Keeping trailer in field

Babypony said:
I've bought a trailer to be picked up next week. I rent land rather than being on a livery yard, and while I am allowed to store the trailer on said land, its not my preference due to mud etc. I've called a few local places and had no joy with finding anyone else to store it. Its a BIG trailer, an Equi-trek, so I'm a bit worried about it a)getting stolen and b)sinking into the mud and disappearing forever. Does anyone else keep their trailer in a field? The nibbly 4 year old will be kept well away by means of electric fencing. Was considering those caravan winter wheels you can put on to replace the tyres to make it less attractive for thieves. Does anyone else keep their trailer in a field? Any tips? Ta.
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I put down some used patio slabs on top of the grass and they’ve done the job for years
 
rextherobber said:
I lost the key for my hitchlock, my husband sawed it off with a tiny hacksaw in about 20 seconds. I was both horrified and grateful
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Padlocks only keep honest people honest unfortunately. If your going to steal something padlocks won't get in your way, only slow you down (marginally). A neighbour's trailer was taken a couple of years ago, wheel locks on 2 wheels, hitch lock and sign written like you wouldn't believe. They took their time with an oxyacetylene cutter thingy cutting the lock to the yard gate and the locks on the trailer, then went away for a hour, came back and pushed the trailer by hand to the gate way and disappeared again. They came back a couple of hours after this and quietly hitched the trailer up and drove off. This was all on CCTV camera with clear view of the number plate of the vehicle on every visit. Thankfully the insurance paid out, but police didn't seem overly interested past giving a crime number.

@Babypony we used old flagstones (old concrete paving slabs) to park our trailer on in the field. You can pick them up free or very cheap on FB marketplace.

ETA - my dad always took the rear wheels off the trailers when we were on a livery yard. It just made our trailers less desirable compared tot he one parked next to it. Often trailers are stolen with vehicles with higher tow bars.
 
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Babypony said:
It comes with a bulldog wheel lock and a hitch lock, is that ok?
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We recently loaned our box overnight to a friend, when we dropped it off my OH kindly put the wheel clamp on 😀 except I've lost the key 🙈 we got the tool kit out, jacked it up a bit and slid the clamp off.
Trailers are notoriously easy to steal, so make sure your insurers are very aware where it is parked and they are happy with it. Quite a few stolen locally recently
 
i once completely forgot to take my wheel lock off, and i drove off without feeling the slightest thing - the whole thing just broke off. definitely invest in a good quality one, and always put it on the rear tyre as otherwise it can be lifted high enough for the front wheels to be off the ground.

when i first bought it i just locked the hitch with the key it came the (it was at the bottom of the yard out of sight behind 2 locked gates), it was in the farmers way so he just chained it up to the tractor and moved it🤣 i’d given him the spare key too!

i pay £10 a week for the horsebox to be at the yard, it was £6 for the trailer, and a lot of people locally have said they don’t even pay that much. £100 a month is a lot!
 
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Mine *was* in the field but I couldn't get it out to use (clay field) & it was starting to grow slime up the back 😖 I managed to fish it out on a frosty day luckily & is now somewhere accessible.
The big mud mats someone posted further up would be perfect - also a lot cheaper than actual mud control mats - I've seen them go cheap in bulk on FB marketplace.
As for security I have it data tagged & stickered, a stronghold hitch lock & one of the big red heavy duty Bulldog Centaur wheel locks - was always told to put on a back wheel so they cant just wind up the jockey wheel & pull it!
People have said its over kill as its insured so it would be replaced, but I've gone belt & braces as I'd rather not have the inconvenience in the first place.
 
rextherobber said:
I lost the key for my hitchlock, my husband sawed it off with a tiny hacksaw in about 20 seconds. I was both horrified and grateful
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I took a wheel lock off in under 30seconds!

You dont need mud control mats, its overkill. Just get some of the big council type paving slabs and put those down.

But I'd quadruple the security you have and get a tracker and get a camera. Just bear in mind that if they see it and want it they will take it. They use blockers to stop the camers, find and dispose of the trackers and physcial security is easy to get off, so its just hoping you dont get targetted.

I'd take the wheels off, take them home and leave it jacked up. That makes it much more of a pain to steal than any security.
 
Babypony said:
boeing 747 in the next field (don't ask)
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Well I guess at least that means the neighbours won't be able to complain about your horse trailer.

ETA I know you said don't ask but I can't help myself, PLEASE tell me why your neighbours have a 747 in their field? I'm dying to know

Edited again to add, could you not park it under one wing? Might keep the rain off
 
Storing it on the grass or on top of the gridded mud control mats will allow all the ground moisture to evaporate upwards into your trailer especially during winter. It will haste its rotting and rusting and damp damage. If you have to store it in the field, use paving slabs to create a hard standing.
Nothing will stop the thievery if they are determined so if you can find a local farmyard or factory yard who are happy to store it for you, probably a much better idea. (Someone I knew kept hers in back of her village pub's car park by agreement).
 
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