Is there a product on the market that would help in the recovery of stolen trailers?

I recently had a trailer stolen right off the hitch of my truck and it got me thinking about recovery of stolen trailers.

 

I seem to remember black and decker making something for that

 

I don't know much about the lo-jack, but why wouldn't work on a trailer?

 

Check this DeWalt system out:

http://www.dewalt.com/tools/portable...ts-ds505k.aspx

 

You could make it work, but there might be some small difficulties to overcome.

First, Lo-Jack needs a power supply. That's not a problem, as most trailers have a battery for the emergency brakes. But it may need to be upgraded. Possibly add a second battery? When's the last time you checked the status of your trailer battery?

Second, Lo-Jack is activated by the vehicle moving without the key fob. The only question I would have is what is the range of the key fob? If you have it in the glove box, will it rach the trailer? I don't know. But I suppose you could place in the rear of the bed. Whenever the trailer moves without your truck, the lojack goes off and calls you.

This is starting to sound like a good idea.

 

If my welding trailer is ever recovered I will be installing Lo-Jack using the welders battery to power it.

Had the welder less than 2 weeks and was in the process of building a carport when someone stole it.

 

In the original concept of LoJack the unit was activated when the police took the report of the loss and entered the info into the NCIC computer for nationwide posting. Through the NCIC computer system, if the vehicle had LoJack, the unit was activated remotely and began to send out its signal. Now the system was dependent on local PD's having LoJack receivers in the patrol vehicle. If the PD picked up the signal a number was displayed ( 5 or 6 digits if I remember ). The officer receiving the # would notify his HQ and they would enter the number into the NCIC computer. The information for the stolen vehicle was obtained so that the officer could begin to look. At the same time the LoJack would further activate it's signal to increase it's frequency to assist in it's location finding. The PD's receiver had a round display and a blip would show the officer the direction from which the signal was originating and through deduction he would try to locate the vehicle.

This was LoJack in its elemental form. How it may have evolved is beyond my scope. Since I'm retired and out of touch. Just thought I'd pass this along for reference. How it was powered and installed is also beyond me.
It's anybody's guess how things have progressed with GPS and stuff like On-Star and whatever else is out there. The sky's the limit I suppose.

Good luck with your inquiry.

" Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the rest "
Winston Churchill, 1947

 

How it may have evolved is beyond my scope

Have read that it triggers an alarm at US border crossings, but it is ignored and vehicle travels, unmolested, South of the Border . . . Houston PD found tens of thousands of vehicles stolen from Houston in Mexico/Central America after database acquisitions were made.

So far as I can, a pair of "Denver Boots" may be the only realistic solution, at present. Maybe on ALL tire/wheels. Even with a gas axe and spare tires/wheels it ought to take a good amount of time for a team of thieves to haul it away.

Anyone?

 

Where did you come up with that key fob story ? I've never heard that . Can you provide a link ? It sure doesn't apply to these reports .
http://www.lojack.com/recoverystorie...h=construction

 

I got that story from the fob on my key chain.

 

I always liked the idea of a good friend with a rifle and a ghillie suit hiding in the bushes keeping an eye on things.

 

The best part of my trailer being stolen was two neighbors watch the guy hook it up and take off.

 

I recommend one of these, then get a Go-Phone/Trac Phone for the sim. Super cheap monitoring, just call and it reports back as a text the location.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Real-Time-GSM-GP...item2c546b9865

That or http://www.rmtracking.com "Smart Tracker" my 2nd choice. $175ish gets a complete setup, no fees until activated.

 

Thanks. Bookmarked.

 

That must be something new because not all lo-jacks work that way . When I lived near Atlanta I read of a guy reporting his Mercedes stolen . He bought it used and didn't know the original owner had installed lo-jack . When the police ran the VIN they got the lo-jack info and activated it . They found the car in a barn on property owned by the owner .
The fob does not activate the lo-jack so don't count on it doing that . It only notifies you the vehicle has moved away from the fob . You still have to notify the police to activate it .
http://hubpages.com/hub/LoJack-What-...-car-is-stolen