vehicle and trailer without hooking up the hitch (if it has a lock on it). They can get it far enough away and out of sight so they can go to work on it.

Securing it in-place is a definite must. Either a boot that covers the lug-nuts, or something that is concreted into the ground.

Or just post a sign to the nearest similar trailer that isn't locked up like yours.

 

[willymakeit]

Next trailer I build will have a removable tongue.
On goose necks we use to reverse the ball and receiver. Nobody wanted to borrow it either.

 

[kbs2244]

I love the reversed ball and receiver idea.
I don’t know how that would work on a already built trailer though.

The post about powerful battery powered tools is very correct though.
They have changed burglary.
You have to go beyond a padlock.

And look at the hasp.
I once scored a so so extension ladder out of a abandoned contractor storage trailer.
Over a 5 year period a bunch of guys had tried to get into it just to see what was inside.
When my turn came I made 2 cuts in the hasp instead of trying to cut the hardened padlock.
The hasp was just normal soft steel.
It took me about 45 min with a hand hacksaw.
With today’s battery powered grinders it wouldn’t take 10 min.

I still like my take off the wheels idea.
They have to come prepared with replacement wheels, jacks, and lug wrenches.
That is a lot for what is basically a fast hit and run job.

 

[buildmyown]

On another forum i think it was one of the snowmobile sites. A guy took a pipe and sunk it in the ground took another pipe that fit inside the first pipe and welded a plate ontop. He filled the second pipe with concrete so it couldnt be cut with a saw. He then had a hole drilled threw the floor of the enclosed trailer. When parked he would slip the pipe threw the hole into the pipe sunk in the ground.

 

[kenners]

My sister and brother in law had taken their popup camp trailer to their church, while they had the rock and dirt removed from the side of their driveway.
Trailer was STOLEN from the CHURCH parking lot ! :-(
They did have a padlock thru the coupler.
Lakewood Colorado.
Thieves have NO respect !

 

[hh76]

Someone told me they saw a story where the thieves just had a seperate trailer tongue rigged so that they just had to strap it to the existing tongue and use it to haul it away. Kind of like adding a second tongue to the trailer to circumvent any locks on the original. Only had to work good enough to get them to an out of the way spot where they could work on the locks.

 

[dirtmister16]

we run heavy chain through the wheel around the suspension springs. lock with big lock. it ain't left yet. but they do make a bar just for this same thing. someone maybe find a picture, im not having luck.


the only onther way to really do it is to have it blocked in with other vehicles.

 

[srmofo]

I always parked mine next to a telephone pole outside my house with a large obvious cable theough the wheels. Then I put a lock in hitch, and pad locked the safety chains together. I hide 1 more heavy chain around the front axle and had it chained to the pole.

If they didnt find that last heavy chain, it would have destroyed the trailer, but it might have caused enough commotion to get someones attention or possibly even disabled their vehicle. A stolen trailer is as good as a destroyed trailer...might as well as give myself a chance to catch the bastards.

I also always parked a spare vehicle in front of it. although it could have easily been maneuvered by hand, it was just one more step

 

[Lippyp]

I use two deterents on my trailer, I have a very heavy duty motorcycle chain and padlock and if I have to park up somewhere overnight then the trailer gets chained to the towbar, stops causla theft and its a proper hardened chain about half an inch thick. I also have a nitchlock thats basically a steel box that fits over the entire coupling tha can be used when unhitched or hitched and is very secure with an anti drill high security lock built in. Its also kept garaged at home. That said its going to move to an open fronted shelter down the end of my garden soon, I have a cunning plan though which is to secure a spare trailer hitch I have to an old railkroad tie concreted into the ground and then use the hitch lock to secure it to this.

 

[cyamaha2007]

around here they have been caught with a entire replacement tongue, Just clamp it to the original tongue with some welded on c clamps and your gone. They caught a guy that had a mobile welding rig to help him steal them he had air tools and a plasma cutter.

 

[Lippyp]

Lets face it, against someone that determined and well equipped there is NO defence even if its locked in a garage, if they want it then they'll get in. I think its more about detering the casual thief/lowlifes who se an opportunity. All you can really do though is slow it down, make it noisy all of which may mean they go off to an easier target.