When you have a trailer or several trailers, protecting your investment becomes highly important. However, many of the locks on the market won’t protect your trailer from a determined thief. That’s why we’ve decided to take a closer look and help you find the best thief-proof trailer lock.
Key Takeaways
- There are four different types of trailer locks that help to protect your trailer from different things.
- Wheel locks prevent people from moving your trailer without the key.
- Coupler locks and tongue latch locks prevent people from uncoupling the trailer from the tow vehicle.
- Hitch locks prevent people from attaching the trailer to a tow vehicle.
- It’s best to use a combination of different lock types to protect your trailer.
Types of Trailer Locks
There are many different types of trailer locks, each of which serves a unique and essential purpose. Below, we’ll briefly discuss the different types of trailer locks and what they’re used for before moving on to discussing the best type of lock in each category.
Coupler Locks
As the name suggests, a coupler lock locks the coupling in place. It does this by securing the hitch of the trailer to the tow vehicle to prevent people from detaching it without authorization.
Typically, these locks use some kind of locking mechanism to prevent release of the coupler. This may take the form of a key or combination lock.
There are two main types of coupler locks. Manual coupler locks must be locked and unlocked manually using a key or combination. Automatic coupler locks lock automatically as soon as you connect the trailer. However, they require manual unlocking with a key or combination code.
Hitch Locks
Hitch locks lock the hitch ball to the trailer frame and ensure that no-one can attach your trailer to a tow vehicle without authorization. As with coupler locks, their locking mechanism usually requires either a key or a combination code to unlock.
You may encounter two different kinds of hitch locks. Standard hitch locks work as mentioned above, locking the hitch ball to the trailer. Locking hitch receivers have an in-built mechanism that prevents anybody from inserting the hitch ball.
Tongue Latch Locks
A tongue latch lock has a different design that secures the trailer’s tongue to the trailer’s frame. As a result, no-one can detach the trailer without the key or combination used by the locking mechanism to prevent the tongue latch from being released.
There are both manual and automated versions of this type of lock. Standard tongue latch locks use a simple locking mechanism to secure the tongue latch to the trailer frame. Locking tongue latches are automated thanks to a built-in locking mechanism that prevents the tongue latch from being released.
Wheel Locks
Wheel locks secure the trailer’s wheels directly to prevent people from moving the trailer without the locking mechanism’s key or combination. When a wheel lock is in place, it entirely prevents the wheels from turning, effectively loving the trailer into position.
Pro tip: To keep your trailer as secure as possible, try combining several different types of locks. For instance, by combining wheel locks, tongue locks, and coupler locks, you make it much harder for a thief to move your trailer or attach it to a tow vehicle.
The Best Trailer Coupler Lock – AMPLock U-BRP2 | Heavy Duty Trailer Lock
The AMPLock U-BRP2 is a stellar lock fortified with high-grade materials, commonly referred to as the strongest lock for trailers, RVs, and boat trailers. Weighing 10 pounds, this lock controls and identifies keys for ultimate security,
Thanks to the AMPLOCK push and lock system, this lock is easy to use, while being perfectly molded to fit the unique shape of 2-inch couplers with straight lips.
While the lock is designed for exclusive use with 2-inch couplers that have flat lips, it’s fairly versatile, fitting straight tongue, A-frame, and adjustable trailer couplers.
The patented lock mechanism is secured with dual-key technology that features two keys and a unique security code (featuring millions of possible combinations).
Made in North America from stainless steel and ductile cast iron, it offers superior shock absorption and excellent resistance. Thanks to its superior rust resistance, it also performs reliably in all climates.
The Best Trailer Wheel Lock – Trimax TCL65 Wheel Chock Lock
The Trimax TCL65 Wheel Chock Lock is an excellent dual function system, acting both as a chock to prevent rolling and as a theft-deterrent. It’s versatile, fitting any wheel size, and is easy to attach and remove from the wheel (when you have the key).
The 2-key locking mechanism is both high-strength and pick-resistant and made of high-gauge powder-coated steel to improve durability and weather resistance.
Its arms are rubber-coated, protecting the wheel finish from scratches and keeping your trailer safe. The bright yellow coloration also acts as a visual theft deterrent.
The Best Tongue Latch Lock – METOWARE Trailer Tongue Lock
When combined with a coupler lock (these two designs are often sold as a unit), the tongue lock is highly effective. The METOWARE Trailer Tongue Lock is made of heavy-duty steel and coated with electrophoretic paint to ensure that it remains durable and protected from rust.
The lock has a ¼-inch diameter and an effective length of ¾-inch, making it ideal for a range of trailers.
This is a great budget option for protecting your trailer, but still offers excellent convenience, thanks to its compact size and screw-type locking action.
This padlock design has a single-key locking mechanism with a zinc alloy tubular lock core for improved security.
The Best Hitch Lock – PACLOCK’s TL80S-125 Trailer Hitch Lock
The PACLOCK TL80S-125 Trailer Hitch Lock is an excellent weather-resistant way to keep your trailer’s hitch locked in place. Made in the USA, these locks consist of either a stainless steel pin and body or an aluminum body with a stainless steel pin, depending on which lock you choose.
It has a solid ½-inch pin made of 304 stainless steel, which makes it harder to saw through. The lock fits 1-¼ ” trailer receivers. The locking mechanism uses a key lock featuring a high-security 6-pin cylinder with over 2,800 key changes. You also get the option to choose your own key number (also known as U-Pick!) so that you can use the same keying for multiple locks.
In addition to these things, the lock is also fitted with a PAC-BAND cylinder protector to protect the interior workings from dirt and debris, as well as a cotter pin for additional visual security
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is a wide range of highly efficient locks that can help keep your trailer safe. When you use a combination of lock types, you can provide a fair degree of security for your trailer without paying a small fortune.
