The Texas BBQ Forum

I will be spending the night at a hotel with my smoker trailer attached to my truck. What's the best way to keep it secure other than a pad lock on the trailer?

Thanks.
Nick

Walmart and most places now sell trailer hitch tongue locks of various sorts if you want to disconnect. As for the rest, I'd guess a chain and padlock, or you just sit up on the hotel balcony with your musket and see if you bag your limit.

If I was in an area where I couldn't park by the office I would lock the breakaway chains to the truck and unhook the trailer and install a good lock on the hitch that was not easy to cut. I hauled a trailer for work and spent 3-4 nights a week for years and never had an issue doing this. Don't forget if you lock the trailer to the ball to lock the hitch to hitch to the truck. Over the years I saw several locked to the ball but then just pinned to the truck.

In addittion to the above consider using a few cinder blocks and remove one or both tires on the pit. Hard to pull one with no wheels.

I use a 1/2" braided steel cable (plastic coated) that either has two end loops or a lock built-in (Home Depot or Lowes). Take it through the wheel and around the trailer frame. Only quick way to cut braided cable is with torch. Remember to remove it when you drive out otherwise you will look like the thief!

DATsBBQ wrote:In addittion to the above consider using a few cinder blocks and remove one or both tires on the pit. Hard to pull one with no wheels.

Yepper this is one of the BEST Ideas to pull the tires off one side . If they want it a lock or chain won't stop em!

Tongue Lock and my 9mm......

I have a Rottweiler and a Pitt Bull that do a good job! Seriously though, the type that lock with a ball in the hitch (not from the tow hitch ball) are what Tractor Supply and others go with. If you go with chain be sure to get the yellow security grade stuff. It has metal that only deforms under the pressure of bolt cutters, will not snap. However, the chain can be defeated easily with a cordless zawzall.

Here's what we use on ours. It may not work on every wheel, but it works well on ours. Locks the rim to the leaf spring. Wheel will not move and you can leave it on the trailer. Just don't forget and try and drive off with it hooked up! Northern Tool carries them for ~$30.

I wonder if you can get On-Star installed on a trailer?

i lock to truck and add a bike chain between the wheels, always put that on the side people will probably see. to me, locks need to be seen. most theft is quick and a crime of opportunity, not thought out and studied.

I also try to back up to a wall or tree or what not. don't want someone to simply back the trailer off my truck and hook up and go. They my take the truck and trailer, but they are not getting just the trailer.


i'm going to look into Grillatarian thingy-'ma-bopper, that looks like it would work for all my trailers, not just smoker.

Or...you could bring it to Nevada; nobody would know what the heck it is.

what about a wheel clamp. you know the famous "boot" from parking wars and other shows. i think that coupled with a trailer that has locking wheels would probably be the fastest and most user friendly way to try and stop a thief.

Take a mercury switch from an old thermostat. Mount it to the tongue of the trailer and then wire it to a 12-volt air horn mounted about ear level. When the perp lifts up on the tongue, it'll blow their ear drum and alert everyone in the hotel.

This topic always comes up around riding season on the Harley forum I read. While it may not be the same, I thing some of the rules apply. The consensus there is usually to make sure your insurance is up to date, do what you can that is easy for you to remember (all the locks in the world don't help if you forget to use them), and then don't worry about it. My dad simply runs a chain between the wheels on his bike, and all I usually do is lock the forks and cover it.

Yep, if'n they really want it, they is gonna git it! Best protection is paid up insurance policy. The minute you unhook that pit from your tow vehicle the vehicle insurance won't cover it. Best to have a separate insurance plan fer the pit. Don't cost much at all.

Here's a link to something like the boot that's been mentioned, I don't own it but it looks interesting:

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/sho ... wheel-lock