I have found my first trailer and will soon be picking it up. I guess I need to get one of those locks that goes onto the front of the trailer where it hooks to the truck--without one, anybody could just hitch up and drive away with my brand-new trailer. Is there any particular kind that is best? Or are they all pretty much the same?

I've seen the "Trailer Aid" (and similar gadgets) in which you drive the good tire of the trailer on so that you can change a flat? Is this worth having?

I've also seen the gadget which has a long thin pole that attaches to the truck and another for the trailer, supposedly helping you line them up properly if you are hitching up alone. Is this worthwhile? Or do I just need to practice and keep getting out and looking at where the truck is?

Anything else I need? At this point I'm just picking up the empty trailer--I'll worry about horse stuff (feed bags, etc) later.

Thanks!

Howdie

The trailer lock is a really good idea - speak to Dave McAdoo at Tobruk Trailers, ( tobruk farm ) he will be able to offer you the right thing at the right price - and he is a really good guy.

Good luck with your new trailer, hope you have many happy miles with it.

Cheers for now

Several people will tell you that the trailer locks are easy for a thief to remove.Probably,but,we keep one on our trailers anyway.Better to slow someone down than have nothing.Choose one that doesn't use a padlock but is a locking device itself.

The trailer aid will pay for itself several times over,the first time you have a flat,as was said.

I've backed up to a hitch enough now that I can sight a spot on my trucks' tailgate to line up with my trailer hitch.I do have one of the "spotters" that has magnets to put on the hitches,and if I am by myself and in a hurry,it really does help me out.

Have fun with your new trailer!

Trailer Aid/Jiffy Jack...... http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=10289

Trailer Lock, threads and links...... http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/thread-view.asp?threadid=9404

(quote).... I've also seen the gadget which has a long thin pole that attaches to the truck and another for the trailer, supposedly helping you line them up properly if you are hitching up alone. Is this worthwhile? Or do I just need to practice and keep getting out and looking at where the truck is?    Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

Thanks! I had no idea there were so many options on locking up a trailer--rather overwhelming. I should definitely get something, though, because it will probably end up parked at my boarding stable--many people coming and going and no one really knows who owns all the trailers. It would be easy to drive off with one.

It sounds like I should definitely get a Trailer Aid or Jiffy Jack.

I'm not grasping the location of the little mirror thingy on the front of the trailer. Is that on a gooseneck? I'm not seeing how it would work with a bumper pull.

Thanks everyone for your help, and for the links to the Trailer Aid and lock info.

Jennifer

You are correct that is the same type setup, by we had the same one from tractor supply 2 years ago and lost the key, 2 hits with a 5 lbs sledge hammer and it was off!

This other one as long as you use the lock that you can not get to the hasp works great, I bought 2 of them, one to use and one to test and see what breaks it.  So far, hack saw does nothing but mark the metal, bolt cutters don't even scratch the top bar and the 5 lbs sledge make my arm hurt from beating on it!

We have the same brand for our gooseneck as well.

I bought my BP hitch lock from Country Supply. I don't know how safe it was if someone wanted to break it off - but I believe it's enough of a deterant if you trailer is someplace where there is activity around.

The back up thingy. Get the tall thin rod that has magnetic base. You'll figure out the centering thing pretty easily - but I always had trouble with how far back to go!! And to avoid jumping in and out of the truck when no one is there - I use a similar device on my GN. It falls over when the coupler touches it. Saves lots of dents in the bumper and license plate with a BP - and a dented tailgate with the GN.

yes, yes, yes, trailer aid. Again, Country Supply (horse.com) sells them.

You will want to buy the 4-way cross lug wrench. They come in different sizes depending on the size of your lug nuts.

Then, go to HomeDepot or similar store and buy 20" of tube steel pipe that will fit OVER one end of the wrench (I bought 2" inside diameter steel pipe). Have them deburr each end of the steel pipe. This will be your "breaker bar". You fit the 4-way wrench onto your lug nut, then put the breaker bar on the spoke of the wrench where you will pull or push. Be careful - it IS possible to rip the lug nut off - but you will gain much more leverage with the breaker bar.

Some triangle road markers too and a fire extinguisher. A can of WD40. If I have a flat to fix, I spray ALL the lug nuts with the WD40, wait 10-20 minutes, then barely loosen them. Then drive up on the trailer-aid and remove the lug nuts. If you drive up on the trailer-aid first, there is no resistance and the wheel spins when you try to use the wrench. : )

I've seen the "Trailer Aid" (and similar gadgets) in which you drive the good tire of the trailer on so that you can change a flat? Is this worth having?

I don't go anywhere with out our trailer aid and a 4way lug wrench.  Change one tire on a trailer and you'll realize that it was money well spent. 

Last time we went out we couldn't find the wrench to lift the rear jacks on our camper and the 4way had the right size so we could lift the jacks and come home.  After unpacking we found the jack, in the laundry basket?????

 second that!!! Definately worth it's weight in gold if you've ever had this happen,same thing happened to us early summer,Memorial Day weekend,10PM going around interstate at Springfield,MO.

I bought this lock at Tractor Supply:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_140420_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

Is this the one that someone knocked apart easily with a sledge hammer?  I do plan to get a wheel lock, but they are enough $$ that I want to shop around and make sure I get the best deal. I am hoping to get by with the coupler lock for a little while until I get time to really research the wheel locks. It should still be a bit of a deterrent. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!