augsburg
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Post by augsburg on Nov 15, 2014 14:17:19 GMT -8
I have a master lock that has been out in the weather most of the time since the early 70s and it still works like new I spray it spring and fall with WD40. It is made from hardened steel and you can't cut it with a saw. Ha! I think that's the point of my question. A Master lock from the '70's was probably made in the US and will likely perform for a long time. I've purchased several of the brass "all weather" Master locks (all post-2007 or so and made offshore, I'm sure) for our dog kennel and gates, and they stop working within a year. Finally bought the much more expensive stainless steel Master locks and they've lasted much better. Hence my question if anyone had actual real world experience with the coupler locks sold today. Based on Amazon reviews, none look to promising. I have seen photos online of what look like good ones (heavy steel plate covers that employ a standard padlock), but they are all sold in the UK.
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Post by bigbill on Nov 15, 2014 14:45:46 GMT -8
My lock looks like the one right above the one marked master except the key part is recessed. You slide it over the coupler then take an allen wrench and screw a large bolt up against the inside top of the coupler next you remove the allen wrench and the turn the key to close access to bolt. all harden steel won't cut with a saw.
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augsburg
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Post by augsburg on Nov 16, 2014 7:36:53 GMT -8
My lock looks like the one right above the one marked master except the key part is recessed. You slide it over the coupler then take an allen wrench and screw a large bolt up against the inside top of the coupler next you remove the allen wrench and the turn the key to close access to bolt. all harden steel won't cut with a saw. Thanks, good to know. Hardened steel at least makes them use a power tool (such as a grinder) to cut it, which makes noise. Just like with bike locks, a determined thief can break or cut through anything. Heck, in big cities, the bike thiefs use cryogenics to freeze the steel and then shatter it with a hammer. We can't protect against everything, but if we slow them down, they hopefully move on to easier prey. The lock you describe appears to be the one sold on Amazon as the "Trimax UMAX100". I might give it a try. I will have multiple lines of defense, including a locked gate and security cameras. But our baby will be located at our second home and we will not be there all the time.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Nov 16, 2014 13:24:36 GMT -8
I'm curious if anyone has actual experience with any of the coupler locks that have been shown in this thread. I realize any lock can be defeated and our trailer will be behind a locked cyclone fence, so slowing down a thief would be my objective. I notice on Amazon virtually all of the coupler locks have reviews indicating there are multiple problems. Some slip off the coupler, others have poor quality, offshore made, key mechanisms that fail quickly. Has anyone found a particular brand or device that actually works - and the key mechanism does not jam after a few months out in the weather? I'll refer you to this video by a company that makes their own style of coupler lock. The video shows how easy, with a little elbow grease and commonly available tools, these locks can be defeated in short order: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G_zz80h_Tc. This coupler lock is purported to be among the best and is distinguished from the others in significant ways. Made in Canada, but there is a US rep that sells them: Trailer coupler. Don't know yet how much they cost.
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soup
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Post by soup on Nov 16, 2014 13:43:58 GMT -8
As far as the video showing quick removals I have 2 points to bring up. 1; The amount of noise generated to remove the locks would surely draw attention to the theft. 2; Once again I state, the locks are meant as a deterrent to theft, not a prevention. Where and how you park is also deterrent not prevention. Main thing to face up to is a thief is lazy and will go for easier pickings. They will always take the one sitting next to yours with no lock at all on it. Again as stated before, 9 times out of ten the crack head wants what is inside the trailer not the whole trailer. Let's face it, I know how much these scrap for and it just isn't worth stealing a trailer to scrap. On average they will scrap for less than $500 if you take the time to part out first. Taking the time to part out will almost surley get you busted from advertising the parts. I'm still in the camp of using as lock is better than not using one. If your dumb enough to park/store your lovingly restored vintage trailer in a store and lock facility then it might be stolen. If you park it in your driveway with no lock at all on it, not being fenced in with no one watching it, you might have it stolen. You have to take some counter measures to theft even if it is just to slow them down and have the theft cause a bunch of noise. Noise draws attention. There is no way a trailer or anything else could be stolen from my property with a lock on it. It would cause too much noise. My neighbors would have guns drawn and the cops on the way. Heck a couple of my neighbors would shoot first and then call the cops! I've got very nosey protective neighbors who own guns LOL.
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chametzoo
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Post by chametzoo on Nov 17, 2014 9:26:00 GMT -8
As far as the video showing quick removals I have 2 points to bring up. 1; The amount of noise generated to remove the locks would surely draw attention to the theft. 2; Once again I state, the locks are meant as a deterrent to theft, not a prevention. Where and how you park is also deterrent not prevention. Soup… these are generally good points. But, in remote locations, noise is not so much a deterrent. So a lock or locks that are more difficult to defeat (and they are out there… you just have to go beyond eTrailer's inventory) may have some added value for the average 'lazy thief' you speak of. That along with a locating device and 'agreed value' insurance and you've got some belt and suspenders on. I would also consider a good bolt on the door to deter interior break-ins. And… I agree with you wholeheartedly that any lock is better than none at all, esp. in tight neighborhoods and crowded campgrounds. Well armed and nosey neighbors are also a benefit… just hope no one gets caught in the crossfire on a moonless night!
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Post by Teachndad on Dec 3, 2014 17:00:45 GMT -8
You guys need to think out of the box. An alternative to locking the tongue would be to: Just "slam" the trailer.
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Paul B
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Post by Paul B on Dec 3, 2014 19:34:39 GMT -8
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portajohn
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Post by portajohn on Dec 4, 2014 4:09:19 GMT -8
I have a tongue lock, and used to worry all the time about theft... Now, in between campouts or if not using again for more than a week, I just jack up the trailer, take the tires off and leave on blocks. No-one is towing it out of there! I always do this in the winter too... tires will last longer.
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Post by Teachndad on Dec 4, 2014 15:29:49 GMT -8
Hi Everyone,
Two ideas for combating thievery. One more serious than the other.
I always heard that one of the deterents to someone breaking into your house was leaving the radio on so it can be heard at the door. Maybe that same philosophy could be extended to a parked vintage travel trailer. A transistor radio could be turned on when you leave and the curtains drawn which would I would(I imagine) make the thief think twice about making a move on the trailer. I would use that in addition to one of the other locks mentioned in this thread. It just all adds up to slowing them down.
The other one is more of a novel approach. Place one of these in the window: "Protected by Smith and Wesson" sign.
Cheers
Rod
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