With the increase in stolen tow rigs from hotel lots etc. What ideas are out there to stop this, or help in recovering a stolen unit. With the current thread covering the latest theft, there have been a few ideas put out there. Locking pins to stop the trailer wheels from turning, painting an ident number or marking on the roof of the trailer was also mentioned. The ideal fix has to be simple for the owner to impliment, and cheap to buy or install. It has to be tamper proof so the bad guys can't bypass it. The whole works comes down to two approches, 1 stopping the theft in the first place, 2 helping to recover the item. The pins idea falls in the first group, and the ident marks fall into the second group. Both are good, and both can be used. Myself, I would try a brake light arrangment mounted high on the back using LED lights. Normally, it would be a third brake light, when armed it would spell out a flashing sign that would say 'STOLEN CALL POLICE' and would be activated as soon as you used the brakes for the first time. "Haven't seen anything available on the market yet, so if you can build it, run with it." This idea would be in group 2. So, what's your idea, what's your solution to this? Sniper
good ideas..the only problem with the "flashing stolen" deal is the theifs got to the site of the theft in something..so they would more than likely be following that rig...at the first stop they would be out smashing that light to smiterines.. the theft deterrent or recovery equipment needs to be covert..the theif cant know about it or it will be disabled..as for security to thwart the innitial capture is good..it slows them down and could make them obvious to others as to their intent..we need something that cannot be "cut" and will give location once the unit, /car/ trailer/rig is on the roll or hidden from view.
If I'm a thief..I'll break that light in a hurry.. But anything is better than not doing NOTHING... I just got a note about the Tommy Johnson wireless alarms.. there around 300 bucks.. 1939fiat
this doesn't count for when they steal the whole rig, but my buddies trailer has the hitch part on a round tube that slides out so there is no way to steal it when the hitch has been removed.
Ok, Lets have the flashing light, and the brakes apply! Part of the recovery is making it hard not to notice something is going on. Beating the crap out the lights on a trailer is likely going to raise suspicion, how many people do that to there own stuff? Just playing the devils advocate here! This is how the good ideas come out. Sniper
there might be something you could install if your trailer has electric brakes ,that could lock the trailer brakes once parked..and in the event of a theft.render it difficult if not impossible to move..that might bring attention to a fully loaded rig trying to go down the road with its trailer brakes locked up and smokin' maybe as easy as on your key fob..push the button locked up..push again released..or a hidden button somewhere..
As posted from a guy on another message board..... Folks -- this is one reason you have to customize your trailer! A GREAT idea I read on another board was to paint a big number on the ROOF of the trailer - so it can easily be seen by police or traffic helicopters -- and the theives would likely never know the numbers were up there. Also painting a number on the side of the trailer - or even someones name - something ANYTHING that would Identify YOUR white box trailer from everyone elses.
hidden fuel cutoff that is keyed may be the easiest & most cost effective. just have to remember to cut it on before driving
I have a white enclosed trailer with no markings on the outside; don't want to advertise the race car inside. I seriously considered having it lettered on both sides: "Cadaver Transportation and Storage Service" as a deterrent.
there are many variations of this type device. Pretty hard to tow away if the wheels don't turn. There are even versions that cover the wheel lugs so they can't take the tire off.
I heard painting your "Septic Service" logo on the side would be a good deterent. Nobody wants to steal that stuff.
A hidden or blended in "Paris Boot" affair on the rear wheels. Something in semi flat black so it isn't noticed between the tires. A mega duty lock with special key required to take it off. And yes a fuel shut off is the answer to the truck itself, forcing the thief to abandon his catch. Better than a loss and major insurance hike.
most car trailers have dual axles and if the wheels have holes in them, run a length of chain between the front and rear tires.
Some sort transponder seems like the best "after the fact" tracking and recovery option. Lojack has high recovery rates, but coverage is not nationwide. Another company is making a cell phone service system similar to Lojack now. It uses T-Mobile's network. That's an option. On the prevention front definingly loud audible alarms and strategic parking top my idea list. The alarm would need to be 100% detached from the rest of the electrical system, hidden very well and powered independently. Making the system incredibly hard to penetrate and disconnect would help. Of course, things that can't roll would be difficult if not impossible to steal. Nothing will be fool proof.
The only problem with the sign flashing "Stolen - Call Police" is will someone really call the police? I remember when the sunshades you put in the windshield had "Need Help- Call Police" on one side and people didn't pay any attention when they put them up. You could drive through a parking lot and see 1 out of 5 with "call the police" displayed but nobody ever did call. Just something to think about, I am for anything that works.
I had a buddy who had his early 90s Chevy pickup stolen and recovered twice. He wound up going to a salvage yard and picked up a rear window washing unit out of a Suburban and wired the wash button up as his starter interrupt switch. To start it, you had to hold down the wash button while you turned the key. It was cheap, easy to install, and unless you didn't notice that it really didn't belong on that truck, then you would never know it was there. His truck was broken into 2 more times after he installed this idea, but was never moved afterwards. I know he wasn't very bright to have his same truck broken into 4 times, but he finally sold it. One of the bad things about a fuel shut off switch is that what happens if you starve a diesel inadvertently? Most of them are a bitch to re-prime, although this would be a welcome task rather than have an entire rig stolen.
sleep in the truck. if You're too good to sleep in the truck, have someone else sleep in the truck. In drag racing, we ALWAYS had someone sleep in the truck. we weren't even that concerned with someone swiping the whole car- mega insured- we were concerned with sabotage and parts theft. Otherwise, I don't are what it is...if someone wants it bad enough, they're gonna take it. at least if They steal it with You inside it, You get to go all "taxi driver" on thier asses.
Lux i had said this like 3 times on these different threads about this theft and others like it..if you got enough cash to own a 26' trailer and rig like that put a bed room in it..the crew chief or mechanic get to sleep with the car..or trade off nights..if it gets stolen..ride along with your cell phone and call the cops..or better yet wait till they stop and open the door and level the theifs with your shot gun..go all billy jack on their ass..or something like that..
prop some hollow spikes under your tires when you park... if they try to take your trailer they wont get far, and youll have to replace your tires but at least youll still have your trailer
I have to say that the starter interupter is a great idea as for the trailer some way to lock wheels is the only thing that truley works
Something I have done once in a while, very easy and free to do, Pull the coil wire. On newer vehicles with Distributorless ignition or HEI, I have pulled the ignition fuse. May be an easy fix, but I doubt most thieves would try to troubleshoot something while trying to jack it. Just my $.02.
I just got back from BG Ky..I ain't sleepin in a trailer for 6 days..without some ammenities..And I'm sure the wife wouldn't be to impressed either.. pro mod or not..ain't going to happen..
You can also get car alarms now that page you if they are set off. Something like this... http://www.cartronixplus.com/templates/detailnf_price.cfm?zq=46495551&uas=N&globaldesc=na&rnumb=528&wherefrom=SEARCH&whichord=673472&department=ALL&class=N&special=R&sold=Y&nextrow=Compustar%202wss%2Da%202%20ways%20Alarm%20Paging%20systemSRS2wssa&prevrow=Compustar%202wss%2Da%202%20ways%20Alarm%20Paging%20systemSRS2wssa&nextprev=0&subclass=ALL&subname=na&pagename=Online%20Store%20%3E%20%20ALL%20%3E%20 Sorry about the stupid long URL.
hey i just thought of this..and im sure it would work like a charm.. allow the owners of these cars and rigs to shoot to kill if they ever caught the bastards who decided to take whats not theirs..no questions asked..no lawyer fees..maybe after..oh 12 or so of these theifs get their asses handed to them Ala Smith and Wesson..and their diminishing numbers the thefts would begin to slow down a bit..think we can get this into legislation..probably not eh? some cry baby is going to say " that thief has rights " and all that..ok bad idea.. but it would also help with the over crowding issues in our prisons too..still not a good idea?..dam
up here ,if an officers pulls a gun and shoots someone, the guy will be out of the hopsital or buried BEFORE the police officer is finishe filling out the paperwork in tripicate. But I like your idea..might reduce insurance premiums too !..thats a win/win..
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