Preventing Trailer Theft

Thanks to your trailer, any number of nearly-impossible jobs become simple tasks—but you might not be the only one looking to take advantage of that. A trailer, like any vehicle, is a target for theft, so you’ll want to take a few measures to keep it safe. We here at McCandless Truck Center want to make sure your trailer remains yours, so we’ve put together some tips on trailer theft prevention. For more information, or to see the trailers we have for sale, contact our stores across the states of Colorado and Wyoming, today!

Customize The Style

Trailers can seem pretty common. But though there are many like it, your trailer is yours. Consider altering the appearance to reflect that a bit—the more unique and customized, the better. If your trailer has your name, your favorite sports team, and other personalized aspects, it becomes much harder for someone else to claim it’s theirs. 

Paint jobs, stickers, and other unique identifiers are the goal. Consider also placing some out of sight that only you can know about.

Safe Storage

Never leave your trailer unhitched in a driveway or on the street, as this can provide crafty thieves an opportunity to hitch their own vehicles to it and sneak away. Try to park the trailer in a locked shelter like a garage or shed when you can, or just get it out of view. Even just throwing a cover on the trailer to hide its exact make and model from the eyes of passersby can help deter theft—few thieves will risk trying to steal a prize they can’t evaluate beforehand, after all. 

If that’s not an option, you may have to park your trailer strategically. Well-lit, high-traffic areas are less likely to be stolen from, given the increase in potential witnesses. It also helps to reverse your rig against a wall or fence, when possible, which can make connecting your trailer to someone else’s vehicle a pain.

Upgrade The Locking System

If those options aren’t comforting you, you might add a hitch lock or a wheel boot. Hitch locks are sturdy, two-part boxes that cover the coupler, one part above and one below. That way, hitching without the key to the box is nearly impossible. 

A wheel boot, meanwhile, clamps to a wheel and prevents it from moving at all. That way your trailer won’t go anywhere, even if it gets hitched. Just make sure to choose an option that can’t be sawed off or pried open.

We hope these tips help you and your trailer work together for many more years to come! If you have any questions, or you’re hoping to see the trailers we have in stock, contact us at McCandless Truck Center. We proudly serve the people of Colorado and Wyoming—let us serve you today!