Anti Theft Hitch Locks?

[LarryBoy]

The goal is to make yours more trouble to steal than the next guys. Because if they want it bad enough they will get it. I use and love my Proven Industries hitch lock. https://www.provenlocks.com/ I also wrap my safety chains around the hitch leaver and pad lock them. That way they can not be used and adds more time and effort for the thief . Check out these Videos. https://www.provenlocks.com/pages/demo-videos.

PS they are not cheap but you get what you pay for.

[babock]

My travel trailer is currently stored without the batteries in it. They would have to bring a battery to retract my electric jack.

[spock123]

I try to keep honest people from walking off with my stuff, to stop a thief buy good insurance. I need a new camper and a new truck.

[moff34]

Saw this:

https://www.amazon.com/Proven-Indust...s+coupler+lock

on a YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxmGtNf45ws&t=538s

Looked like an interesting solution, but need to do a bit more research before I invest that much money. Any feedback from someone using this product?

[Chief T]

Originally Posted by moff34

Saw this:

https://www.amazon.com/Proven-Indust...s+coupler+lock

on a YouTube video:

Looked like an interesting solution, but need to do a bit more research before I invest that much money. Any feedback from someone using this product?

Oh no... not LOLOHO

[fella10]

I'm with LarryBoy(post #21), IMO the Proven Industries locks are the best on the market, .... and to improve on one of their locks you could go to the Jack-E-Up and remove the tongue jack, .... especially if your concern is safety while in storage, just stack blocks to your desired height, jack down onto the blocks and then remove/take the jack with you, .... makes it more difficult for a thief, if the jack is not there to help them out, ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD1M-t2eqxM

[DougW]

Originally Posted by babock

My travel trailer is currently stored without the batteries in it. They would have to bring a battery to retract my electric jack.

How about if they bring a TV with the proper RV trailer connector on it? Plug into the TV and they would have 12V to operate the jack.

[67L48]

As posted already, a quick YouTube search will show you how worthless Master Locks and equivalent are. A few years ago, I got bored and taught myself how to pick a standard Master Lock -- took me about 15 minutes to learn and I got quite good at it in just an hour or so. It's not difficult and most of those devices present the key hole in a thief-convenient manner ... instead of facing the ground or something.

It will deter the "browser" .... the thief who's just walking through a lot looking for the easy grab. That's about it.

It doesn't take Carlos the Jackal to defeat these things. It takes a toothless yokel who has the internet and knows how to watch a YouTube video. That's a pretty low bar. If your trailer is parked next to equivalent trailers that have no protection at all, then these locks posted here might serve a purpose. If you have the best trailer or if all trailers have some protection, then these devices are pretty worthless.

There are some locks that are more difficult. ABUS is a good brand. Abloy is incredibly difficult to pick and would require specialized skills to do so. Master Lock and the equivalent do not.

I use cheap locks. But, I don't fool myself to believe that they're anything more than they are ... and I don't fool myself into believing that defeating locks is specialized knowledge or something that a high-schooler couldn't do with relative ease.

Good luck.

[joeuncool]

I use https://www.provenlocks.com

Yes they are expensive but I once read a post from somebody that wondered why we are willing to spend 25k on a trailer and then look for a $25 lock to secure it. I thought that person is exactly right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMu_GnNnnBE&t=13s

The bane of locks today is that power tools are all battery operated. See too many videos of thieves now using power tools on locks.

Yeah, I know the Proven Lock isn't going to stop someone that insists on stealing MY trailer but it looks and is massive. Being on a storage lot, the idea is to make it look like more trouble than it is worth when compared to all the other trailers with no locks or WalMart specials.

So, yeah, that being said, if you are storing your trailer on the same lot as mine, those locks at the auto parts stores are more than enough. You will be good.

[eye95]

Originally Posted by babock

My travel trailer is currently stored without the batteries in it. They would have to bring a battery to retract my electric jack.

My electric jack has a rubber cap that covers a nut that uses the same wrench as the stabilizer jacks. The electric jack can be raised and lowered without electricity

[babock]

Originally Posted by DougW

How about if they bring a TV with the proper RV trailer connector on it? Plug into the TV and they would have 12V to operate the jack.

Yep. That would work. Like I said before, never locked a trailer ever and never an issue.

[rsenft123]

Actually have a Master Lock like the one shown. Lost my keys. Locksmith had it open in less than 10 seconds using a pick.

[itat]

I considered the Proven Industries lock until I saw another video showing how the puck lock can be picked in about 30 seconds. If they can use a puck lock that’s much harder to pick it would be worth the cost.

[RGH2CO]

Every time I read a thread like this, or one on winterizing for storage, I'm extremely thankful that we found a home with a heated garage and an RV-height door!

[mbbutler]

I use Trimax 100. They have been attacked several times and have always held.

[Mountainmanbob]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

A big enough sledge hammer will take care of that if you give them enough time.

Maybe so but, I think the tongue would also be destroyed.

That Master Lock would work well in (most cases).

M-Bob

[ben31]

Originally Posted by moff34

Saw this:

https://www.amazon.com/Proven-Indust...s+coupler+lock

on a YouTube video:

Looked like an interesting solution, but need to do a bit more research before I invest that much money. Any feedback from someone using this product?

I really liked the sign - "Danger, my dog has a gun and refuses to take her medication!"

[Finster]

Originally Posted by HangDiver

Curious what others are using to deter a thief from stealing your TT. None of the lower cost options are gonna stop someone who's determined. But deterrence can work. I'm looking at the Master Lock shown below.

I've had 3 of those locks that I picked up from etrailer. I used them on a small utility trailer that I keep next to my garage right off the alley behind our house. The first one I had to cut off because I lost the key. It took less than 90 seconds with a 4 1/2" angle grinder and a cut off wheel. The housing of the lock is cast aluminum so it cuts pretty easy. The second one took me even less time to remove. I forgot to take the lock off before backing my truck up to it and hit it with the ball. It shattered into about 5 pieces. The 3rd is still in service. I keep using them just because they're bright red and highly visible which is what you want for a deterrent.
Locks are only going to deter thefts of opportunity, such as a thief just happens to drive by. He's unprepared but sees theres nothing stopping him from taking a trailer, so he takes it. Thats the only scenario where a lock could possibly save your trailer. If a thief has tools and comes prepared, it doesn't matter what you put on it other than good insurance. I use locks on my small utility trailer just to deter opportunity thefts from traffic through the alley. My camper has no locks on it. Most of the time the door is even unlocked. The camper is stored on a gravel pad inside my fenced yard with a locked gate. Again, not going to stop anyone, but may deter a few.

[mopwr4me2003]

My father in law has had 2 trailers stolen from his property. His first Trailer had no lock on it what so ever. It is in the middle of nowhere and you would have all day to steal anything you wanted. His second Trailer he spent $200 on his hitch lock. I forgot the name of it but supposedly it was unbeatable. Wrong! Seeing as how they had all the time in the world to do what they wanted they managed to cut threw it with a torch. One of those little torch kits you can pick up for around $100-150. Just goes to show you if they want it they will get it. The one nice thing is they had no idea he had installed trail cameras and security cameras on his property after the first one. They caught the guys and the Trailer is back to its home. It now sits on jack stands with 2 tires off of it and a cable through the other wheels and a new coupler lock. If they take it now I think he will give up on Trailer storage lol.

Tim

[DadOfTwo]

I like the idea mentioned before on this thread, and other threads, about removing the license plate. And I may paint 'STOLEN' under the plate so that it only shows when the plate is off.


Then, again, I'd probably forget to put the plate back on when headed out.