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Post by sixtyoneshastagal on Oct 7, 2014 8:54:25 GMT -8
Hey Gang.....this came to me this AM from a Glamer on The Loose... SPRAY PAINT YOUR TRAILER'S LICENSE PLATE NUMBER ON THE ROOF OF YOUR TRAILER...JUST BIG ENOUGH TO BE SEEN BY A PLANE OVERHEAD. GREAT IDEA WE ARE DOING IT THIS WEEK BEFORE OUR TRIP.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Oct 7, 2014 10:11:26 GMT -8
How many airplanes are going to be looking for stolen trailers?
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Post by sixtyoneshastagal on Oct 8, 2014 5:56:24 GMT -8
There are traffic helicopters in the sky every day and besides if there is a reward many an amateur will be on the lookout too. Don't poo poo just one more idea that may be a good one if we all love our little homes away from home. We are going to the Port Angeles Crab Fest with our Aryfite this weekend.
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Post by danrhodes on Oct 8, 2014 6:27:57 GMT -8
Seems that a simple padlock on your emergency chain should deter most simple thefts?
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Oct 8, 2014 7:24:18 GMT -8
The cheapest, and possibly one of the most effective theft deterrents, is a big chain secured to your storage parking spot.
Pick up a large chain, that you see at every Saturday morning yard sale, dig a two foot hole next to your normal parking space, run a little re-bar through the chain, and pour your cement.
If you leave about 12" of heavy duty chain extended above ground, it gives you a secure locking point for your "locking chain, or cable, and a quality padlock". I like to place a couple in strategic points on the back and side of the driveway, to give you some locking options for different trailers.
Even "two trailers" chained and locked together is an option.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 8, 2014 12:31:56 GMT -8
The cheapest, and possibly one of the most effective theft deterrents, is a big chain secured to your storage parking spot. Pick up a large chain, that you see at every Saturday morning yard sale, dig a two foot hole next to your normal parking space, run a little re-bar through the chain, and pour your cement. If you leave about 12" of heavy duty chain extended above ground, it gives you a secure locking point for your "locking chain, or cable, and a quality padlock". I like to place a couple in strategic points on the back and side of the driveway, to give you some locking options for different trailers. Even "two trailers" chained and locked together is an option. So far most of the trailers have been stolen from people's front yards or drive ways so you have a great idea there John. For other situations like travel I like to tell people to keep the trailer in sight at all times. I do that with my vehicles even when I'm not towing. I park in places I can see from what ever restaurant I happen to be in. Some places like Walmart parking lots are different. You can't keep an eye on your trailer if you are in the store so another means is needed. If you have someone with you leave them in the parking lot. All of you don't have to go into the store. Lock the hitch. I'm going to try out the idea of being able to activate the brakes on the trailer for small periods of time like 2 hours and under. I will surely do a video if it works.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Oct 8, 2014 14:20:41 GMT -8
The instructions that come with the breakaway switches clearly state, "do not use as a parking brake". I'm sure they need to cover their liability, because the trailer would start rolling as soon as the battery was drained low enough to no longer activate the electromagnets.
I'm not sure how long a fully charged, full size, deep cycle battery would activate the magnets on electric trailer brakes. One of the things to consider, is that the magnet does not actually apply the braking force, it's the forward rolling motion (using the Bendix "self energizing" principal) that makes it all work efficiently.
As you already know the breakaway systems are only intended to stop a rolling trailer one time.
Might be better "to put a stick in the spokes", LOL.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 8, 2014 14:48:19 GMT -8
The instructions that come with the breakaway switches clearly state, "do not use as a parking brake". I'm sure they need to cover their liability, because the trailer would start rolling as soon as the battery was drained low enough to no longer activate the electromagnets. I'm not sure how long a fully charged, full size, deep cycle battery would activate the magnets on electric trailer brakes. One of the things to consider, is that the magnet does not actually apply the braking force, it's the forward rolling motion (using the Bendix "self energizing" principal) that makes it all work efficiently. As you already know the breakaway systems are only intended to stop a rolling trailer one time. Might be better "to put a stick in the spokes", LOL. Yep I have been thinking about all that. Just figured I might try something out and see what happen... You never know until you experiment with something.
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shastajeff
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Post by shastajeff on Oct 8, 2014 21:35:09 GMT -8
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Oct 8, 2014 22:17:40 GMT -8
There are traffic helicopters in the sky every day and besides if there is a reward many an amateur will be on the lookout too. Don't poo poo just one more idea that may be a good one if we all love our little homes away from home. We are going to the Port Angeles Crab Fest with our Aryfite this weekend. I'm not poo pooing your idea. I simply asked a question. It could possibly help in large cities. Possibly could be helpful in proving it was your trailer because thieves would be too stupid to look at the roof. However, stolen vehicles are usually low priorities for law enforcement. They don't generally search for them but find them by chance when running plates for another reason. We have no traffic law in the air here, even though the signs on the highway say otherwise. Daily helicopters have swarmed for the past month looking for a missing college girl. But they would never look for a trailer.
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soup
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Post by soup on Oct 9, 2014 0:58:14 GMT -8
Seriously, a simple hitch lock will in most cases foil a quick theft. We use hitch locks all the time on semi truck trailers in the trucking industry and those trailers are parked everywhere no one can see them! Just sayin' don't over think it. Just spend the $30 bucks. The thieves will move on to easier faster pickings. Even if it's in a locked building with a locked fence around the building, the hitch lock should still be used. It's easy and cheap. What's not to like about it?
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dwntwnbrn
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Post by dwntwnbrn on Oct 22, 2014 7:32:55 GMT -8
The turquoise one on top belonged to my friend. She did get it back. Police located it being pulled behind a Uhaul truck. Supposedly a drug addict. Trailer had some damage but nothing that could not be fixed. She is thrilled to get it back.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Oct 22, 2014 13:24:33 GMT -8
The turquoise one on top belonged to my friend. She did get it back. Police located it being pulled behind a Uhaul truck. Supposedly a drug addict. Trailer had some damage but nothing that could not be fixed. She is thrilled to get it back. Nice ending to that story! I guess the not so common vintage trailers are quite easy to spot in a world full of endless caravans of beige (and bloated) campers. Colors like turquoise and lightning bolts don't hurt either!
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mel
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Post by mel on Oct 22, 2014 13:49:39 GMT -8
If you read the reviews on those locks, there is a least one person who said their trailer still got stolen with the lock on.
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Post by vintagebruce on Oct 22, 2014 14:27:01 GMT -8
no room for my license plate number on the roof of my campers...SEE ROCK CITY...took up all the space...
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