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qhumberd
Moderator

Hitch & Wheel locks - Layered Security?

I've read various threads on layered security before picking up my camper yesterday. I understand that insurance is the number one thing to have, as a determined thief can defeat most any security measures short of armed guards, which I have in place. I am storing my new camper at the county fairgrounds, which offers RV storage. It is gated, but the gates remain open during the day and sometimes in the evenings when there is an event in a building on the grounds. We stopped at a Northern Tool store on our way to store the camper and picked up a Trimax keyed-alike trailer lock kit, which consists of a coupler ball lock, hitch lock, and coupler latch lock. We also bought a Trimax wheel lock, but it's not the boot style. I kind of wanted the boot style, but it is bulky for travel. My wife was looking at the budget as well. I also installed a GPS tracker in the trailer. I understand these are "theft deterrents", encouraging the would-be thief to move on to an easier target. Most of the RVs there are using coupler locks or have a padlock on the coupler latch. A few are jacked up. There are small boats and concession trailers there as well, several not locked up at all.

Would you install locking lug nuts as well, or just roll with what I have? Would you bother to lock up the trailer chains with a padlock since I have the wheel lock?

Thanks!

TL;DR
We live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and picked up our camper in Columbus, Ohio. We took the back way home, about 170-180 miles, stopping and checking the torque on the trailer lug nuts every so often. About 55 miles from Fort Wayne, we stopped at a Walmart (Van Wert, Ohio), bought wheel chocks, snacks, dog food, and cat litter. We put these items in the trailer tongue box. I locked the trailer tongue box, then locked the cassette toilet and Nautilus system hatches. When the dealer gave us the keys, there were three trailer door keys, four small brass keys (2 for each hatch) and two chrome keys for the trailer tongue storage box. Each set was on a small little wire ring, and all were attached to a dealership key ring and chain. When we left the dealership, this went into the armrest storage of the TV. It came out at Walmart to unlock and lock the compartments, and went back into the armrest. When we arrived at the storage space, we backed in, I went to unlock the storage tub, opened the armrest storage, and the two silver keys - were not there! WTH!! How can this be? We field stripped the TV,  looked at each, called Walmart....We came up with some makeshift chocks, unhitched, locked the trailer hitch and wheel, and drove back to the Walmart Super Center in Van Wert, Ohio. Lo and behold, we found the keys in the parking lot. This was over an hour later and after a deluge of rain.So much for the cheap little metal rings....feeling like we should have bought a lottery ticket. Drove back to Fort Wayne, relieved. Chocked the trailer properly and went home.
2025 T@B 320 S BDBC
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4
NE Indiana

Comments

  • mx4789
    mx4789 Member Posts: 54
    Security is nice, but don't paint yourself into a corner.
    I think locking up the chains (which I do) is bit overrated. If someone wanted to drag your trailer off by using chains, they'd just bring their own and loop them through the trailer's tongue. However, locking up the chains would deter an opportunist who happened to suddenly decide to steal your trailer without any prior planning.
    I think locking lugnuts are a perfect way to sabotage yourself. Just imagine trying to change a flat on the side of a busy Interstate and realizing you can't find/don't have the lugnut key. If you are worried about someone removing a wheel to defeat a wheel lock then run a cable lock through the wheel and around your axle. That way you can't accidentally drive off without unlocking it, or at least not very far. I use a combination lock (no key to lose or forget) for my cable and it serves a dual purpose in that I can use it lock my mountain bike to a tree or trailer tongue while I am camping.
    I've also started keeping a spare set of keys in a lockbox in my tow vehicle. I have a hide-a-key box that has the valet key only in it (can't start the truck with it) hidden and then I can unlock the door and the lockbox (combo type) is secured in the truck. The lockbox also does dual duty in that I can store my firearm, or cell phone in it if I need to.
    2025 Tab 320 S BD
    2024 Nissan Frontier