locking up the trailer (found a place)

[stslawncare]

hey guys, as mentioned in a previous thread i was looking for a shop. My family is moving (about 5 minutes away) and we will be 2 blocks (a couple hundred feet) from the firehouse (very active and dedicated member). well anyways, the closest storage place is about 10 minutes drive, and im not having much luck finding a local garage, there is one more guy i have to check with though. anyways across street from firehouse is a plumber and a landscaper who share a big 3 car garage with a big bay that runs along the back of those 3, and the property has a big parking lot. well the guy said i could rent a parking spot or two for about $50 a month. i couldnt ask for a better location for i spend most of my time at firehouse and live very very close to it, also most lawns are right in this area. what do you guys thinK? i would lock up the trailer, and put a tarp over it, i want to leave equip on the trailer, whats the best way to lock every thing up? put a chain through it all or what?

[vipermanz]

i would put the biggest chain/cable i could find on my stuff, better safe than stolen:(

good luck with your business deal:)

[stslawncare]

which is better? cable or chain? does going through the equip or wrapping it work better?

[Randy J]

Just something to think about, check out this thread;
Stolen Equipment (http://www.**********.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2784)
You may want to look for an indoor storage area, even if it's further away.
Randy

Ok, I get it, can't post the names of other lawn forums here. Well there's a post on another board about someone that had his trailer and equipment stolen from his driveway.

[MOW ED]

Both and two more but if someone wants something, you know that it is gone.
Check out the bolt cutters that you have on your engine Scottie and you will know why they call it "the master key".

Make it as hard as possible for someone to steal it. Good Luck.

[Turf Dancer]

Hi, I see your point
First if you are insured against theft of your equipment then I would consult with your insurence agent to see if they will cover against theft when it is not locked in a building, there are many loop holes in policies these days. If they will covewr then I would buy cables that are aircraft quality because they are a lot harder to cut than hardware store utility cable. Also buy the monster locks , you know the big Master locks that look like they were designed to lock up Fort Knox. When you put the clamps on your cables torque the nuts down solid then find someone to put some small welds in the nuts on the clamps. I have seen guys in my area and heard of some in other areas around here that have built cables for the purpose of locking up their machines and then had the stuff stolen because the theifs were smart enough to unscrew the two nuts off the clamps and take everything anyway
Also for handhelds ( trimmers, stick edgers, longshaft hedge trimmers) I would get a trimmer trap and again weld the nuts on the bolts after you attach it to the trailer, also buy a superior pad lock for the trap . Good Luck, Hope it works out for you

[rixtag]

That was me randy. I had a 1/2" braided steel cable and locks on everything. I looped the cable through the wheel. As Mow Ed mentioned the "master key" make all of that irrelevant. If they want it they will get it. I will be renting a secure locked storage unit from now on, should I decide to get back into it.

Out of sight out of mind maybe.

Rick

[stslawncare]

yes very good points everyone, one thing that i hope will deter everyone is the fact that its right next to the firehouse, also that will help because the "coffee room" )where everyone hangs out) faces the parking lot so if they see anyone messing with it they will do something (i hope), i will also be covering it with a tarp so hopefully that will help deter theifs, my plan is to lock the tarp to the trailer, lock the trailer up, and lock the equipment on the trailer to the trailer.my main equipment will most likely be kept in the storage unit at my apartment. we will see what happens, im still checking on a few garages, also the closest storage place is yet to return my phone calls after 3 messages (a message a day).

[Russo]

There is a lock you can buy that slides over the trailer coupling for about $30. No bolt cutter will get it, jaws of life ? Maybe. I'll surf for a photo or dealer to post.

[Russo]

Here it is.Lock Doohicky (http://www.bartswatersports.com/catalog.asp?P=4014)

[yardboyltd]

It's a ball that the coupling grips on tow and then a bar lock slides over the lever. Looks pretty hard to break. Then if you have trailer ramp on the back, lock it up tight. I've seen some trailers that have pieces of angle iron thta protect the lock. Anyways with the coupling lock and the ramp locked up, it's about as much as you can do.

[foxslawncare]

Its worth the time to drive to a closed in storage unit. It all equals out in the end. Drive time vs. locking and unlocking everything? Plus safer in unit. Good luck with your decision.

[turfman33]

Hey Scottie,

I just got some Kryptonite cable. Good stuff. You will pay more for it but you can't break it, drill it, pick it you name it.... You have key's that you can't get cut either. If you lose both your keys there is a key replacement service. They have a web sight www.kryptonitelock.com. I got one fron home depot to attach my Honda hand mower to my trailer. I would get something like this to get all the equipment tied down to the trailer then tie the trailer to the floor somehow.

Steve

[wxmn6]

stslawncare,

It sounds like a good deal, but leaving the trailer in open parking lot does not sound like the best location to put your trailer. Try to lock everything up and make it hard to steal. Even if you have everything locked up, you still should have trailer secured to the ground. Someone mentioned in other post about the idea of digging a few holes, put a chain through it and pour concrete in the hole. The chains will then secure to the trailer. It may not be a good idea to do that in a parking lot but you should see what you can do. If thief really want to steal your they could probably pull the whole thing onto another truck. So just be sure to have trailer secured to the ground.

[trimmer]

Even if it is in a building does not mean that it is theft proof. I rent a 20x20 shop in an industrial park and had someone break in and steal all of my two cycle equipment and my preasure cleaner. All together it was about 2,000 dollars in equipment. Now I lock everything up even if it is inside. I have a trimmer rack that I alway keep locked and run a cable through all of my equipment inside my basket. Funny thing is I have never locked up my equipment even on the street and never have had anything stolen, but I put it inside of a shop and someone steals it. It is nice now that I don't have to worry about it when I am out back. It is still stealable but not to many people are going to take it in the street with it all locked up. I guess I was lucky that they didn't back up and take the whole trailer and clean me out. Oh well life goes on.

[leeslawncare]

Don't know if how many of you guys do it but,,,i have a lock on my trailer hitch pin !I've seen too many guys at "bass tournments" get their trailers stolen this way .you can lock all your stuff down tight but all it takes is a pull of a pin to lose it all .the thugs will cut the "good locks"at the chop shop!!but what i have said never stops a crook!! by no means but it slows them down.

[Michael Fronczak]

Enclosed trailer? thats the best part about them. I know if somone wants to setal it their going to. But if they can't see less likely(out of site out of mind). Just a thought.

[Got Grass?]

If the thief wants it bad enough thay will get it. Hitch pin locks & hitch covers dont work if thay just hook up the safty chains take out some slack & drive away. Yeah trailer will be banging into truck but like thay really care. Drive a little down the road, stop cut the lock, hook up properly & drive away. Or just cut & throw equip on truck.

I'm still tring to find a way to lock thing up. but quick & easy.
Keep my trailer in my home garage, motion sensors, loud garage door opener, long drive, neighbors. I feel pretty safe.


Another thing thats expensive (dunno how much tho) would be to install a lojack sysem & small battery to power it, somewhere under the trailer, weld a box to hold it all. Also a great Idea for enclosed trailers.

Trailer gets stolen, cops drive arround & find the signal it puts out.
mainly used on expensive construction equipment.

[Russo]

Just thought I'd add that one of the best theft prevention devices known to man for thousands of years is........a good dog!

We have a shepard mix that can tell when a neighbor gets a new horse a mile away. He also won't even let people out of their car in the driveway unless he's told it's OK. Great security out in the country, but UPS hates us. Never bit anyone either.......yet.

It's also my belief that a dog is at his best when he is a family member, not tied to stinkin pole or locked in a garage. This creates the proverbial "fear biter" and a potential law suite intead of a dog that would give it's life for you. But I digress.......

[rixtag]

just got some Kryptonite cable. Good stuff. You will pay more for it but you can't break it, drill it, pick it you name it.... You have key's that you can't get cut either. If you lose both your keys there is a key replacement service. They have a web sight www.kryptonitelock.com. I got one fron home depot to attach my Honda hand mower to my trailer. I would get something like this to get all the equipment tied down to the trailer then tie the trailer to the floor somehow.
Steve

That is what I had on my stuff. The warranty is only for the lock, not what is protecting. As for the Kryptonite cable? Well if the cable was all it is purported to be then I would still have my gear. I am convinced that secure inside storage is the best way to go. Just one man's opinion.

Rick

[geogunn]

Originally posted by turfman33
Hey Scottie,

I just got some Kryptonite cable. Good stuff. You will pay more for it but you can't break it, drill it, pick it you name it....

I have used the kryptonite U shaped lock for years on some of my stuff and it is a great lock.

hardened padlocks that can resist 48 inch bolt cutters with two heavy firemen on on the handles can also be had and work very well for what they are supposed to do.

but unfortunately, a 30,000 RPM dremel tool with cutter wheel will cut through any of them in about 45 seconds or less.

I hope this tidbit doesn't fit into the devious ideas of someone with bad intentions.

GEO