Anybody Run Into This Little Problem Before?

[Ski213]

Was talking to a friend of mine earlier. The conversation always goes to fishing pretty quick. He says you'll not believe what happened last time out. He went out with a buddy of his this past Sunday. His friend has a newer ranger. Last years model he thinks. They go out like any other day. Had a decent day of fishing. Get back to the ramp. My friend goes to get the truck. He comes back down with the truck, no trailer. Somebody stole the d*** trailer!

As they're filing the police report the officer is telling them that this is getting to be pretty common. Its crazy to me. I mean if you're a thief, you're pretty low as far as I'm concerned to begin with, but c'mon taking a boat trailer while the boat is in the water is another level. Not like its just a minor inconvenience. Have y'all heard much of this in your neck of the woods? I just don't get it. I understand that it could be scrapped but it seems like its alot of risk for no more metal than is there.

Also this was lake cumberland ky, Jamestown ramp. So if any of you are local to that and see an empty ranger trailer looking out of place feel free to PM me.

[zachb34]

It's pretty easy here to get a home made title for a trailer and is legal if it's under a certain weight. Scrap isn't worth much and they would get caught pretty easy. My guess it's been titled as homemade or taken to a state where they can do that.

[Ski213]

Yeah you're prob right.

Be hard to pass a trailer with glass fenders off as homemade but the folks handing out the title most likely never see the trailer. I don't know all the specifics but here there's not a seperate title for the boat trailer, not any ive ever owned at least. As you said it's based on weight I think. Our commercial trailers are tagged but not recreational ones.

It just struck me as an odd thing to steal. Based on what the officer said though I guess not.

[WIGuide]

There's a lot of money tied up right there. If I remember correctly, buying a new Ranger Trail trailer is in the 3-5 grand range. Heck, the fenders alone go for 1500 to 2 grand. They probably plan to strip it and sell the pieces individually. 

[J Francho]

A $20 lock probably seems pretty cheap now.

[RoLo]

Although I don't know anyone who experienced this tragedy, it's something that's always on my mind.

I've never owned a trailered boat without installing a locking device for the coupler.

This is especially important when you're on vacation and drop your trailer for a week.

I've left trailers in insecure yards, behind cabins in Canada and hidden in the woods while chained to a tree.

Still and all, if someone really wants it, it's vulnerable to theft.

 

That said, I know how your buddy must feel 

 

Roger

[nosdog2]

I know my trailer, Trailstar with numatic brakes,  has no provision for a lock when it is attached to the truck.   The only way I can lock it at home is with the lock type that takes the place of the ball and locks in there.   Dumb design flaw imo, but I guess that is what insurance is for; even though it doesn't cover the inconvenience of some dbag stealing someones stuff they worked hard for.

[J Francho]

Even trailers that don't look like it, do have a place for a lock. My Bullet's trailer, you have a spot for a long pin type lock, just in front of the piston for the brakes. It's not obvious, like my other trailer.

[Ski213]

It would have been $20 well spent for sure. He had the hitch locked in the receiver but the trailer was not locked. I didn't think of the parting out thing. That would make sense. RoLo you're exactly right, if they want it they'll get it. I guess the lock can be the thing that makes the difference between hauling home and renting a slip for awhile though.

I like the idea of the less obvious trailer lock. Mine is on the tongue and could easily be cut or broken off. I always keep it locked in the hopes that its enough of a deterrent.

Luckily its insured but still there will be costs and major inconvenience.

[J Francho]

Locks keep honest people honest.

[RoLo]

Even trailers that don't look like it, do have a place for a lock. My Bullet's trailer, you have a spot for a long pin type lock, just in front of the piston for the brakes. It's not obvious, like my other trailer.

 

That's exactly where my Triton pin-hole is located, which is always locked, hitched or unhitched.

"Locks keep honest people honest"     You're telling me.  I've got my eye on that Bullet, fella 

 

Roger

[junyer357]

Nothing is theft proof but ice tried to make mine hard enough they move to the next guys. I put my nall on the hitch with an impact gun cranked up and a pipe wrench. Then put a few tack welds on the base. Hitch is locked to truck receiver and i also have a masterlock on trailer with as lil exposed of the pin possible. On trips when i disconnect for nite i have a ball replacer lock i put on as well. It may be overkill but spending $100 on premium locks and all once is an investment well spent to me.

[tiredbobmarley]

It's pretty easy here to get a home made title for a trailer and is legal if it's under a certain weight. Scrap isn't worth much and they would get caught pretty easy. My guess it's been titled as homemade or taken to a state where they can do that.

Yep,  I agree.  After purchasing my boat and trailer from craigslist I quickly found out when registering in Florida that the trailer was not titled to the name that was on the bill of sale.  This freaked me out.  I tried to get a hold of the guy that sold it to me but I received no response.  What I had to do was go back into the DMV with the weight of the trailer and claim it was homemade.  No problem getting it registered.  They didn't even look at it! I thought that was outright crazy....but I guess that's Florida. Sorry about your buddy's trailer....what pain in the ass.

[Karma]

it could have been brought down here to Tennessee....

 

we don't have trailer registration here or titles on boats. All you need to get a boat registration is a bill of sale.... and the hull identification number.

 

that being said I am going to be sure I keep locking my trailer on and off the truck hitch.

[Way2slow]

As mentioned, it's pretty easy to get a homemade trailer title in many states and they don't leave it as a boat trailer. The big tandem axle trailers used for big bass boats convert to a very nice flatbed trailer very easily. Cut out those V-shaped cross braces and install straight ones, throw those fancy fenders away, put a floor on it, paint it plain Jane black you have a home made trailer that will haul an automobile, or yard maintenance equipment for just a couple hundred dollars. Even the smaller trailers have gotten to be fair game for those that don't need something big enough to haul a vehicle on. A thief has no problems with the large sums of money he's costing someone else as long has he's getting a few bucks.

[Sun Fish]

Little problem?  Sounds pretty major to me, that freakin sucks!  I'm curious how this story ended, what did you friend do with the boat that night?  How did he eventually get it out of the water?

[Catch 22]

In Philly they take the truck and the trailer locked or not.

[Al Wolbach]

In Philly they take the truck and the trailer locked or not.

Happened to a friend of mine. They took his truck and left the trailer. They also left his lock and a note that said he could reuse his lock since they did not damage it, lol. Apparently they could pick the lock or unlock it some way....

[Ski213]

Way2slow, you're probably right. I didn't think about converting the trailer. Was looking at mine and it sure would be a piece of cake to do.

Little problem?  Sounds pretty major to me, that freakin sucks!  I'm curious how this story ended, what did you friend do with the boat that night?  How did he eventually get it out of the water?

It was a mess. Story hasn't ended yet. The marina closest to the ramp where he launched gave him one free night in an uncovered slip. As far as I know its still in the water. He did manage to get the factory cover on it. I told him to run it down the lake to get it pulled and put in dry storage but I don't think he has yet.

If I remember right the replacement cost is $6500. I thought insurance would cover it. He said he thought they weren't going to but I'm pretty sure he misunderstood his agent. He did find a trailer that can get it out of the water but he only gets the trailer for a week. There again I told him he could take it to dry storage. I'm not sure what he has done. Haven't talked to him in a week or two. It's a huge pain. I can't stand a thief.

[Fun4Me]

http://www.autoanything.com/towing/69A5235A0A0.aspx

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Best things to do is take 1 wheel off easy prevention

[Way2slow]

That only makes the thief have to steal a wheel from someone else. On a tandem axle trailer it only takes a couple minutes to tie that side of the axle up and drive off on three wheels. People do that all the time when they have a flat or bearing go out. Take that wheel off, tie the axle up and drive away.

If a thief wants it, he is pretty much going to get it. Yea, they are going to look for the easiest target, but they usually get what they want.

Several years ago, a friend of mine owned a small Mercury dealership. He special ordered an STV with a Merc 300HP Race motor for a customer. It came in late and he had a boat in the shop working on it so he just parked it backed in right in front of the shop door with a forklift blocking it in, inside a fenced area. Figured that was more than good enough just for the night. Next morning, he comes in and the motor is gone off the boat. They cut the chain link fence, took the motor apart and carried it out in sections. There were a couple of bolts and stuff on the ground they dropped is how they knew they took it apart. Like I said, if they want it, they usually get it.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

That was a lot of heavy work to do a 300 merc.like i say take your wheels off take your props off also they also bring a good easy chunk of change also. I hate/despise thieves and lairs.worst thing is you didnt know they were till after the fact.they aint like a a-hole that u may meet once in your life.i can handle the a-holes pretty easy u fight fire with fire.but ruggish liars a whole diff kinda human

[Ski213]

I was wrong. He didn't misunderstand his insurance agent. The trailer is not covered under his insurance policy. He would have had to request it be added. I wouldn't have thought that. I called my agent. Mine is covered but apparently only because she asked when I took out the policy and I said to include it in the agreed value. I don't specifically remember that but glad I'm covered. Something to think about for those of you with trailers. Be worth checking to make sure you are covered.

[J Francho]

A good agent should ask.