MTFCA Forum

This morning my trailer went AWOL and you all have always done a great job of getting the word out about this kind of thing. I went missing from my home in Madras (Central Oregon) last night. It is 21ft overall with a 15ft diamond plate bed, tandem axle with 2 tool boxes and a 9000lb warn winch. I know it is stretch to think that it will be seen but stranger things have happened. If someone does see it please contact the Jefferson County Sheriff @ (541)475-2201 or me at (541)475-6505. Thanks, Dennis[attachment=1[/attachment]

BOLO sent.

I found my trailer with the help of the whole community, friends and family rallied the troops and a school bus mechanic saw the trailer before sunup and saw it turn down a dead end street, I finally located it late afternoon and called the police, it is missing the winch, big tool box, all of the tools and the ramps. I feel very fortunate. Thanks to all for their help. Dennis

All- put a tracking device on your trailers- they don't cost that much in the big picture! Sorry for your loss, but glad you got the trailer back.

Dan McEachern wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:56 pm

All- put a tracking device on your trailers- they don't cost that much in the big picture! Sorry for your loss, but glad you got the trailer back.

What tracking device do you have?

Some people BELONG in JAIL.

Why ? So taxpayers can shell out more $$ to feed and house them ?

One good woodchipper cures bad behavior two ways. The bad guy
is no longer, and the would-be bad guy develops a stronger sense of
doing bad = certain ends. If Option 2 fails, Option 1 never does.

Problem solved. Problem STAYS solved. That is my favorite.

Maybe it is overkill, but I have a Masterlock Coupler lock on my hitch - the red one that fits on the front, and then I also use a masterlock on the hole thru the hitch itself. It would be easy for anyone to back into my driveway and hook up to the trailer.

Remove this post

Trak-4 is what we have also. Purchased thru Amazon. Comes with a charger, and the battery lasts a long time. It notifies you when the battery needs a charge. Has a phone app where you can check trailer location 24-7, and it will notify you if the location changes. Unit is about the size of a flip phone. You can mount it with Velcro or mounting screws.
https://trak-4.com/

Hi, If your trailer is going to sit a while just take the wheels of one side, takes ten minutes and put it on jacks. Most of the crooks are too lazy or do not have wheels or do not know how to put on wheels. Cost is $ ZERO. Bob.

Good point Bob. Personally I used this lock the last 20 years and nothing happen to my trailler as well.

if they are really serious about taking the trailer they make a device that clamps onto the two frame members behind the ball.
In that case the ball lock is useless.

Chain the wheels together. install a siren module with speaker horn and flashing strobe light, put a mercury switch. (like on the old hood lights or one from a old central HVAC wall thermostat). On the trailer yoke or frame when they tilt the trailer trying to hook up the hitch the alarm will sound. simple. cheap. works.

I live out in the country and my neighbor(retired cop) sez no problem all you need is a shotgun and a backhoe problem solved!!!!!

brasscarguy

I know alot of poeple that have lost trailers to theaves. One they moved a car & cut the lock off a gate to get to it. One wheels chained, chained to carport & ball lock. Never heard of one stolen with no wheels on it but my neighbors Security camera cought a guy checking the bolt pattern on his while he was working on his and had some wheels off. The guy next door lost his toy hauler when he didnt park his truck in front of it one time! Trackers maybe a way to recover a stolen item but could have adverse ramifacations. But then the older I get the less a life sentence is a deterrent. If they can move it they can steal it! Theaves are lazy the best thing to do is make it look like someone elses is easyer to steal than yours is. If you cant do that then make it as hard as you can on them.
Craig.

Dick.
You have to catch them first. I once seen a bumper sticker that said Don't call 911 Call 1-800-BAC-KHOE
Craig.

Only amateur thieves are stopped by locks and chains.

The Trak4 that Dan recommended is on sale today on Amazon for 30 bucks. Subscription is 7 bucks a month but I recently upgraded to a much more expensive trailer so I’m getting a tracker. It’s portable so you can track your kids too.


Andy

Use Velcro to mount it on your kids though! Using screws might prove problematic.

Alot can be done to the trailer it's self to make it difficult to move,but it is difficult to defeat a pair of lock cutters used on a chain and a rollback. Most thieves are good at what they do nowadays. And a simple lock not much help. Thieves read on the net,they know your tricks,because you broadcast them all over the internet.I am not saying that to be rude in anyway or disrespectful of those trying to help others. it is just sadly a fact.
I want that bumper sticker mentioned above, 1 800 BAC-KHOE.

My trailer has padlocks on both doors, is chained and locked to a big tree, and has a hitch lock. It also has a full-value insurance policy. I am very much aware that padlocks are to keep honest people honest, but in my case they are to keep the insurance company honest. Professional thieves will get it if they really want it, but I have no sentimental attachment to it, and I'll just buy a new one with the insurance check. The policy costs about $35 per year/.

Your trailer isn’t always in your yard. A friend’s truck, trailer and T were stolen at a national tour in Albuquerque. It was really just luck that he eventually got them all back. Luck and thieves that aren’t very smart. A tracker would have helped a lot.

Andy