Uhaul Storage Boxes on Trailer Look Easy to Steal

You might think you've made your UTV safe from theft by removing the fuse, but what have you done to secure your trailer? If you're traveling, camping, or just grabbing lunch while towing your side-by-side, your trailer is the easiest target—it can be gone in minutes if you're not careful. Plus, your awesome side-by-side is more likely to attract determined thieves when it's on display on the on a trailer.

In fact, around 20,000 ATVs and UTVs are stolen every year according to NICB, and only a third of those are ever recovered.

If you want to know how to secure your trailer from theft and keep your UTV safe from those thieving jerks, check out these 7 ways to protect your trailer.

Table of Contents

• 7 Ways to Secure Your Trailer from Theft
  • Get a Tongue Lock
  • Get a Hitch Lock
  • Use a Chock Lock
  • Add an Alarm System
  • Add Unique Markings
  • Park Smartly
  • Hide GPS Tracking Devices
• Top Tips When Traveling With a Trailer
• Deter Determined Thieves

7 Ways to Secure Your Trailer from Theft

The main purpose of trailer security is deterrence. If somebody really wants to get your trailer, they will. But if you put enough road blocks in their way, you can stop most would-be thieves from going through the effort.

With that said, we've ordered this list from the most important to the least important, but your best bet is to implement as many of these security measures as possible.

1. Get a Tongue Lock

A tongue lock attaches to the coupler of your trailer where it connects to your ball hitch. It plugs up the coupler, rendering the trailer completely inoperable. It's the best way to lock a trailer tongue.

These are useful when your trailer is disconnected from your vehicle and your trailer is the most vulnerable.

Tongue locks are easy to find and simple to install. You don't want to go out and buy the first lock you see though. Make sure it's tool resistant and has above average pick resistance—professional thieves will come ready with lock picks and power tools.

A strong tongue lock that is both pick and tool-resistant is the first line of defense to protect your Trailer.
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2. Get a Hitch Lock

A hitch lock keeps your hitch pin in place. This keeps someone from easily removing your hitch altogether.

Usually keeping your trailer hooked up to your vehicle makes it a lot tougher to steal, but if your hitch is unsecured, somebody can pull the pin, remove it, and then connect it and your trailer to their vehicle.

Get a solid hitch lock and stay more secure.

A hitch lock prevents your tow hitch from being removed and ensures that your trailer is safe while it's coupled to your tow vehicle.
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3. Use a Chock Lock

Chock locks attach to your wheel to prevent your trailer's wheels from turning at all. They work a lot like a police department's boots that are used to impound vehicles.

Don't forget that deterrence is the primary goal here, so make sure you choose a brightly colored one that will be obvious to any curious passersby. Not only will it secure your trailer from theft, but it will also make them think twice about even approaching your hauler.

Chock locks prevent your trailer from rolling altogether. Add this to your arsenal of locks and deterrents to befuddle burglars.
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4. Add an Alarm System

You can attach a wireless, vibration activated alarm to your trailer to alert you if somebody starts messing with it. In fact, it's not a bad idea to get multiple: one for your trailer and one for each vehicle you're towing.

A shrill alarm will make anybody panic and, hopefully, run away without your trailer.

Wireless mobile alarms alert you that something's going on, and tell thieves that they better leave fast.
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5. Add Unique Markings

Adding unique, obvious, and bright markings to your trailer can make it stand out too much for any thief to want to mess with. Painting the rails with neon green and pink stripes might make your eyes bleed, but it'll also make it easy to report to police and even easier for them to spot rolling down the highway. The last thing burglars want is to stand out. They'll take one look at your neon nightmare and walk away.

It doesn't have to be hideous though. Pick your favorite school colors, football jersey, or logo and get to painting. Just make sure whatever you choose stands out. You can even add a pattern of reflex reflectors to ensure it shines bright when headlights hit it.

If they do decide to take your trailer anyway, you can be sure the first thing they're going to try to do is repaint it. Make sure you report it stolen ASAP so law enforcement can catch them before they get the chance.

You can splash some paint on your trailer to help it stand out because standing out is the last thing a trailer thief wants to do.

6. Park Smartly

Whether you're parking in a lot or at a campsite, there are a few common-sense methods to keep your trailer from being stolen.

First, always park in a well-lit area. Look for a street light and park there. If you're in a packed parking lot and your options are limited, it might be worth looking elsewhere for a safe place to park your trailer.

Another thing you can do to annoy thieves is block your trailer with your tow vehicle. If you can back your trailer up against a building or the tree line at your campsite, it'll be virtually impossible for somebody to maneuver it to another towing vehicle. If you're traveling with another car, it can help block your trailer too.

Finally, if you're really worried about thieves, keep your trailer with you at all times. It might be a pain, but if you keep your trailer coupled to your tow vehicle, you can make sure it's always blocked, always in a brightly lit place, and never left alone.

7. Hide GPS Tracking Devices

GPS tracking devices are less of a deterrent and more like a kind of insurance. If somebody does manage to get away with your trailer and your ride, a couple of these in well-hidden locations will ensure that you can tell police where it was taken.

Hiding a small GPS device on your vehicle and trailer won't deter thieves, but it makes recovering your stolen property much easier.
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Top Tips When Traveling With a Trailer

Securing your trailer from theft isn't the only thing you can do to protect your property. Here are a few more smart tips to keep everything else safe while you tow your UTV or ATV.

• Disable your vehicle while it's not in use using one of these clever UTV-theft deterrents
• Secure your UTV or ATV using some of the same devices you use to secure your trailer from theft
• Get a SuperATV Manual Parking Brake and a padlock so your UTV can't drive away
• Write down your trailer's VIN number and license plate number (if you're required to have one in your area)
• Get a spare tire lock so your spare tire doesn't walk away
• Secure any gear in a lockable trailer tongue box instead of the cargo areas of your side-by-side
• Make sure you tie down your side-by-side the right way
• Keep all your keys, alarm controls, and other security devices in a safe place
• Remember that a burglar's preferred shoe is a sneaker

Deter Determined Thieves!

Keep in mind that no matter what you do, there's no way to stop someone who's willing to steal your trailer at all costs. By adding layer upon layer of security, you're making would-be trailer takers think twice about taking your trailer.

And that's the biggest lesson: there's no one "best" thing you can do to secure your trailer from theft. So follow all of these tips, and thieves will want your UTV-laden trailer like they want a hole in the head.

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Source: https://www.superatv.com/offroad-atlas/how-to-secure-your-trailer-from-theft-in-7-genius-ways/

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