Protecting my new transporter trailer - wheelclamp?

andmcit · Unread post by **andmcit** » 20 Oct 2010, 00:34

Now I've gone and bought a replacement car transporter trailer after the
thieving pikeys helped themselves to my last one of 10 years or so sterling
service, (not to mention the Xm and Activa that were attached to it

),
is there a good wheelclamp that will stubbornly remain on the wheel it's
attached to to protect my property?

I really would like to ensure I'll come back and find this new one, hopefully
for a period longer than another 10 years. I've googled all kinds of results
about deflating tyres and petrol driver or generator powered angle grinders
so am a bit disillusioned. Even a very knowledgeable motorbike accessories
fella said their chains and locks and ground anchors tend to delay rather
than prevent the theft although one he claimed managed to defeat the
fire brigade's hydraulic bolt cutter and the jaws of life was the only thing
that removed a chain and lock the owner managed to lose the keys for!
They charged him 40 quid too.

Any sensible suggestions or recommendations apart from assembling a
temporary 'run' on the empty trailer bed for a pack or starved pitbulls
to sit in?

Andrew

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 20 Oct 2010, 03:22

Did the police offer any suggestions as to exactly how the last one was stolen? It seems possible that the whole lot was hoisted onto a scrappy truck - against such tactics, wheelclamping means nothing.

Break your routine - leave it where you did the other one and it won't last. I would also seriously have a chat to the riders I mentioned; don't show your hand initially but ask obtusely about security services for property.

For permanent anchoring of some things useful to me I have a thick 8" high I-beam concreted three feet into the ground, with a 3"×4" window cut in it to pass multiple hardened chains through.

Make theft too hard and the lot will just be ruined by spiteful vandalism. As I said, you need to engage others.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 20 Oct 2010, 06:47

If you've got the option to chain it to the ground, then don't chain it from an easily accessable position.
IE chain the axle in the middle so you as a human can reach the lock, but an anglegrinder can't get in there and use a chain too big for bolt cutters.

At the end of the day though Andrew, if they're determined then they'll nab it an there will be nothing you can do about it.

Have you looked into insurance too?

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 20 Oct 2010, 08:49

my personal favourite is to take some wheels off.

or make the tow hitch removable or both

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 20 Oct 2010, 09:49

There are all kinds of different wheel clamps, but if someone really wants it, then they will find a way of taking it. Locking it to something fixed to the ground will help, perhaps putting a lock tight around the fitting handle to try and avoid i being able to attatch to a towbar.

A person up the road from here has a towball fixed to the wall of the house, they attatch their trailer to it and chain the handle tight so it can not be taken off the towball.

When we had a horse box we were worried about getting it stolen, it was a brand new ifor williams horse box, so we had a microship installed incase it was stolen it could be scanned if it was ever found, we had 2 wheel clamps and its tow hitch handle was lockable. You need a wheel clamp which covers up the wheel nuts and one which can not be removed if the tyre is deflated.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 20 Oct 2010, 09:51

hmm good thinking Citroenmad

a tracker Andrew?

the_weaver · Unread post by **the_weaver** » 20 Oct 2010, 10:40

What about this GPS locator phone from Maplin?:-

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=99114

Hide it somewhere on the trailer. When the trailer gets stolen, send the locator a text message, and it will send a text message back with it's location. Enter the coordinates into Google Earth (Or Google Maps? or a SatNav?) and you can locate the position of the trailer.

You'll need to keep it charged up. It needs a PAYG Sim Card. GPS doesn't work indoors. Might not work from inside a car? Not waterproof. 140 Pounds.

Paul

Specifications:-

A personal remote positioning device with built-in GPS and GSM modules, that's both compact and portable. It can transmit the longitude and latitude coordinate to your mobile phone via text message. With three speed-dial keys and one emergency key, you can use these features for protecting and searching children and old persons. You can also use it as a security device on items which need remote positioning, such as valuables and cars.
Personal Tracker
End Cap

* Emergency SMS messaging to 3 personal numbers - great for keeping track of children or for the elderly
* Make and receive phone calls to your 3 pre-set numbers
* Send your exact GPS location to a mobile phone or see on the web where the device is located
* Call the device and get its GPS location
* Compact and portable
* Works throughout the world*

A simple text message or phone call and the tracker will transmit and text message with its location. Enter this data into Google earth ® on your PC and you will see exactly where the tracker is located via satellite imagery or by regular mapping. The Personal Tracker also has a simple GSM mobile system which will enables the tracker to act as a PANIC unit. A single push of the panic button will send three SMS messages to three different mobile phones with the user’s location.
Specification
End Cap
Specifications:
SiRF Star III Technology
GSM and GPS technology
System requirements:
SIM card (PAYG is fine)
Internet connection to see information

the_weaver · Unread post by **the_weaver** » 20 Oct 2010, 10:51

Cheaper here - 117 pounds:-

http://www.easydevices.co.uk/pp/Clearan ... RANCE.html

the_weaver · Unread post by **the_weaver** » 20 Oct 2010, 11:02

There's also a Globalsat TR-102 for 164 pounds. Not sure what the difference is. Possibly a newer model:-

http://www.easydevices.co.uk/pp/GPS_Rec ... EVICE.html

citroenesque · Unread post by **citroenesque** » 20 Oct 2010, 11:22

How about connecting it to the mains with a 30,000 amp fuse.

Chris570 · Unread post by **Chris570** » 20 Oct 2010, 11:32

why bother with a fuse

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 20 Oct 2010, 11:32

yep I thought of this one too

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 20 Oct 2010, 12:02

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =195959325

Load first round then every third live, others blank.

Pompey_Dave · Unread post by **Pompey_Dave** » 20 Oct 2010, 12:10

dont know if its pheasable, but is there any way you can remove the tow hook part of it?

reason being is if they try to tow it, they cant if they dont have anything to hook over their tow bar if they do get passed any locks or chains

the_weaver · Unread post by **the_weaver** » 20 Oct 2010, 12:31

Here are some more GPS tracking devices on ebay. These are 50 to 60 pounds. They've got some advanced features but seem to be very cheap. One of the features is Geofencing. Not sure if I've got this right but it sounds like you program a restricted area, say a box around your site. If the device leaves the box it will send an alarm to the user (by text message I assume). So these devices could wake you up in the middle of the night when your trailer is being stolen. I don't know if they're any good though. You haven't got the confidence of buying from Maplin with these. They might be rubbish for all I know. Some research needs to be done to see what people are saying about them. Also I might be wrong about the Geofencing. Maybe it needs a computer running or something. Still it all seems very interesting stuff.

Paul

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-GPS-GSM-Track ... 35ad41c64c

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Vehicle-GPS-G ... 35ad4780b5