Leaving your baby behind.........

[Willman]

I'm pretty new to the offroad trailer thing........I have alway just gone on trips with just my rig......I have been thinking about this issue for a while......Maybe on a trip you want to take a harder trail than what your trailer can do.....Your options are to leave the trailer behind or not go.....Just wondering what you guys have done in this case.......Many of you have spend $$$$$$ on your trailer.......would like to hear what you have to say.....

What do you guys do to keep your trailer from not getting in the wrong hands????

Here's my pee....brainstorming:
-15' 5/16 chain w/lock
-Make sure trailer has locks everywhere!!!!!
-Leave a person behind to watch???
-Leave your dog behind (Note: Dog hasn't been feed for a week )
-Fill in the blank!!!!!!!!!!

[Martyn]

From reading about your trailer I see you have a multi axis coupler, so that's good.

The pictures you posted earlier looked like the trailer had the original axle and spring set up, with the axle sprung under. What is your ground clearance like in comparison to your tow rig? If you need more clearance consider doing a spring over.

With the multi axis coupler and the ground clearance there should be no problem taking your trailer on any trail your vehicle can go on.

[Willman]

From reading about your trailer I see you have a multi axis coupler, so that's good.

The pictures you posted earlier looked like the trailer had the original axle and spring set up, with the axle sprung under. What is your ground clearance like in comparison to your tow rig? If you need more clearance consider doing a spring over.

With the multi axis coupler and the ground clearance there should be no problem taking your trailer on any trail your vehicle can go on.

Great point Martyn......The hitch is great way to keep people away!

As of now...trailer is sprung under.....Going to do a spring over soon to just get me by than save up the $$$$ for your AT conversion......

From my home state of Washington.....Their is alot of trails that are to tight for a trailer and a rig........

[DesertBound]

No answers here, but I've always been curious about the same thing.

[Grim Reaper]

Unfortunately the trails in the east are seldom long enough where we don't set a base camp.

Wish I had such a problem that the trail is long enough that you will have to camp midway though.

My plan is no tongue to hook up to (removable like the AT).

Lock a receiver pin in the trailer side incase somebody us just creative enough to come up with a lunette. Make them have to cut that off.

I have thought about welding a Eye to the frame so I could thread some chain or cable through the wheel and pad lock it to the frame.

With your military trailer you could figure out a way to lock on the parking brake.

The problem is if they got the uninterrupted time they could over come the security measures. I just plan to make it as much of a pain in the butt as I can.

[pskhaat]

Dude, I thought you were literally going to leave your baby behind in the trailer when I first read your post. I know she's a good little trail baby and good sleeper, but didn't know how the wife would like that.

[Willman]

Dude, I thought you were literally going to leave your baby behind in the trailer when I first read your post. I know she's a good little trail baby and good sleeper, but didn't know how the wife would like that.

Can you say bad father!!!.....One word...dog house!!!

I wouldn't leave my cuttie for anything!!!!!! Shes is a great traveler!!!!

[kcowyo]

You need to develop (a million dollar idea coming here Nic) a quick release wheel, like they have for bicycles.

Leave your trailer, padlock the hitch, pull off a wheel and throw it in the truck. If you come up with a lockable lid too, you're set, no worries.

[Martyn]

Great point Martyn......The hitch is great way to keep people away!

As of now...trailer is sprung under.....Going to do a spring over soon to just get me by than save up the $$$$ for your AT conversion......

From my home state of Washington.....Their is alot of trails that are to tight for a trailer and a rig........

Nic

An interim solution, while your saving up for our conversion, would be to do a spring over with the stock suspension you have. It's not too complicated.

We take our rigs on some very tight trails towing a trailer. The advantages we may have over the military trailers in this regard are that;
AT track closely behind the vehicle
They have responsive maneuverability when reversing
We can manipulate the electric brakes on the trailer separately from the vehicle brakes

This brake action allows us to change the trailers path by either allowing the tires on the trailer to rotate freely or skid.

When you do get around to doing the AT retro fit you may want to consider upgrading to electric brakes at the same time.

[Martinjmpr]

Landmines? Punji Sticks? Burmese Tiger Trap?

I think the obvious questions here are (a) where would the trailer be left and (b) how long would it be left there? I'd say dropping it off on the side of a trail just to get further down the road would probably be OK if you understand that you'll only be leaving it a short time (1 hour or so) and will be coming back to get it. It would have to be a pretty opportunistic thief to come up behind you and try to snatch your trailer in such a short time. Rudimentary security measures (such as chaining it to a tree or removing the hitch) would probably be fine.

Another option might be traveling with the trailer to a "base camp" then dropping the trailer at the base camp while you went off exploring. I've seen people do this before (even done it myself occasionally) with things like tents and coolers, and never had any problems. In fact, I've seen some pretty elaborate campsites with no people or vehicles nearby. However, I'd never leave anything that could be considered a "high value item" at a campsite (electronics, firearms, rescue equipment, etc.) For this a more robust security system might be a good idea, although depending on where you camped you would also have the option of hiding/camouflaging the trailer so it is not apparent to wandering eyes. Like locking your car door, it won't stop a determined thief, but it might help to "keep honest people honest."