M32 Stolen - now what?
- Thread starter PeterS
- Start date
CoveredWagon
Well-known member
I put a king pin lock on our 5th wheel as soon as the Andersen adapter comes off.
The hitch lock was a masterlock, hardened steel. They had a metal grinder to get thru it (as well as the storage gate)...clearly pros.
All other compartments were std locks, battery disconnect etc.
Hope the VIN can get recorded with Heartland etc as stolen : 5SNFB3426HE323462
Very much looks like it.
Devastating loss...3 yrs of customizations, the personal effects etc....
Just an update and followup Q....unit was never recovered (not that police actually actively did anything).
Insurance covered 70% of value...I suppose that's better than nothing :-/
For our new unit I upgraded to a Masterlock Trailer Locks #389DAT that should make it a litte harder.
Would it make sense to pull/remove the emergency brakeaway pin as an extra measure? Will this actually lock the brakes/wheels assuming thiefs disconnect the battery?
Insurance covered 70% of value...I suppose that's better than nothing :-/
For our new unit I upgraded to a Masterlock Trailer Locks #389DAT that should make it a litte harder.
Would it make sense to pull/remove the emergency brakeaway pin as an extra measure? Will this actually lock the brakes/wheels assuming thiefs disconnect the battery?
danemayer
Well-known member
If you pull the breakaway pin while the trailer battery is connected, and leave it that way, you'll likely damage the brakes.
If you disconnect the trailer battery cable(s), the brakes will not be activated at all.
Flick
Well-known member
I truly feel bad for your loss a while back. The breakaway has to have an active 12v system to work and that is why, for example, our farm trailers with brakes are all sold with a small battery similar to a lawnmower battery. Most of these trailers I referred to are not hooked up with a 12v supply hot from the vehicle for accessories to keep the battery charged. The trailer breakaway needs a power source to work.
I think that the problem with any anti theft gadget is that the professional criminal has a way to counter almost any device. My thinking is that the best anti theft device could possibly be one that grandpa would have used, example, a big old chain to a post or wheel to wheel. Don’t get me wrong, I use the gadgets also because it may cause them to move on. The problem in your case was that they probably had a long time to stay at it. You didn’t need me to tell you that.
I built a fifth wheel locking device that is shielded in every way from cutters but if they had enough time, they could probably remove it.
wdk450
Well-known member
You could always remove both tires/wheels on one side and leave the trailer up on jackstands.
Or, you might want to do a websearch on "Vehicle anti theft GPS trackers". These things are surprisingly inexpensive, and I bet they wouldn't draw much current from your battery. I chatted with one company rep, and although their product is primarily aimed at trucking companies tracking their trailers, the rep said that the device would work for tracking for vehicle recovery by the police. I guess they keep a gps location in memory, and can communicate via the cellular telephone network to your smartphone.
On edit: I should have mentioned that the rep I chatted with said that their GPS tracker device could be configured to notify you if your trailer is moved from storage.
Or, you might want to do a websearch on "Vehicle anti theft GPS trackers". These things are surprisingly inexpensive, and I bet they wouldn't draw much current from your battery. I chatted with one company rep, and although their product is primarily aimed at trucking companies tracking their trailers, the rep said that the device would work for tracking for vehicle recovery by the police. I guess they keep a gps location in memory, and can communicate via the cellular telephone network to your smartphone.
On edit: I should have mentioned that the rep I chatted with said that their GPS tracker device could be configured to notify you if your trailer is moved from storage.
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Matt750
Well-known member
Sorry for your loss. Have you checked out amplock or ftknoxlocks? Just about anything can be defeated with enough time, but these seem pretty substantial. Looks like they make locks for 5th wheels and bumper pulls. I don’t own one from either company (had a different brand on our last 5th wheel). I’m going to get one from just haven’t decided who to go with.
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mlpeloquin
Well-known member
I have used Trimax Wheel Chock Locks in the past. Yes more than one and makes another trailer more desirable do to the time it takes to cut them off. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031XULF2?tag=duckduckgo-ffnt-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1