Safety when leaving trailer

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Insure your trailer for what it is worth. The insurance is very inexpensive. And after a few camping trips you will be at ease and not worry about losing your AS.

The insurance company will be very happy to take your premium for any value you set on the trailer, but if you want to collect on a theft or damage, they won't pay you any more than actual cash value. That means it has depreciated away to nothing or a token amount if it's vintage, unless you have receipts to prove otherwise. And your labor doesn't count: only receipts for parts, etc., plus photos. So please do take the preventive measures suggested here; unless you paid someone else to restore your vintage trailer, you're gonna be out a lot of $$ if something unfortunate happens to it.

Vivian

[ROBERT CROSS]

" you're gonna be out a lot of $$ if something unfortunate happens to it."

Vivian
__________________--------------------------------------------------------------


Get a quality agreed value policy and read the terms. You get what you pay for.

Bob

[Bluto]

HawksHead company has an alarm on their web site for trailer/RV's looks like it would work just about anywhere. Works off of batteries or can be plugged in. If I remember correctly it costs around $38.00 plus shipping.

[DreamStreamr]

We stopped worrying about it. I'm with Ray and Rick -- we've stayed in just about every kind of place and have met all kinds of people. But no problems anywhere ever. Well, at least not problems with people.

Trailer and contents are insured. Loose stuff is secured. But none of this really matters. It's all just stuff. If someone is determined to try and ruin our day or our stay, it might happen. And then our safety is all that matters. We'll do our level best to take care of self-preservation, for sure.

But the stuff? Fix it or replace it if the rare thing happens. Don't invite trouble, don't be careless. And don't worry about what could happen 'cause it probably won't happen.

[Hiwheel Joe]

Take a look at Megahitch trailers locks. Received mine this week. Not cheap, but after observing a cargo trailer being stolen on video in about 45 seconds from our lot, I decided to upgrade. My Airstream had the same type of ball lock as the cargo trailer. The new one is a monster.

[ZoominC6]

I'd like to see a thief try to figure out how to hook up to a Hensley Arrow Hitch!

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by ZoominC6

I'd like to see a thief try to figure out how to hook up to a Hensley Arrow Hitch!

YEP....
But still chain lock the wheels, and dis-able tongue jack.

Bob

[r carl]

Originally Posted by ZoominC6

I'd like to see a thief try to figure out how to hook up to a Hensley Arrow Hitch!

You can with this.
Cabela's: Cuddeback® 5.0 Ambush IR Camera

[mojo]

Most thefts that are going to occur are crimes of opportunity. A spur of the moment grab and run. We had a nice new recliner chair pinched from our campsite outside of Santa Fe. They ignored the generator under the picnic table. It was covered with a black plastic bag and looked like trash. It was cable locked to the table, but hadn't been touched.

If someone is out on the prowl with the intent to steal your trailer or your belongings, you may deter them, but you can't stop them. A truck with a strong cable winch can pick up your trailer with hitchball lock and no chains and drive away. Thieves with cutting torch and cut-off grinders can steal anything in about 60 seconds.

[Getaways]

Just curious. Does anyone know if there is a database showing locations of campers stolen? Not just airstreams.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Getaways

Just curious. Does anyone know if there is a database showing locations of campers stolen? Not just airstreams.

You're unlikely to find anything like that. Most municipalities that publish crime statistics do not distinguish between a general vehicle theft or an RV/trailer theft. When my RV was broken into on Christmas Eve, the crime statistics for the jurisdiction later showed it as a vehicular burglary, no mention of it being an RV.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Getaways

Just curious. Does anyone know if there is a database showing locations of campers stolen? Not just airstreams.

Anecdotally:

1) More of a problem near the Mexican border.

2) Most frequently from commercial/industrial sites that are unattended at night and on weekends

3) One or two reports involving long-term (more than a week) unattended parking in somewhat remote areas, e.g. where the trailer owner uses the trailer on weekends and is gone during the week.

Vandalism and theft of contents is a problem in storage locations and, rarely, in boondocking sites but it's rare for entire trailers to be stolen.

[blickcd]

This is what I use when I store my trailer, next to my house, which is in a nice area. The boot is built by Rhino. I've thought of bringing it on trips but never actually have. As others have said, most trailers are stolen when they are in storage, where someone has time to scope it out and plan the theft.

Christopher

[Ray Eklund]

DreamStreamr had a lawn chair "pinched". I had not heard that for some time having anything pinched.

One thing I have noticed about back woods country camping is that a potential thief has the belief that the trailer or tent is the property of one or more "hunters". Obviously armed with bow and arrow, or what ever kind of hunting season is open for that area. Most criminals are not up on what is being hunted at any time. A silent alarm in a way. But, to the point.

Anything that is loose, or that could become loose... I take a thick black magic marker and put my name in large print onto it. It need not be obvious, unless it is being pinched the markings can be only seen when moved. The magic marker is difficult to remove and it would take too much explaining to pawn the stuff off. Oh sure, they will know my last name... so will the local Forest Service employees who do come by and look the site over.

I put our extra drinking water in the red five gallon gasoline containers as they have a lower center of gravity and much heavier duty than the water jugs available. Some thief may see it as a gasoline container and "top off his tank". Good. You will find them not far away. Our propane tanks have our name all over them. It might seem like I am mutilating our camping equipment, but nothing has ever been pinched.

Even our dog porters have our name on them. Call me Dingo and the wife, Blue.