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How to Secure Travel Trailer at Campsite?

Margali
Explorer
Explorer
Hello, we are renting an Innsbruck 19DS to go RVing next week. It has a single axle. How do you secure your trailer against easy theft?

Maybe silly question but Ive been ready reviews about lock and am totally confused.
29 REPLIES 29

DarthMuffin
Explorer
Explorer
The way I see it anyone out to steal a trailer has thought it through and will be equipped -- truck, hitch, bolt cutters, battery powered grinder, etc. It's not an opportunity theft like a bicycle or bbq. So all you can do is the coupler lock and things to slow them down like wheel chocks, stabilizers down, etc. A cable lock through a wheel or bumper if you are really paranoid.

Or make friends with the neighbors and watch each others' stuff while out.

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
At the most all I would do is put a lock through the coupler latch. The trailer is the last thing that will stop stolen. Chairs bikes and coolers would be first!
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Community Alumni
Not applicable
First thing to remember is that there's virtually nothing that you can do to stop a determined thief. People find a way to steal full on mobile homes from trailer parks. Some of them have no tires and sit on a concrete foundation. The good news is that trailer thefts aren't all that common. Thieves seem to be mostly interested in your belongings as they're much easier to offload than a whole trailer.

To protect the trailer I just have a simple latch lock, coupler lock, and insurance as a backup. The couple of locks seems to be enough of a deterrent. I'd focus more on making sure your belongings are secure as they are a bigger target. Keep your entry and compartment doors locked and keep your belongings out sight when not in use. Bigger ticket items like generators should be secured at all times.

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Explorer
I have always felt that if I have to worry about my trailer being stole when I'm gone from my site I will give up camping.

Been camping for over 50 years and still feel that way. Reckless? Probably. Irresponsible? Most likely; but that's the way I feel.

Now small things and trailers in storage is an entirely different matter.
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~


"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"

"The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."- Abraham Lincoln

IB853347201
Nomad
Nomad
Hitchlock
2010 Suncruiser

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
I stick the ball back in the coupler and lock it. That way both the trailer and ball mount are secured from theft and from accidental dropping if someone lifts the latch. It also provides a place for storage and keeps the greased ball out of the way and clean. If theft is a worry, the most likely parts are the heavy electrical cord, the battery and propane bottles. You can padlock some pedestals to prevent unplugging and turning off the power. Maybe they will still cut the cord, but a well deserved jolt is a good thing. Batteries and propane tanks can be padlocked in various ways.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Meet/greet camping neighbors.
Let them know you are concerned

Camping neighbors have a GREAT tendency to look out for each other
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azdryheat
Explorer
Explorer
Just make sure your not in the trailer if it gets stolen. lol
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profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
We almost never lock the coupler, except when the trailer is parked by itself in an urban area. (Like at a suburban Walmart, when we need to take the truck somewhere where the trailer isn't welcome, like a parking garage in a downtown area.)

But our best defense is a good thick coat of dirt and bugs. Nobody wants to touch that trailer. ๐Ÿ˜‰
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2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
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ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
With a trailer all set up at a camp site, it would be a major time consuming job to steal it.
I've just never worried about it.

WNYBob
Explorer
Explorer
I have a ball with the shank cut off then use a padlock through the coupler locking device (I padlock the coupler even when it is attacked to the TV)

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
I suppose it has happened, but rare. Just the same, have insurance.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

copeland343
Explorer
Explorer
Truthfully there is nothing you can do. You can only slow someone down a little. I teach Firefighters for a living, and forcible entry is one of the courses. So far there has not been a lock that we can not defeat quickly. Slides out jacks down slow down the person is really all you can do. Now saying that the only thing we have ever had stolen so far is a laundry bag at the campground laundry.

donn0128
Explorer II
Explorer II
Avoid campgrounds in places with high theft rates. In over 30 years RVing the worst issues I have seen are a few ice chests full of beer go missing. Theft in most established camp grounds is largely not a problem. Bike left umlocked occasionally, ice chests, maybe a fishing pole or two. Trailers gone missing? No.

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
The first line of "defense" is to use a trailer coupler lock. Two types: Those that insert inside the coupler from underneith with some kind bar over the top of the coupler, or a pin that goes through the lift handle.

Click here for samples.

The second line of defense (but I've not seen anyone actually do this) is to put a chain and padlock through one of the wheels.

The third line of protection is to have your stabilizer jacks down, which you will do anyway.

And the 4th line of protection is to deploy the slide-outs.

Each of these things make it difficult for someone to just back-up, hitch and go. A thief want's convenience.

But, trailer theft is so rare, I doubt you'll have anything to worry about. If anything will get stolen, it will be the electric cord you plug into shore power with, or it will be the propane tanks.

If you simply park a trailer in a parking lot, all buttoned up, just sitting there, it's very easy for anyone to just back up, hitch, and go. But, in an established campground??? I've never heard of something like this happening.

If you are renting a trailer, then you want a renters insurance on it in the event of damage or theft. The rental company often provides this and it will cost you. It's a scam in my opinion, but if something did happen to the trailer, it would be well worth it. That's why is called gambling ... oops, sorry ... I mean "insurance."

Unless you are leaving the camper in remote areas, standing all alone somewhere, you'll have no problem most likely. Campgrounds are a different breed of people! But, things do sometimes happen.

I wouldn't worry about it. Get the lottery ticket ... oops, I did it again, I mean the insurance, and you'll be fine!