Hello all, My trailer is parked at my in-laws and they are having health issues and no one is there during the day. I go over once a week and do a walk around the trailer. It's covered, has two locks on it a oversized shackle by master lock thru the coupler with safty chains, and a ball coupler lock by reese. Yesterday I see the reese lock dangling, someone got it unlocked and reversed the shackle. I'm guessing a true thief would have a universal key but no bolt cutters?. Their key did not work on the master lock? There was some scrapping on the outside where the key gets inserts but it could have been me with my key. Anyone have suggestion or experience with the reese lock. Could someone have pride it off with out bending anything? I'm in process of buying a cabin so The TT may get sold soon therefore I'm not buying another lock if you asking.

There are many ways to non-destructively compromise most locks, particularly those with shackles. Most cases it is not necessary to mess with a key. Locksmiths know this, and it gets taught in spy school, and probably in prisons. I would not be surprised to find instructions on the Internet.But I am not going to give intructions here. All I'll say is that the weaknesses are to serve convience of the lock owner. If you can close a lock without using the key, someone can likely open it without using a key.

So for the sake of conversation is there a lock which is better than the rest? or particulares you look for in a lock?

We tried numerous locks on storage containers kept at a remote piece of property in the desert. Each time the locks were defeated using, cordless grinder, bolt cutters, sledge hammer, liquid nitrogen, cordless dremel tool (this all according to the sheriff). We had 11 break ins over the course of 2 years.The only thing that worked was to bury a post in front of the doors 4 feet deep with cement so that the door couldn't be opened without removing the post. For some reason the theives didn't bother removing the post. Locks can be defeated.

The thing I found most effective was to remove at least one wheel. Even that almost didn't work. Someone came by with a wrong wheel and jammed it on, but it would go far enough to get the nuts on and then they couldn't get it off..... That's the way I found it.

The best lock I've encountered so far is the Bolt hitch pin lock. It uses the key from your tow vehicle. I used to use a Reese hitch pin lock myself, but the Bolt is so much easier to work with (i.e. one fewer key to use) that I use that.I know the OP isn't buying a lock, but I always buy one grade above the average. For example, if the average is a disk lock, I buy an Abus style with the dimple key or the Abloy style wafer tumbler, for bump resistance.For a trailer, I've found that most trailer hitch locks are a deterrence at best. I use a long shackle padlock on my BAL X-Chocks, and due to a recommendation here, I have a Brinks "J" wheel lock set on my travel trailer with disc locks keyed alike. Yes, the trailer can be made to move, but it will take a cordless grinder and plenty of time. The only step up in security would be putting the TT on blocks or importing "locking winter wheels" from the UK, and storing the rims/tires elsewhere.As for locks, one brand can have various qualities of locks. For example, Master has some locks which used to be shimmed by a piece of a Coke can. Other lock models by Master use ball bearings, and can't be shimmed.

Coupler Lock by reese | Good Sam Community

popeyemth
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
JBinOR wrote:
Out of curiosity, could a guy hook up his emergency brake line to a stake in the ground. Obviously not a deterrent, but they would not make it very far at all.

Great idea!
Also maybe hooked to a wheel so if it turned it pulls the pin.
A reversing pully would have to be mounted as the pins pull forward toward the hitch.
Downside is they would abandon the TT after the tires started smoking and skreeching and you would recover the unit with flat spots on the tires and melted magnets in the brakes.
JBinOR
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
Out of curiosity, could a guy hook up his emergency brake line to a stake in the ground. Obviously not a deterrent, but they would not make it very far at all.
mlts22
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
From what I've seen, hitch locks don't help much. Some thieves have methods to get around it (smaller hitch ball, just use the safety chains, etc.) That is why I use stout wheel locks.

On a different thread, I asked a similar question because I'm looking at buying an enclosed cargo trailer for additional storage when dry camping, and it would be stored in the city proper (thus issues about break-ins). The parking enforcement boots mentioned above are pretty sturdy, although anything will open to a cordless angle grinder.

My take is that I have insurance on the trailer. However, I'm going to make a thief fight for it so there is one less meth lab in central Texas. Brinks "J" locks were pointed out (as I mentioned earlier), with the included crappy disk lock tossed and a genuine Abus one put on. If I am concerned that isn't enough, I'll spend the 300 bones and go with the Sold Secure Gold "winter wheels". Any thief who manages to steal a trailer after getting those off is desperate enough that nothing will stop them anyway.
Handbasket
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I'm lucky enough to have never had a reason to research locks. How easy is it to defeat a 'boot'-type lock like the police/ meter maids use for illegally parked cars? Not suggesting the OP buy one, just curious.

Jim, "Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes!"
tekman741
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
popeyemth wrote:
IMHO if someone unlocked the ball coupler they weren't a petty thief trying to steal a battery or LP tank they were seriously preparing to tow the unit.
Best free defense is to alert the neighbors as the OP did.
Good Luck, Mike
My thought exactly,, Neighbor called me last night while wife and her father where at the hopital visiting her mom. A truck pulled in to the drive and he shined a light and yelled the cops have been called. He went into the house, and the truck left. He also was going down this morning to make a report out. No idea if they got someone but good stuff. Should hear more later today.
popeyemth
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
IMHO if someone unlocked the ball coupler they weren't a petty thief trying to steal a battery or LP tank they were seriously preparing to tow the unit.
Best free defense is to alert the neighbors as the OP did.
Good Luck, Mike
tekman741
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
beemerphile1 wrote:
tekman741 wrote:

...ball coupler lock by reese. Yesterday I see the reese lock dangling, someone got it unlocked and reversed the shackle....

Would that be the same lock that the YouTube videos show being opened in less than 10 seconds?

never saw this video. Don't have that much time to watch videos just look at rv.net
mpfireman
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Locks are good for those quick grab items or whatever, but if they REALLY want your trailer, they will find a way to get it. Propane tanks are an easy grab item, and your outside storage locks are a joke, as most RV keys will open them. Do not leave any item in your unit that is valuable.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Apr 21, 2014
Any lock will work just so you can tell the insurance people you had a lock on it. Key word is INSURANCE....

B.O.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
The old saying is that "locks are for keeping honest people, honest".

That said thieves by nature do not want to work hard. All you can really do is to make things as difficult as possible forcing potential thieves to move on to an easier target.

From your description, my guess is that the two locks you have made them take too long and they were scared off. That's good. The bad part is that now that they know what's there, they might be more prepared and come back.