Locking up your hitch

[Aaron]

How do you lock up your hitch so that no one can just hook up and drive off with your boat?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

When the trailer is on the truck I have the tongue lever locked and a locked hitch pin. While the trailer sits alone I have a Gorilla tongue lock on. You could add a chain through two rims and locked up under the trailer so as to make it harder to cut or beat the lock.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0008FUHA0/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AVSIOI/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1394771140&sr=1-2&pi=SX200_QL40

 

[itsdgm]

I have a lock put through the hitch pin, one in the coupler when the boats on the hitch, and I also ha've drilled the swing away pin so that a lock will fit in that too.

When the boat or trailer is disconnected, I have a lock in the coupler, I fold the tongue and lock the tongue folded using the safety cables to the trailer frame. I also lock the pin back into the swing away portion.

 

[Craig]

Has anyone found a trailer hitch lock that fits the width of the trailer tongue tightly? And one that is a quality lock? I have a lock but it is slightly longer than the width of the trailer tongue and I worry it exposes the bar enough to allow someone to get a set of bolt cutters on it. I've had trouble finding a lock due to the small diameter of the pin.

 

[Julian]

Keep in mind that locking the hitch may not prevent a determined thief. If they are pros, they can either 1) cut the lock pretty quickly, or 2) remove the bolts holding the hitch to the frame and bolt on a new one. I've read that the best way is to use some serious wheel locks that lock to the frame.

If you watched the video of the theft in Florida of a YJB, it took seconds to cut the lock off the hitch!

How about blutooth exploding trailer tires? EVIL GRIN. You build in a small charge into each tire. If the tires rotate more than x times without a connection to your phone...BOOM....all the tires blow! I should patent that! (whoops....can't do that now that is public)

 

[Zarrella]

I never lock it....I know I should but I'm of the school that thinks a lock only keeps honest people away. Having grown up in South Florida I have seen people go to great lengths to steal things. Including trailers being chained down to the hitch of the vehicle that is stealing it without even connecting the hitch ball.

 

[Ronnie]

Anyway to answer the primary question more directly. I was able to fine the pictured lock that seems to fit well. This one I got at my local Yamaha dealer for around $20 but I'm sure I've seen them at pepboys as well.

As a side note, I love the way this site allows me to load several pictures at once and give me the option to show them as thumbnails or full pics.

 

[Zeus2013]

I actually bought a wheel lock for the times I want to secure the trailer.

 

[Wayloncle]

Something I never thought of before I read it a while back is, you can lock the coupler all you want but theifs can hook up the safety chains to their vehicle and drive off with it, to somewhere where they can spend some time getting the lock off or whatever they need to do.
There isn't much you can do to stop a determined theif, if they want it bad enough they will take it. To me, the lock will at least make them look for an easier target.

 

[Ronnie]

Something I never thought of before I read it a while back is, you can lock the coupler all you want but theifs can hook up the safety chains to their vehicle and drive off with it, to somewhere where they can spend some time getting the lock off or whatever they need to do.
There isn't much you can do to stop a determined theif, if they want it bad enough they will take it. To me, the lock will at least make them look for an easier target.

This is the way feel as well. If my boat is sitting next to an identical one but mine has locks all over it it won't be nearly as attractive as the unsecured boat next to mine.

 

[cyberlock]

I use the lock pin but agree that it could be cut quickly by a pro. It will deter the amateur i.e.)kids looking for a quick buck. Has anyone here actually had a boat/ trailor stolen?

 

[MOA_Chaser]

I use a Mossberg "gun safety" lock on my trailer hitch. Two reasons; 1) it gives me an actual use for the dumb things, and 2) I think it may give a thief something to think about before he tries to make off with my boat right outside of my house (and well within range).

 

[txav8r]

 

[jetboater4life]

Does anybody use something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000COMX3Q/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Are they easily defeated?

 

[MOA_Chaser]

Does anybody use something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000COMX3Q/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Are they easily defeated?

What will happen is that you'll lose the key and not be able to remove them yourself. Until you find out that you just need to hammer a 19mm socket over them and easily remove them.

Easily defeated if they know they're on there, and a real PITA for the user.

 

[Speedling]

I have a set of locks for all my trailers that all have the same code. I do this so my friend that borrows and works on them can take them whenever. Its the type where you spell the word.
Boat stays in the garage as well.

 

[jawsf16]

Locks just keep the honest people honest. If the thief wants it, he can get it. That's what insurance is for.

That said, I always lock the coupler, the swing away and the hitch pin.

 

[Ronnie]

I agree but as one whose had his Insured boat, trailer and truck stolen I can say from experience that the insurance settlement will not "make you whole" and it took me around six weeks to get so I do what I can to keep what I have.

 

[Volffas]

What will happen is that you'll lose the key and not be able to remove them yourself. Until you find out that you just need to hammer a 19mm socket over them and easily remove them.

Easily defeated if they know they're on there, and a real PITA for the user.

This is a true statement. We had them on our last boat's trailer. 4 years after buying them we blew a tire on the trailer. Luckily I was on my way to our mechanic to have the boat serviced and we were only 1/4 mile away. I limped the trailer in. I looked for 2 days for the key for my lug nuts and it was no where to be found. We eventually just cut the bolt off. I can't imagine how big of a pain that could have been if we would have been 100 miles from home.

 

[Volffas]

Back to the original question, we use a gorilla guard and a long master lock on the trailer hitch lock. But as stated above I believe if someone REALLY wants to get the boat, they will find a way.

Here is a picture of the gorilla guard;