Wheel immobilizer boot

[slowmover]

We'll do what we can.

I cut through one of these today with an angle grinder 9/10's of the way and knocked it loose with a 3-lb hammer. Time was under 1-minute. Had I a helper with a moving pad, it would also have been "quiet" though not silent. Darn near as fast as the key I lost.

[Globie64]

the whole issue of security is as much philosophical as it is mechanical. I think I've said that to me, it's kind of a matter of making it more difficult to steal- hitch lock, one kind of thief; denver boot type, more difficult to wheel away. If someone is determined and equipped, there is probably nothing we can do. My concern was while camping in a state park, and wanting to go for a hike during the day. I'd like to be comfortable enough to take off for 6 hours or so and not have trailer security always on my mind.

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by noreen

I have seen a master padlock destroyed in 5 minutes with a hacksaw blade and a hammer. Locks only keep honest people out. Sal.

I have seen and have defeated pad locks with a sliver of a coke can aluminum - look on youtube - padlocks are a false sense of security. Can be done as quick as having the key.

After Katrina it was not all that uncommon to see tow balls with about a third of the ball cut off. This allows the user to slide it up into a locked trailer hitch around the catch and then rotate the head 90 degrees to secure (done with the lock on the hitch). Only takes seconds, looks like to the casual observer you are just hooking up, no cutting, no tools really in your hands, no noise - slip it in, rotate the ball and tighten the nut on bottom (the last step can wait until you are in a secure place).

[65CV]

Has anyone thought of a modified version of a "Dead Man Switch"?

I was thinking about doing something like:
- hide an on / off switch
- turn it on when the trailer is set up and level
- have a bounce-sensitive switch lock the brakes if the trailer moves when set
- if I forget to disarm it when breaking camp, simply turn off the switch

Obviously, one drawback is to have the switch trigger too easily, burning out the battery or brakes. An inline buzzer, horn or timer should solve that problem.

Think it would deter a thief? This isn't available commercially, is it?

John

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by 65CV

Has anyone thought of a modified version of a "Dead Man Switch"?

I was thinking about doing something like:
- hide an on / off switch
- turn it on when the trailer is set up and level
- have a bounce-sensitive switch lock the brakes if the trailer moves when set
- if I forget to disarm it when breaking camp, simply turn off the switch

Obviously, one drawback is to have the switch trigger too easily, burning out the battery or brakes. An inline buzzer, horn or timer should solve that problem.

Think it would deter a thief? This isn't available commercially, is it?

John

As my mother used to tell me when I spoke of what I thought was a good idea, "'Market' it and make some money".
Neil

[Mikethefixit]

I have seen harden locks cut in one swipe with RIDGED bolt cutters with about 4 ft handles, my old boss called it his MASTER KEY. We often ran into semi-trailers with these harden,seemingly unbreakable,inpenatrable locks and never were defeated. THE key I feel is to make it as DIFFICULT to steal as one can. Like I have said before if the thief is a professional he will get it if he wants it.