So I just put in my order with Risa for a new Balanced Ride trailer :D:D:D:D I could not be more excited. I plan on attending weekend trail rides in my area and I have been thinking more and more about security. I’ve always heard the stories of trailers being broken into and tack and equipment being stolen, but how often are trailers themselves stolen? Is this a common occurrance? I do have insurance on the trailer, but I was wondering if anyone here uses a wheel lock or hitch lock on their trailer when they are trail riding. Thanks guys!
I would be more concerned about my trailer being stolen from where it is parked when not in use. I have known people who have had this happen. Stealing a trailer hooked to the tow vehicle would take some doing and too much time for me to really worry about. If you are at all worried then I would use the locks you describe.
I never store tack in my trailer.
After reading the article on trailer theft at trailheads, I would definitely use a hitch lock.
I would also assume a trailer is more likely to be stolen while parked than when hooked up, but apparently it does happen, at least enough that someone wrote an article about it (couldn’t find any stats): http://trailridermag.com/article/prevent-trailer-theft-15405. That article gives some good info on the options for locks, alarms, etc. I err on the paranoid side about that stuff and I do use a good solid hitch lock when my trailer is parked anywhere, including home. I also don’t leave tack in the trailer, other than extras. Keep that in mind with your insurance too because they may not cover the contents.
Congrats on the new trailer! I’d never heard of Balanced Ride but they look nice!
Thanks for the replies!
Libby2563, I stumbled upon that article a couple weeks ago and it really does have some good information in it.
I’m thinking about getting a level 10 padlock for the trailer when it is attached to the truck and a wheel lock for when it is not attached to the truck. Hopefully that will deter anyone from stealing the trailer.
I may need to call USAA and find out about the coverage for the contents. I don’t plan on storing any tack in the trailer unless I’m on a trail ride.
On a side note, I just signed up for US Rider and with my roadside coverage they also offer a $5,000 reward to anyone who helps recover your horse trailer in the event it is stolen. I put the stickers on my trailer … maybe they would be a very small deterent for them to pick someone else’s trailer to steal? (Maybe not, but it makes me feel better!)
I will have to double check with my insurance agent but I am pretty sure I asked him before and he said that my homeowner’s insurance would actually pick it up if any of my TACK is stolen from my horse trailer. I just know I asked him about it and he said I was covered.
I’m trying to picture how a gooseneck trailer would get stolen while it’s hooked to a truck?? I have 2 trailers that I tow with and both are goosenecks.
I use a hitch lock, both when hitched and unhitched. It’s hard (but not impossible) to steal a trailer while hitched and the last thing I want is someone tampering with it.
We have two goosenecks and while we live in a fairly rural area, we have locks on both the necks as a precaution. I have read on Horse Trailer World that the best way to prevent theft is through wheel locks. Our logic is at least the gooseneck lock will slow a thief down and allow someone to see what is happening.
I have also read that another theft deterrent is to have something unique on your trailer, like your farm name or town you are from. We moved to TN last year from the Northeast, and I’ve noticed many of the trail riders have a scene painted on their trailers with their last names and the town they are from.
I don’t know if this could affect DOT regulations, because I have heard having a farm name on a trailer can put you into a commercial category, but am not sure about that.
I sometimes think I should paint something unique on the roof. This way it could be spotted from a helicopter or small plane.
I don’t have a lock for mine. It lives at home down a private drive. People can’t see it from the cul-de-sac. I tend to think it is pretty hard to unhook it and steal it at a trailhead. Especially since they don’t know how long we will be gone.
I probably should consider a lock since I a going to a despooking clinic for the weekend and will be there 2 nights. I would like to drop the trailer at the host farm so I don’t have to take it to dinner and the hotel. I have locks for the dressing room.
Thanks for the replies everyone! I’m currently shipping around for a wheel lock. I think I have decided to go with one that covers the bolts for the tire so someone cant just take the tire off and replace it with their own. I’m probably being a bit paranoid, but I just don’t want to take any risks.
We always use a hitch lock on our trailer. Cheap and easy prevention of an expensive and complicated problem.
I am always surprised to see row after row of expensive trailers sitting around the back lots of sales and show grounds with no theft deterrent. I never heard of one being stolen but I never wanted to be the exception to the rule.
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The ultimate in electronic security would be a hidden GPS beacon transmitter on the trailer, (tied into the light wiring so it gets power to charge it’s batteries occasionally) And a cell ph connection so it’d put a dot on a map where the trailer is. So if the trailer ever runs off on an unknown journey, pull up the map, there it is, chase it down.
My current solution is easy. I use an old stock trailer that's so bad looking nobody would want it.
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As others have noted, the trailer is more likely to be stolen from your home than from where it’s parked while you ride, but a hitch lock is a reasonable and inexpensive precaution and I use one regardless of where the trailer is parked.
Coupler locks are good BUT-be sure you have the two part kind so you not only lock the coupler but the adjustment nuts as well. Otherwise, a thief will have his own coupler and will just drop yours on the ground. If you have a power jack with a key, leave it a little nose high so they can’t get it down on the trailer. Wheel locks are good.
Thanks for the information, but i am looking a good one under $100. If you have time then please suggest me a good one at my budget.
Our riding instructor had hers stolen when she was competing at Aiken. It was not hooked up to her truck but was in a remote storage area with minimal (and inadequate) security. She got it back a few weeks later after it was found in FL serving as a “shooting gallery” and filled with used drug paraphernalia and dirty Huggies. Damage was minimal and she was able to get that repaired and trailer thoroughly cleaned!
The only tack we store in the trailer is a couple of spare halters, lead ropes, a longe line, a couple of whips/crops, some grooming gear, and sort of stuff you keep in an LQ trailer to use on trips. Of course we do have pots, pans, dishes, etc. None of which were new when they went out there and were not of first line quality when we bought them so long ago!!! 
Everybody should read their policy and find out who covers what. In most instances the best coverage is going to be with the company that insures the tow vehicle as that’s following the KISS principle. If you get two companies involved you’ve just make your life difficult (and if you buy cheap coverage from the General or Progressive or the like you’ve just made it VERY difficult). Contents, IIRC, in my USAA coverage is under my homeowners policy. But I’ve not read it for a while (yes, I know!!! 
) so I should check, too.
A good quality lock would be a good idea but locks mostly keep honest people honest and deter the “target of opportunity” thief. The determined thief will likely be able to defeat the low end locks frequently sold. Fortunately few thieves are determined.
The GPS tracker is an excellent idea.
There are few “school” solutions, here.
G.
