Trailer door security for unattended rig weeks at a time

When I leave my trailer anywhere unattended, I always put up a game cam that captures anything that moves near that area. There easily hidden and can catch the thief in action. There used all the time around here from fish and game to the sheriff's office and of course us hunters for game and anyone messing with camp.

My TT sits in a storage yard 200 yards off a busy road. Only had it for about 3 weeks there and the battery was stolen. The thief took every battery in the place off all the campers. My storage is very well lite but no fence. If a thief wants something, they are gonna get it no matter what.

mlts22, even that doesn't work, as we had an OLD TT on family farm, approx 3/4 mile off hwy, behind a locked gate. That didn't stop someone from coming in through the woods, breaking into TT by breaking a window, taking TV, a few tools in trailer and propane tanks, then breaking into barn and stealing tools.. This was someone who lived in the area and knew the farm didn't have someone on it fulltime. He got caught because he took the tools to a pawnshop about 30 miles away. Since some of the tools were actually antiques, they were easily identified along with his picture on pawnshop surveillance video.

A brand, spanking new "Beware of Dog" sign might help. (They may think an old sign is no longer true). Put it at the approach to the trailer or entry to the property. I think it even helps to take a marker and add an "S" after "dog".

I've found that the only thing that lowers theft is storing in a rural area where the trailer is not visible from the road. A friend of mine even tosses camo netting over his, so a would-be thief looking at a Google Earth map won't find an easy target. Out of sight, out of mind.

Neighbors and good insurance are your best friends leaving your trailer for long periods.

A trail camera might catch the thief put in the right location.

Can you find secure storage - maybe inside?

Since the door jams are made of aluminum a good strong screwdriver will open the door at the lock it seems...

I would just not leave anything of any value inside and depend on good friends around where you trailer is parked.

Roy Ken

If it is a crime-prone area, not even the hockey puck locks on backing plates will help since a thief will just smash an escape window and get in that way. Are you worried about someone breaking in or someone stealing the trailer? Both require different protection systems.

What I'd probably recommend is to leave the outdoor compartments latched, but not locked. Then, toss a broken (but intact looking) television in there. That way, a thief will be spending their time heading back to their meth dealer, loot in hand, and not digging through your rig. However, that won't stop the next group of thieves.

For keeping the trailer from getting stolen, look up "security winter wheels" in your search engine of choice. That, or "mp9053". They take some time to apply and take off (as they replace the existing wheels on the trailer)... but once done, locked in place, and the trailer's wheels stored in a secure area somewhere else, no thief is taking that trailer, no matter how many power tools they bring, because even if they cut the locking plate off, there is still the need to have four wheels put on before the trailer will be towable.

The winter wheels are an extreme, time consuming measure, but it ensures that the trailer will be there when you return. Wheel boots and chains also work, but if a thief has an angle grinder, the chains may be on the ground, but no trailer. It is the balance of how much security versus inconvenience the OP wants to deal with.

Daddy once told me that locks are only for honest people. Now I believe him.

Cat Lady