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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | My name is Ken Gustafson and my wife and I own Gushill Industries which in turn owns www.trailerlocksonline.com . We design..build... get Patents and sell trailer locks. We do not have all trailer locks in our line up yet....the U.S. Patent Process is very drawn out ...takes time and costs a bunch of money....in like $15,000 per each one. We are waiting on our next Patent for a lock for gooseneck trailer hookups using a 2 5/16" ball. At the present time we have the DaKing lock for king pin setups using gooseneck trailers and all heavy equipment type trailers. Hopefully we can get some feedback within this site on what you think about what we do or do not do yet.We have "Puck Locks" that are secure up to a point and then we have Puck Locks that are extremely secure. Hopefully we can all help each other in slowing down trailer theft. I am not computer sharp but give it my best shot all of the time. Thank you Ken |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Denver Colorado | I asked Ken to come to the forum and get opinions on what horse folk would like to see in a trailer coupler lock. I'll be reviewing them here, but I have my opinions and would like to see what users have in mind. I've seen several types from couplers to jack locks. If manufactures ask the end users what they need, we'll get better products. |
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Expert
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | http://www.trailerlocksonline.com/index.shtml Most folks here probably need something for the 2&5/16", "gooseneck" style hitch....
Edited by retento 2009-05-12 7:08 PM
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | Thank you for the feedback. In searching on trailer theft. No problem on getting the facts in what is reported on trailer theft. Just nothing on what types of trailers or where the trailers are stolen from. No problem in getting the overall $$$$ figures. But how much in Horse...Boat...equipment or anything specific. Ken |
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Expert
Posts: 2953
Location: North Carolina | Hello Ken ... Here's my opinion ... (everyone has them) The problem with every GN trailer hitch lock I'm aware of, is the ease that they can be defeated with a readily available item. In less than a single Minute... I & an accomplice can steal an unattended trailer with a GN lock. (You may PM me for the details. I'd rather not make the crime easy and wide spread over the Internet) I have a solution, but making money from it would be difficult since it's simple to duplicate. |
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | I've gone this route due to the simplicity of defeating a hitch locks... http://www.tirelock.com/product_p/8-00055.htm My backup product that I hide on the farm machinery is... http://gps-snitch.com/
Edited by PaulChristenson 2009-05-13 1:00 AM
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Welcome to the forum Ken. Originally written by hosspuller on 2009-05-12 11:31 PM Hello Ken ... Here's my opinion ... (everyone has them) The problem with every GN trailer hitch lock I'm aware of, is the ease that they can be defeated with a readily available item. In less than a single Minute... I & an accomplice can steal an unattended trailer with a GN lock. I have to agree with hosspuller. I have seen a lot of gooseneck coupler locks out there. None that aren't defeatable. Same with jack locks. Most are cast and can be broken easy enough, but for those that aren't, there is actually a much easier way and they don't have to touch the lock. Or have any tools. I have a couple of friends that sell trailers. Both have had trailers stolen at the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City with coupler locks on the trailers.
Edited by Tresvolte 2009-05-13 7:48 AM
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | I am not very good on computers and I am even less at typing. So if I could coax someone into telling me how to send a private message that would be helpful or send me a private message and I can answer.It is best....in my opinion....to always tell the truth. Very hard for me to say...I am ignorant or stupid or do not know about computers but it is the truth. Ken |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Top left corner right below the buttons for Forums, Albums, Search, etc You should see a line that says Welcome, Ken. There are 0 new messages in your inbox. Click on the word inbox. On the next page is a box labeled ACTIONS. Click on type a new message. That'll get you started. |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Corpus Christi, Texas | Paul... Thank you, thank you!! I've been looking for this exact tire locking system for some time and no one has been able to point me in the right direction... I've even googled it and have not found this exact site... That is EXACTLY what I've been looking for... Leslie |
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | Has anyone used the trailer locks that attach to the wheels?In my weak mind I cannot understand what would stop the trailer from just turning the lock on the wheels into junk by just driving off with the lock on the wheels. May damage the fender some but do not grasp the lock stopping anything with the weight involved. I could use a perspective on how the lock is supposed to work. Ken |
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | Originally written by ken@gushill.com on 2009-05-13 5:25 PM
Has anyone used the trailer locks that attach to the wheels?In my weak mind I cannot understand what would stop the trailer from just turning the lock on the wheels into junk by just driving off with the lock on the wheels. May damage the fender some but do not grasp the lock stopping anything with the weight involved. I could use a perspective on how the lock is supposed to work. Ken These wheel locks are like the classic DENVER BOOT...Tell me that you will not attract attention going down the road with one side of the trailer wheels NOT turning...The lock will roll over until it tangles with the rear wheel and then everything is jammed up...The thief would have trouble trying to drill the lock as the cylinder spins in its engagement hole...and they are extremely tough to pick because they are the same pin locks that the parking bureau uses...
Edited by PaulChristenson 2009-05-13 9:23 PM
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Expert
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Location: North Carolina | Originally written by hosspuller on 2009-05-12 8:31 PM I have a solution, but making money from it would be difficult since it's simple to duplicate. And here is my solution. Everyone is free to use it. Take a 2 5/16 hitch ball. Weld the end of a 24 inch piece of 1 1/2 pipe to the bottom of it. Lock the ball into your hitch using a shrouded padlock. The pipe hanging from your hitch is an obvious sign that you're aware of thieves and their techniques. It is hard to cut since it'll rotate in the hitch. It'll take another pair of hands to hold it for a pipe cutter or saw. If you wanted to get really cute, make the the pipe turn on an internal shaft. A displacement pipe cutter will be frustrated and a saw will be slowed Because of the shroud, bolt cutters and hammers have a difficult time on the lock. Not impossible, but it takes time. Yes... the hitch tube can be removed. Again, time is on your side. Any Time that you delay the thieves in making their getaway makes your trailer too much risk. There are lots of other trailers that're easier pickin's |
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Location: NY | that sound good but would en they just remove the whole couple form the trailer and put on a new on?? |
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Location: North Carolina | Originally written by loveduffy on 2009-05-13 8:42 PM
that sound good but would en they just remove the whole couple form the trailer and put on a new on?? LD ... The whole point is to slow the thieves. Stretch the 60 seconds I spoke of, into minutes. In this case, a trailer not hitched to a vehicle is the target. To remove the coupler, a couple of large screws have to be released. A big wrench or a big guy is required. A couple of minutes is also required to put the new hitch tube into place. Time, Time, Time, ... It is a truth: When seconds count, the police can be on scene in minutes. Therefore, to prevent a sucessful theft, turn the seconds into minutes. |
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | A question I would have.... How many trailer owners adjust these tubes on the gooseneck? We are talking about these 2 screws that allow the tube to move up and down so that the trailer has adjustment to keep level.Personally I have several friends and know of many individuals who have never....not even once...made this adjustment. In this forum I would like to know more about how often this happens... if possible.To those who never make this adjustment...a couple of tack welds would remove the possiblity of the tube being removed or adjusted without prior planning by someone with knowledge and the right tools.Comments please....Ken |
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Expert
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | I've only adjusted them once, that was the day I brought them home. Four different trailers, only pull them with one truck. If I were to trade trucks, they may need a slight adjustment. Got them adjusted so they ride maybe an 1/2 to 1 inch high in the front when loaded. A tack weld would slow them down from swapping hitches, but not from stealing the trailer...... Give me a spare tire and wheel and your gooseneck trailer will be gone before you can find the key to your lock....  |
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Regular
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| I adjust mine often, as I use different trucks. If you have a flatbed truck, compared to a regular bed, there is a big difference. If you use the same truck all the time, it wouldn't matter much. Until you trade in, or have to use a friends truck. |
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | Feedback is important to all that have a gooseneck trailer hitch. I am aware, now, that several issues are going to come into play.It is important that each is addressed...for now....the topic is adjustment height of the actual gooseneck. So far the input is.... 1 no adjustment and 1 many adjustments.Thank you for the help....Ken |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Originally written by hosspuller on 2009-05-13 10:26 PM And here is my solution. Everyone is free to use it. Take a 2 5/16 hitch ball. Weld the end of a 24 inch piece of 1 1/2 pipe to the bottom of it. Lock the ball into your hitch using a shrouded padlock. The pipe hanging from your hitch is an obvious sign that you're aware of thieves and their techniques. It is hard to cut since it'll rotate in the hitch. It'll take another pair of hands to hold it for a pipe cutter or saw. If you wanted to get really cute, make the the pipe turn on an internal shaft. A displacement pipe cutter will be frustrated and a saw will be slowed Because of the shroud, bolt cutters and hammers have a difficult time on the lock. Not impossible, but it takes time. Yes... the hitch tube can be removed. Again, time is on your side. Any Time that you delay the thieves in making their getaway makes your trailer too much risk. There are lots of other trailers that're easier pickin's If you lengthen the pipe, they won't be able to drop the coupler out with out jacking the trailer. That would slow it down enough to make a difference. Best idea I have heard for locking a coupler. Anything you do to slow it down will help, but the only thing that will stop it is the tire locks. With a conventional coupler lock, Retento is right. Without a hitch in your truck, and with a spare tire, you can back under it and take off. They are stealing your trailer and your coupler lock. As far as tacking my adjustment nuts so the coupler cannot be removed, I wouldn't personally. I have 4 trailers and two trucks. I try to use the truck with the same trailers all the time but it doesn't always work that way. Plus I have family that borrow two of them on occasion, and they couplers are getting moved quite a bit. |
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | 2 make adjustments to gooseneck tube often. 1 makes no adjustment to the tube. Thank You.... with all of the members it should be picking up with those who have a gooseneck hitch that uses a trailer ball.It would also be helpful if I knew how many have the gooseneck hitch that have a king pin hitch instead of the Ball. Please....Ken |
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Member
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Location: Jackson,California 95642 | After I have posted.....I come back and it does not read right to me.So I post again. 2 individuals have stated they make adjustments regularly.1 has stated that he made 1 movement when he first bought trailer then no movement.These are for gooseneck trailers and the up and down movement of the actual gooseneck. Ken |
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Expert
Posts: 2953
Location: North Carolina | I only have one tow vehicle. After intial set up, my trailer neck over height is fixed. A couple of years of rust should help against the trailer thieves. Ken... You might get a good idea of the market if you can research the number of tow vehicles a trailer owner has. Multiple tow vehicles mean adjustments to the trailer. A single tow vehicle with the exception of generous trailer owners means few if any adjustments. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | I adjust regularly...Three tow vehicles and multiple trailers...and a 15 in CRESCENT WRENCH... http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/CF_Files/model_detail.cfm?upc... |
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Nice weapon Paul... You keep that down by left side of the drivers seat? I do..... |
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Veteran
Posts: 112
Location: Bow, NH | I've found keeping a 100 pound rotwieler chained to my GN hitch works well for a deterent.... Seriously, has anyone thought of using a hardened pipe (or some such) inserted through the upermost exposed hole in the leg of the jackstand itself and locking it in place? This would prevent the jack leg from being lowered down and the weight of the trailer itself would keep the leg from being removed and bypassed. Along the lines of stealing GN trailers, it amazes me at how many people leave the handles for the jack cranks stowed under the GN area where they are readily available to assist in the theft of the trailer. I keep mine locked in the dressing room or tool box on the truck. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Here is a link to a page, that ... second item from bottom, will add more delays to trailer theft, but still allow you to adjust the coupler when needed. www.burkhaltertrailers.com/security-products.html
Edited by flyinghfarm 2009-05-15 9:10 AM
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Member
Posts: 48
Location: Jackson,California 95642 | Very helpful in knowing about the gooseneck coupler bolt lock.I would like to know more about the pipe....that I think ... goes inside the trailer jack stand...maybe? Ken |
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Member
Posts: 38
Location: michigan | Hello, I read your note blog & would like see your advice about locking the trailer up. At the present time I am just closing the hitch coupler & locking it w/a padalock. I would much rather have something a little more protective. Thanks,Jean |
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I was intrigued by the gps snitch thingy and followed the link ... doesn't it need to be recharged weekly? Isn't that kind of a pain? |
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Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by FrancaV on 2009-08-12 1:11 AM I was intrigued by the gps snitch thingy and followed the link ... doesn't it need to be recharged weekly? Isn't that kind of a pain? They do have a hardwire option to your trailer battery, but that means a thief COULD follow wires and potentially find it... Charging via supplied power adapter, optional vehicle charger, or vehicle hardwiring cable Standby time (ready for action): 7 days Which is a bigger pain? Recharging a battery or replacing a trailer?... |
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| Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2009-08-12 1:30 AM
Which is a bigger pain? Recharging a battery or replacing a trailer?...
Oh, I completely agree! But as with many things (think full computer system backups, for example) the easier it is to implement and maintain, the more likely someone will actually use it properly. I went to an automatic online backup service for my critical computer data just for that reason. Not a perfect solution but I don't have to remember to do it and it sure is more thorough and reliable than what I was doing before. I can see something like battery recharging dropping to the bottom of a person's to-do list and not getting done in a timely fashion. Maybe only for a short while, but that might be exactly when the thing needed to be fully operational. Some folks are really diligent about that sort of thing but, alas, I know I'm not one of them. If my trailer were parked on my own property that would certainly help, but it isn't. If you manage to keep your gps snitch fully charged at all times, that's excellent and I'm very impressed!  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160
Location: Denver Colorado | Some of the new security systems are interesting, my review of Horse Guard, http://mrtrailer.com/horseguard.htm solar powered system with the magnetic sensors on the doors, motion detector that knows with the trailer moves and can be shut off when horses on board. Comes with pager and remotes, if someone breaks in a door or moves the trailer, two sirens go off, the lights flash, the pager tells you of intruder and the trailer brakes lock up. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Originally written by MrTruck on 2009-08-12 6:42 PM Some of the new security systems are interesting, my review of Horse Guard, http://mrtrailer.com/horseguard.htm solar powered system with the magnetic sensors on the doors, motion detector that knows with the trailer moves and can be shut off when horses on board. Comes with pager and remotes, if someone breaks in a door or moves the trailer, two sirens go off, the lights flash, the pager tells you of intruder and the trailer brakes lock up. Now that is what I am talking about!!! Lights flashing, siren going off, brakes locked up, and all run by a solar panel...  |
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Trailer coupler locks
