Trailer Security

ApgarNJ

i know a few of you have gotten new trailers recently. and I just sold my old 97 diesel which wasn't really being used much since I got my new diesel last year. I just ordered a new trailer, all aluminum, since I dont want to ever worry about rot/rust. It's plenty heavy to hold my stuff, no need to haul cars around.

My main question as of now, is there a security system that has a motion sensor, along with door sensors that will call your cell phone if there is a breakin? the systems i have been looking at, have pagers but those say they only work within a one mile range of the trailer, maybe for people who are staying in a hotel or something and have a trailer there with toys in them.
The trailerdog one looks ok. with a solar panel on the roof, i believe the shock sensor is for if someone cuts the metal walls and tries to get in rather than using the doors, but someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.

I like the siren, but maybe that's not enough to really keep them away if they know no one is around. Some of the jobs i'm on, no one would really hear the siren if the homeowners aren't home at the time.

I live in a safe area and would only leave the trailer on jobsites that i felt safe at, but ya just never know who's going to see it and try something. even if the neighborhood is safe.

I won't get the trailer for 4-5 weeks, so I have some time to plan out the inside. i did order it with a 110 system 30amp breaker installed with cold start lights down the middle. i figured that they install it cheaper and neater looking from the factory than I could do on my own, and i have very little spare time to do that kind of stuff anyways. I have a few receptacles inside but will probably have to add a few more.

also, what are you guys using for insulation, mine won't have any plywood on the walls from the factory, and I like it that way. only has a plywood skirt at the bottom for snowmobile skis. i was thinking of cutting 1 1/2" rigid foam for the walls and ceiling and then lining the walls with 1/2" 5/8" plywood, and the ceiling with 1/4" luan.

any other suggestions or ideas from guys with trailers would be greatly appreciated. btw, it's a rance aluminum 8.5'x16' plus 4' vnose with ramp on the front too. side door and rear ramp. i got the extra head height inside too. 6'6".

Dustball

I have a tattletale alarm in one of our houses- http://www.tattletalealarm.com/

Basically it's a portable alarm unit that uses cellular technology and it's plugged into the wall for power with an internal battery backup if the power has been cut. You can get accessories for it such as the door sensors you're looking for. You must pay a monthly/yearly fee for alarm monitoring and they'll call whatever numbers you want in the order you want.

Mike Finley

A good place that installs car alarms can give you all your options, there are alarms that will do exactly what you want, the alarm installer can tell you all about all the options. There is nothing difficult about alarming a trailer, all it takes is the alarm unit you want and then some wiring to the doors with little pads they put on them to tell the alarm they are open or closed. A shock sensor, heat sensor, motion sensor or whatever you want can be added to the interior for any of the good alarms. You can get one that calls you very easily, even track it's location on the Internet.

ApgarNJ

thanks guys, i'll look into it. i know the place that sells the trailers also installs alarms but i'm not sure they are the ones that call me or not. i will try a car alarm installer.

Robie

I have a 8 x 16 Haulmark I'm still in the process of customizing. The ribs on my walls and ceiling are only 1" thick, so I opted for 1/2" styrofoam. I've done the same in the ceiling but went with 4 x 8 sheets of white textured fiberglass as it will refect the light better. I didn't go with an alarm that will call you, as I won't be leaving the trailer that often but I did go with the following:
Master puck locks on both side and rear doors (the shackle is hidden)
1/8" x 1" steel bar running horizontally every 8", attached to 1/2" plywood on the doors.
The 2 rear, swing out doors have heavy duty barrel bolts top and bottom
A 12 volt interior piezo alarm, strobe light and exterior siren (mounted inside in a steel box, facing the floor with acoustic holes drilled) with magnetic door switches
Interior motion detector
My trailer is cabinets and drawers both sides, top to bottom. Everything (almost) that opens...locks....16 locks total...keyed alike.

__________________

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

Ed the Roofer

If you leave it parked on site, remove all of the lug nuts or only leave one loose one on.

If they try to hook up, the wheel falls off and jacks up the tongue since the rear just got lowered.

In the best case scenario, the pricks are stuck to the trailer and making alot of noise.

In the worst case scenario, they got away without your trailer full of tools, but you have to have new studs installed on the wheel.

If it has a removeable tongue, remove it!

Ed

blackdoggie

order your self lo jack and that other cell based system... the lo jack is the best thing in the world if your worried about some one stealing your trailer because as soon the cops are notified they will know where it is at. Dewalt also makes a lock alarms for mobile equipment it is called Dewalt Mobilelock the other option is to let one of your trusted employees sleep in the trailer with a gun if your really worried about it.

Rental Rehab

Mine had an alarm in it which I am sure was flashing the trailer lights and making all kinds of racket while the thieves drove away with it. Just picked up a new trailer yesterday that will have GPS linked to cellular data locater that will activate when disturbed. There is almost nothing you can do to protect your equipment from a determined thief. Your best bet is to make it so difficult that he will steal from someone that has not prepared as well as you! A little bit of preparation can save a lot of frustration!!

ApgarNJ

I just picked up my trailer today. I need to plan out the interior first and decide what alarm i'm going to put on it. if any. i live in a great area and all my sites are on single family home properties with a decent amount of land. i have inquired about an alarm system through the dealer where i purchased my trailer. they have a new one coming out where it calls your cell phone. i'm sure other places have them too, but this particular trailer dealer only has the ones now that lock the brakes, flash lights and sound the siren. it's about a grand to have one installed that calls your cell phone and also does all of the above mentioned. my thought is, if i have to work in a bad area. i will just bring the trailer home with me each night. everything inside is insured and the trailer is also insurance separately than the truck.

the next step is getting it insulated, ply on the walls and luan on the ceiling possibly. after that i will plan where everything goes. i don't plan on working inside the trailer, just for storage.

any suggestions are welcome, pictures are a plus too.

thanks
Dan

Robie

This is my work in progress (very little progress). It's an 8.5 x 16 with 8.5 ceiling. I've used 1/2" Styrofoam behind the plywood sides and front and will insulate the ceiling the same way. That will get covered with white fiberglass sheets.
Pretty much everything that opens, locks with keyed alike locks. All the drawers are customized for each tool. Kickspace is high enough on the left to store gallons cans and on the right side storage for pipe, molding, level, etc.
I got a 12V converter to manage the 3 batteries and it will also have full 110V power at different locations throughout.
I'll be bringing mine home most nights so just went with magnetic switches and motion detector with sirens and a strobe. I plan on installing steel stock across the doors on the inside with some beefy barrel bolts for the double doors.
I've got a long way to go, but here is how it looks so far.

__________________

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

ApgarNJ

that looks really nice.
mine is a deck over trailer, so i got the 6'6" inside head height. i can walk around in there with out hitting my head but it's 6'6" to the skin of the metal and more like 6'3" to the framing which is straight across with arched members above it and the roof is arched. in hindsight, i should have gotten 7'6" inside height. i almost want to ask the dealer if he'd be willing to sell this one and return it, i might take a hit on it, but i would get the taller one. i am sort of kicking myself right now. but i know it could be worse. it sits up pretty high already since it's a snowmobile/all purpose trailer. i can learn to live with it i guess. but in a perfect would taller would be better for cabinets. i don't plan on making any permanent base cabinets in mine. because sleds have to be able to be parked in tehre for wintertime travel to ny state. E track will be place in certain areas to help hold the larger items while driving. almost everything else will be on shelves, in cabinets or hanging on hooks.