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#1
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
I once had my boat broken into and another time had the jack stolen off my trailer. Both of these occurred at a public boat ramp in the Boston area. But each happened when I left things there overnight. A very stupid decision on my part...but I did not have a garage or land (just an apartment). ANYWAY, so now we're building our trailer and getting ready to (HOPEFULLY!) start using this boat soon. I'm quite certain we will never leave the boat anywhere by itself. But the trailer is a different situation. Do others have stories and/or products they use to insure that the trailer is not messed with? I know of the devices that go into the ball socket. It trailer theft common? Ok, more specific question: We just made the spare tire holder. The tire currently is just on there with two lug nuts. It would be SO easy for someone to take it. I could use a cable and lock it to the frame. Has anyone use locking lug nuts? Anyway, not too concise - sorry. Just thinking out loud so any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks, Gary |
#2
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
Sorry you were a victim. I'm lucky, naive, or both.
I looked at locks when I bought a spare tire carrier and didn't get one because none of them looked capable of stopping a thief, only of being a nuisance to me. I have a lock on the trailer coupling handle that looks pretty sturdy. It also keeps the handle from releasing, which gives me comfort when towing the trailer. One tip that has been helpful to me: I always use the same tow vehicle, so I have a fanny pack for the boat ignition key, trailer lock/trailer hitch key, spare handkerchief and wallet. The wallet is designed for a fishing license - it has a lace to hang around your neck, several window pockets (fishing, boat, trailer license) a zipper pouch for change, and a billfold. I keep it in the tow vehicle except when boating, then I put my car keys in it and stow it under the instrument panel of my boat. I keep an assortment of change and bills in the wallet, since I don't always have much money with me. If anything happens, I'll have change for a phone call and soda pop, and a few bucks for a sandwich. Keeping the car keys in the pack while boating prevents the chance of getting the electronic lock/alarm on the car key ring from getting wet. I usually wade into knee deep water to launch/recover, and once had the keys in my swim shorts while water skiing. "Gary Warner" wrote in message ... I once had my boat broken into and another time had the jack stolen off my trailer. Both of these occurred at a public boat ramp in the Boston area. But each happened when I left things there overnight. A very stupid decision on my part...but I did not have a garage or land (just an apartment). ANYWAY, so now we're building our trailer and getting ready to (HOPEFULLY!) start using this boat soon. I'm quite certain we will never leave the boat anywhere by itself. But the trailer is a different situation. Do others have stories and/or products they use to insure that the trailer is not messed with? I know of the devices that go into the ball socket. It trailer theft common? Ok, more specific question: We just made the spare tire holder. The tire currently is just on there with two lug nuts. It would be SO easy for someone to take it. I could use a cable and lock it to the frame. Has anyone use locking lug nuts? Anyway, not too concise - sorry. Just thinking out loud so any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks, Gary |
#3
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
On Wed, 12 May 2004 14:42:53 -0400, "Gary Warner" wrote:
I once had my boat broken into and another time had the jack stolen off my trailer. Both of these occurred at a public boat ramp in the Boston area. But each happened when I left things there overnight. A very stupid decision on my part...but I did not have a garage or land (just an apartment). ANYWAY, so now we're building our trailer and getting ready to (HOPEFULLY!) start using this boat soon. I'm quite certain we will never leave the boat anywhere by itself. But the trailer is a different situation. Do others have stories and/or products they use to insure that the trailer is not messed with? I know of the devices that go into the ball socket. It trailer theft common? Ok, more specific question: We just made the spare tire holder. The tire currently is just on there with two lug nuts. It would be SO easy for someone to take it. I could use a cable and lock it to the frame. Has anyone use locking lug nuts? Anyway, not too concise - sorry. Just thinking out loud so any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks, Gary Not sure how you have your tire mounted, but I run a chain through the holes in the wheel, around the tongue and back through another hole. Then I put a padlock thru the chain links. The key to the lock goes on the key ring with the pickup key so I always know where it is. Works for me. John H On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay! |
#4
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
On Wed, 12 May 2004 14:42:53 -0400, "Gary Warner"
wrote: Has anyone use locking lug nuts? Anyway, not too concise - sorry. Just thinking out loud so any comments or suggestions welcome. ======================================== I have removed my spare tire carrier for everything but long haul tows. It's just as easy for me to throw a spare tire in the back of the truck and I don't have to worry about the carrier or tire going missing at my storage yard. I use 4 locks when I leave the trailer for storage: one with a locking pin through the hitch release lever (which I also use underway), a cylinder lock that goes into to the front of the hitch socket, a padlock and stainless steel cable on each set of tires locking them to the frame. It's possibly overkill but no losses so far, and it only takes a few minutes to lock everything up. |
#5
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
Has anyone use locking lug nuts?
Total waste of money. Pound an old socket on it and twist it right off. Mac even sells a set to do it. In most cases the ONLY person the lock stops is the OWNER when they strip out. |
#6
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
Also Sprach Gary Warner :
Do others have stories and/or products they use to insure that the trailer is not messed with? I know of the devices that go into the ball socket. It trailer theft common? If people want it, they'll figure out how to take it. When I was a kid, we kept the boat in the water year round and stored the trailer on the side yard. Pop decided to change the wheel bearings, so he moved it to the driveway, and put it up on cinderblocks. Then he discovered that he had bought the wrong size bearings, so he left it there overnight intending to exchange the bearings the next day. Overnight, somoeone stole the trailer, with with no wheels or hubs, AND the cinderblocks it was sitting on. Have no idea how they did it, it was a hefty galvanized frame for a 21 foot boat. Probably weighed way over 500 pounds. Dan -- The bomb will not start a chain-reaction in the water converting it all to gas and letting the ships on all the oceans drop down to the bottom. It will not blow out the bottom of the sea and let all the water run down the hole. It will not destroy gravity. I am not an atomic playboy, as one of my critics labeled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim. Vice Adm. W.H.P. Blandy, Cmdr Joint Task Force 1, Operation Crossroads, 1946 |
#7
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Thefts from Trailer ... Locking Lug Nuts ???
Ya, it is a shame, I do a lot of trailering and leaving the oldsmobile and
trailer in public places for short periods of time. In Canada, I have launched for many water systems such as the Trent, 1000 islands, all around the great lakes, and all over some of the lakes up in North Ontario, not once had a problem, left trailer and car there for weeks. In the States, at the Statue of Liberty State Park had problems, many places in the Keys had problems, people always steal the battery from the car. Chesapeake Bay at a State Park, near Annapolis I had no problem (it had security). So I guess that shows the the Canadian side offered me a more secure feeling of leaving my belongings without worry, but on the U.S. side something has happened almost every time. Just lock everything up, you cannot protect against everything, if the convicts want to get it, they will. "Marshall Banana" wrote in message ... Also Sprach Gary Warner : Do others have stories and/or products they use to insure that the trailer is not messed with? I know of the devices that go into the ball socket. It trailer theft common? If people want it, they'll figure out how to take it. When I was a kid, we kept the boat in the water year round and stored the trailer on the side yard. Pop decided to change the wheel bearings, so he moved it to the driveway, and put it up on cinderblocks. Then he discovered that he had bought the wrong size bearings, so he left it there overnight intending to exchange the bearings the next day. Overnight, somoeone stole the trailer, with with no wheels or hubs, AND the cinderblocks it was sitting on. Have no idea how they did it, it was a hefty galvanized frame for a 21 foot boat. Probably weighed way over 500 pounds. Dan -- The bomb will not start a chain-reaction in the water converting it all to gas and letting the ships on all the oceans drop down to the bottom. It will not blow out the bottom of the sea and let all the water run down the hole. It will not destroy gravity. I am not an atomic playboy, as one of my critics labeled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim. Vice Adm. W.H.P. Blandy, Cmdr Joint Task Force 1, Operation Crossroads, 1946 |
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