I'm taking my car on a trailer to Chevellabration. I can disable my tow vehicle and the Chevelle itself. Short of sleeping in the truck w/ the trailer hooked to it how can I insure they don't take the whole car and trailer or roll the car off the trailer? I will put the ramps in the hotel though. I have a Master-Lock "condom" on the trailer hitch itself but I feel a major hit w/ a sledgehammer may knock it loose. I can lock the ball to the truck but as far as I know there is nothing to prevent them from unscrewing the ball and screwing into the theifs hitch. Any ideas? I really dont want to sleep in the truck...

I don't care if you lock it up in Ft. Knox, if they want it bad enough, they're going to get it. But the more difficult you make it for someone to take it, the lower the chances of it being taken.
1. Get a long length of heavy chain, maybe 2, and chain it to a nearby pole, tree, whatever.
2. Chain, and lock the car to the trailer.
3. If your trailer wheels have large openings in them, run a chain through 2 or more.
4. Remove some or all of your trailer wheels.
5. If your trailer has brakes, can you lock the brakes on?
6. Some years ago, I saw a motion detector sender, to go in a car, that sent a signal to a beeper that you carry.
7. Leave the ramps outside and put the trailer/car in the room.
8. Post a family member every 2hrs to guard the trailer.

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Tom Parsons

Last summer I was as anxious as you are about my trip to Chevell-abration. I did a few things:
1. Locked the ramps on the trailer.
2. Locked the trailer's safety chain to the truck.
3. Locked one of the tie-down chains (trailer to car).

After I got there, I was worried about leaving the trailer in the park unattended. I've got a nice Ramsey winch w/battery on the front.

If you stay in one of the area hotels, there will be so many enthusiasts out in the parking lot at night that you won't have any trouble.

We had a very enjoyable time. Nobody touched anything that they shouldn't.

Sleep in the car with Mr. Smith&Wesson, Mr. Colt and Mr. Buretta. Works every time. Just kidding!

After years of towing the race car around the country and talking to people that had cars and trailers ripped off, like the man said if they want it they will get it.

But having said that, park in a well lighted area, do all the good things suggested here, I like the chain deal, and hope thay pass you by.

Most thieves are like rats, they like to sneak around in the dark and they like the easy mark. If you make it hard for them and put them in the light, most will pass you by in favor of an easier target.

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Wally
Gold #67
67 Malibu "Small Block"
90 SS454
71 Malibu "Small Block"
93 torch red vette

I don't blame anyone for doing whatever it takes to assure the security of their car. In the past, everything from just a parked car up to a new crew cab dualie with an enclosed trailer containing a priceless restoration have been stolen in the blink of an eye (and not just Chevelles). If your car is on a trailer behind a tow vehicle, lock, chain, bolt and weld the trailer and tow vehicle together and then totally disable the tow vehicle (remove the tow vehicle engine and take it to your room).

I have yet to see it happen, and I want to be the one to do it (because I will send a message), but if a thief ever gets caught, DO NOT call the police. I am as serious as a heart attack, beat the guy within an inch of his live and break some bones, particulary hand bones. I promise you that if a person is beaten badly enough, they won't be repeat offenders. Sometimes to make a believer out of someone, you have to go beyond cruel and unusual punishment. I personally have no problem with putting someone in a near death condition who would steal another person's blood, sweat and tears. Stealing a new Mercedes that someone went out and bought is one thing (don't misunderstand me, they get beat also), but to take away something that a person has put part of his or her life into is lower than dirt and the thief should have something taken away from him (his ability to be able to move his hands or feet).

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Tom Parsons

[This message has been edited by DZAUTO (edited 12-06-99).]

DZ i believe as you did and wish that others did because if you call the cops they will just stick him in jail for a few days and he will do it again but if you do beat him and don't call the cops he atleast is getting waht he deserves

I spent a few years working in Saudi Arabia for a major oil company. Within a few blocks of my office there were weekly public beheadings for various crimes. The criminal was then buried in 2 graves in the desert. Thieves normally only lost a hand to the executioner's sword. Punishment was typicaly carried out within weeks or days of the offense. Not muh of a chance for a repeat offender.

YOU GUYS ARE MEAN. Heres what I use on my boat trailer a ball the same size as the coupler welded to a round plate about 8" this stops them from undoing the nut under the coupler and a good quality padlock on the latch.When I am still coupled to the truck the padlock on the latch and another through the nut on the ball,one in the pin on the receiver.Also weld the coupler to the trailer not bolted.And did I mention the .45 OH that was another post.Sorry got carried away...FRED

Try this on for size;

Hook up a simple alarm siren in the truck that goes off if the lead wire is disconnected from ground.

Run the end of the lead wire to the trailer and ground it out there. Make the wire look like it's just another wire that works the lights. You could even have an easy disconnect for the wire.

If the wire is cut, the alarm goes off.

If the trailer is removed from the truck, the common ground is broken and the alarm goes off.


Should be easy!

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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference section
Gold Member #5

Yes Fred, we're mean! And if I EVER catch someone attempting to steel something I have put a lot of work into, only GOD can help them. I WILL NOT beat them about the head because I will want them to be alert enough to know what and why it happened. When I'm through they probably won't be able to walk or pick up a phone to call for help.

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Tom Parsons

I'm sorry that this came up twice. Pacific Bell Internet is acting wierd!


[This message has been edited by Wes V (edited 12-08-99).]

Tom, you are a man after my own heart! I kind of like the public hand removal deal as well.

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Wally
Gold #67
67 Malibu "Small Block"
90 SS454
71 Malibu "Small Block"
93 torch red vette

Wally,
This is not just rumor. They really do get serious about dismemberment, even today, in some parts of the Middle East. You just don't ever hear about it anymore. Which reminds me, somewhere here in the US just in the past 2-3yrs, a prisoner(s) was executed by firing squad or hanging or both. Remember?

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Tom Parsons

Folks...just move to or travel in states that allow you to use deadly force to protect your property...

But seriously, criminals exist for one purpose, to victimize others... they start very young, and learn at an early age that the can get away with near anything. The worst offenders in the auto-theft area are juvees, who do this as if they have diplomatic immunity because they're underage...

We need to attack this problem seriously by getting into and changings these kid's attitudes on life. Responsibility, Punishment, and Education my friends...When their family doesn't provide the discipline they need, we need to get them out of those homes and into a boot-camp, but carring institution to give them guidance.

If you don't reach 'em by 13...they're probably going to be career criminals, living off you and me while in prison, or victimizing us when they're out...

Beating and dismembering may make us feel better, and may prevent an individual from committing the same crime on you again, but it won't stop the long line of kids training to do the same thing...

<SOAP BOX EJECTION HANDLE PULLED>

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68 El Camino...Slow, Much Work Required
98 Z28...Fast, No Work Required
Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX -- Where? That's what I said..

DJ,
I'm not disputing your suggested approach, but I remember when I was in that age group you speak of. If, for example I was at a friends house or somewhere else, and saw a person get into trouble (such as a spanking) for doing something, I knew right then that I didn't want to do what the other person did to get into trouble. For me, just observing or being aware of others getting into trouble was a deterent. And it still is. I'm scared to cheat on my income tax. My point is, these thieves, regardless of age, know it is wrong to commit crimes, but they do it because the deterent is not strong enough. Watch your buddy get beat up so bad that he can't walk normal or use his right hand for the rest of his life, and then see if that doesn't have an effect on you.
In high school, one of my very best friends was killed on a motorcycle. After the reality of his funeral, I have never wanted to ride a motorcycle. And I prohibit my kids from having one.
And finally, my Dad didn't bust my butt enough. If he did, I would be a better person today.

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Tom Parsons

[This message has been edited by DZAUTO (edited 12-08-99).]

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How 'bout a gitt'n a BIG 'OLE Mean Pit-Bull an tie-n 'em up to-da hitch. Wont nobody come close to yer 'holler
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Lowered '67 Elcamino
ZZ430 eng / 4L60 trans
"Canyon Carver"

1 keyless light switch
1 60 watt light bulb
a few feet of wire
1 6` copper ground rod
access to 120vac
wire hot side through light bulb to trailor
garunteed to stop theives..........

If they want it bad enough, they will get it.There was a run of cars getting stolen here in the county about 20 years ago.A guy I know had bought a ' 69 Roadrunner new, and was worried about it getting stolen.He bought a huge logging chain, and wrapped it around the rear of the car, and chained it to his front porch.2 nights after doing it, they paid him a visit, and left him a note on the steering wheel, and the log chain rolled up on the porch.His car wasn't touched.
There is a town down the road herethat passed a city ordinance, all homeowners have to own a gun.Know what their crime rate is? 0 % Make them think , and they won't mess with it.I'm with Tom, give them a good old beating, and they WILL think before doing it again.

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1972 Malibu (1 st. car) Project waiting to happen
Team Chevelle # 427
A.C.E.S. # 1282

DZAUTO,

What separates your experience from these kids is that you had a father or someone around (1) and they cared enough about you to teach a little right from wrong (2). Thank God and them for that.

A lot of the kids I was speaking of have no one who cares (especially fathers) and by the time they're teenagers they have no fear of punishment. They've already committed numerous crimes and may have even been caught, but nothing was really done to them punishment-wise because they were "underage." Further, unlike the fear you have of the IRS and what you could lose if you cheated, theses kids have nothing to fear, because thay have nothing to lose. As for your friend's death, and fear via knowing a beaten down person...A lot of these kids turn to gangs for "belonging" and they have seen first-hand their friends get shot, stabbed, raped, mutilated, and tortured, but it doesn't make them leave the gang, if anything these experiences draw them further in and makes them more violent.

You can't prevent crime with more jails, harsher punishments, rehab, guns, or more police...The only way you can prevent crime is to prevent criminals from being created in the first place...Ask any third grade teacher which of his/her students are going to be trouble as an adult and they can pick them out in a second w/ perfect accuracy...That's when we've got to get ahold of these kids and change their lives...time, effort, love and money spent on these kids starting at 5-6 yrs old until their mid-teens would seem liberal socialism, but what is it when we end up paying later as crime victims and for their imprisonment from age 20-60?

Our unwillingness to pay for or support real child development/protection has us paying higher taxes to support over-burdened courts, jails, and all types of insurance. If we made a committment now, to shoulder the extra burden and smother the child poverty, neglect and abuse that goes on in this society, our own children could grow up in a country that no longer has the world's greatest percentage of residents behind bars. They won't have to lose sleep wondering if their person or property is safe from criminals.

Our parents/grandparents made huge personal sacrifices to fight and win WWII. What are we doing for our kids/grandkids?

<SOAP BOX EJECT - AGAIN>

[This message has been edited by DJRisberg (edited 12-08-99).]