Theft proofing horse trailers/insurance

[little_flea]

I have finally found a trailer to buy (so hopefully will be pestering you all a bit less with endless towing questions) and now I want to know what you do to make your trailer as theft-proof as possible - do you use a wheel clamp? Or is it not really worth bothering? (Yard has CCTV and is locked at night anyway)

Also, any recommendations for trailer insurance companies?

 

[MuddyCob]

Most insurance companies require you to have a wheel clamp as a condition of the insurance so definitely worth getting one! I use a wheel clamp and bulldog hitchlock, and am insured with 4Counties.

 

[Baileyhoss]

and if you are using a wheelclamp put it on the rear wheel of the trailer. if it's on the front someone could jack up the front wheels off the ground & drive off anyway.

get up on the roof and paint or sticker on your postcode in massive letters - (think police helicopters!)

I belive you can also get them datatagged, but not sure of cost.

Take lots of photos including a note of the plate showing serial number etc. That'll help if the worst does happen.

 

[FinellaGlen]

My trailer was stolen last month despite all my security precautions. It was data tagged, had a wheel clamp and hitchlock. It was behind electric gates which were locked and also had a £120 motorcycle lock on. Unfortunately, the thieves came equipped with oxyacetylene torches and cut through the lot. Please do everything you can to secure your trailer but still don't imagine it is theftproof.

I've now got even more security in place, including CCTV but I am not keeping my replacement trailer at home when I get it because I can't afford to keep replacing my electric gates at over £2500 a go for just the opening mechanism!

 

[little_flea]

I guess if someone really decides to steal it they will... oh well. Maybe I'll just cover the sides of it with some huge My Little Pony graphics or something similarly hideous to make it undesireable!

 

[scrumpygus]

I know this sounds odd but someone i know was in prison a little while ago with a guy that was in there for stealing horse trailers - he told him that he only ever went for ones with wheel clamps never with hitch locks!

 

[little_flea]

Haha that is a nice bit of insider info!

 

[Divasmum]

I've got my trailer as an add on to the horses insurance with AmTrust.

 

[LickettySplit]

[ QUOTE ]
I know this sounds odd but someone i know was in prison a little while ago with a guy that was in there for stealing horse trailers - he told him that he only ever went for ones with wheel clamps never with hitch locks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm - I've heard that some thieves can lift the trailer onto a temporary hitch and drive off with the trailer running on the rear wheels, hence the advice to use both a hitch & wheel lock (on rear wheel).

We've always put a lump of farm machinery in front of the trailers....again, this is by no means foolproof but certainly a good deterrent to all but the most determined thief.

ETA I've always had my trailer insured on the same policy as my horse & tack - that's been with NFU