Trailer / Car Security / Roundup

I'm going to pick up a trailer today (hopefully) for the trip up to KY.

Since this is going to be about a 7-8 day trip, I'm concerned about someone either stealing the trailer with the car on it or stealing the car itself.

I've called about parking at a couple of hotels along the way and they tell me I can't take up more than two spots (not possible with the Durango and 18' trailer) so the trailer would be vulnerable to just being hauled off if I have to separate the two.

As I do not believe the Tongue locks are much of a deterent, I'm looking into buying a "wheel boot" for the trailer but am concerned about the car itself (and its contents).

FWIW, This is not a street car with an alarm - it's not going to be driven off - it'd be hauled off somehow.

I think I'll remove my Tach and Quarter Stick (shifter) before I leave and put them in the truck.

What do you guys do to protect your 'stuff' while staying overnight?

Also, what about security at the Hotel in Owensboro? Any security issues there? Should we (that want to) pitch in and hire a rent-a-cop?

Thanks for your input.

 

i'm a little different in that i have an enclosed trailer. if someone wants in, there going to get in. i wouldn't seperate them. and i'd find a parking spot in a lighted area. even if it's right in front of their door. or i'd go somewhere else. when i get to owensboro i'll seperate them. i have a tongue lock that goes through the hitch locking device and also another lock that goes up into the hitch itself. also i have an alarm on my truck. i have no stickers or writing of any kind on the trailer so that no one really knows whats in there. only thing i have is an nhra front license on the truck and an nhra license plate holder on the rear of the trailer. not much more i can do except be careful of where i park. i would not seperate them and i'd try to back up to something that can't be moved. also a chain through the wheels if you have a tandem axle. locks are only going to stop the casual thief. btw rick where is cypress texas. i tried mapquest and it comes back with 2 of them. i'll be going over I-40 through amarillo into oklahoma.

 

Rick, I know the feeling wondering if all is safe. Some will remember me sleeping in my Suburban with a loaded gun, yeah, I know, crazy.
I use a lock on mine.
I keep mine connected to the truck.
With the way we all park, it would be pretty hard to get away with an entire trailer without moving some vehicles.
As far as leaving the car on an open trailer, yeah, there is not much that can be done. I would however buy a decent car cover, to put over it at nite. I really believe that helps even a little.
See ya there!!!
Dan

 

Don't think you will have problems in Owensboro. The hotel in Owensboro had a lot across from the show field where most of the trailers were parked. I was out there at various times from early in the morning till late at night and there was always someone out there. Come to think about it everytime I was out there John Ford was out there (I don't think he slept the whole weekend)

I would never separate the truck and trailer. Most of the hotels along major interstates have truck parking. I have stayed at numerous hotels and have taken multiple spots and have only had one hotel say something about it. I just went out to Colorado and the first hotel I stayed at had a large parking lot and plenty of trailer parking along with a 24 hour restaurant. The second hotel was 3 miles off of the interstate and had a very small parking lot with no trailer parking.

Not sure which way your going but Mapquest shows your route through Little Rock and then Memphis (lots of secondary roads). I try to stay away from the major metro areas for my hotel choices. Also you might find members on here that can make suggestions along the route.

 

Most of the night were all BSing in the lot any way. Would be hard to get to it past us. Area around the hotel seems not to bad.

 

nobody would steal a maverick ...... I wouldnt worry about it:evilsmile

 

Well, I do feel better about security once I get there now, still, spending four nights in a hotel before and one after the event is what concerns me.

At the hotels along the way, I'll do the "wheel boot" thing, remove the shifter and tach, throw my car cover over it, unlock the doors, find the 'best' place to box in the trailer and hope for the best.

BTW, I stopped mid paragraph and got a quote from Grundy insurance (Comp Collision) on the car for $15K. I hope I can get that taken care of before I go.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

When my grandpa used to drive all over the US dealing in old Mustang's, he would chain the car to the trailer and park by things like light poles and chain the trailer to the pole. He would always leave the trailer connected to his '78 Bronco and the saftey chain was looped through the hole in the hitch and had a lock on it instead of just haveing a hook that could be easily disconnected.

If someone wants it bad enough, their going to get it. The best you can do is provide deterrents.

 

That's exactly right. What you want to do is make it hard to get, any deterrent is better than none at all, and the more of them you have, the less likely anybody will get away with anything. A good chain and padlock, easily visible, is a start. I like the idea of booting the trailer wheels or chaining them, too. If your tow vehicle has a reciever hitch, you need locks for BOTH the reciever and trailer. When I went to NC to pickup my Mav, we parked in a hotel that had a space for trucks. Believe you me, most truckers don't put up with anybody messing around a parked rig, if something suspesious is going on, somebody will know about it. Just make sure the hotel has a lighted parking lot, darkness is a thieves best friend!

 

I use a lock for the a lock on the flip handle that grabs the ball, a locking hitch pin in the trailer hitch, and a ball lock when the trailer is home all by its itty bitty self. $50 worth of locks and I still have a trailer.

 

I can tell you that lots of folks had trailers last year with no security issues. I think there were club members hanging out by the cars every night until about 2:00 AM anyways ... not sure what they were all doing out there though ... :evilsmile

 

Well, for me I know I was checking tire pressure on my trailer,, call it a disorder, but I seem to stay out till the weee hours checking those kinda things. Cant be too careful ya know.
Dan

 

Well now, I just might have to join up with the "Maverick Marshalls" and help "police" the parking lot.





Don't forget your badges!

(Okay, I've really gotta get out more often. )
​

 

Don, the Cypress, TX I live in is a burb of Houston, TX

Here's my route (roughly - we plan to jump over from Memphis to Nashville then on to Owensboro)

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?new...429&country=us&tcsz=owensboro,+ky&tcountry=us

 

security in Owensboro is good,we had no problems last year. just be smart about safety and security. like it was said above use tongue locks and hitch locks and maybe a large chain and padlock on your trailer. heck most cars were just parked in the lot with no problems.