Folks,
What do you find works for trailer alarm systems?
Our Habitat tool trailer has been broken and entered three times, which makes it hard to keep good power tools around. They don’t seem interested in our hammer collection. Currently there are three locks on the double doors – and they did the hinges.
There is now a sortof car alarm with a vibration sensor and such. We find that we can violently rock the trailer without tripping the alarm, but the passage of a freight train does the job. Neighbors are not amused. Good tools are in an aluminum chest. Need to get a real steel job box. I could cut the three lock tabs on this box in 60 seconds with a 4.5 grinder and cutoff wheel.
Under consideration: steel job box, folding steel security gate just inside the double doors, simple alarm that sounds when the door are opened (no delay) unless disarmed by ????? elsewhere on the trailer exterior.
The ToolBear
“Never met a man who couldn’t teach me something.” Anon.
Replies
Dieselpig installed an alarm on his trailer if I recall correctly.
Hopefully he'll pop in.
I attended a Habitat building science workshop in Colorado. We needed a new tool trailer for our chapter in Wyoming so I asked everyone what they were using. Surprisingly, the small shipping containers that are around 20' long (?) are being used quite effectively. They are probably more secure than most construction trailers and some chapters had shipping companies that would move them for free.
I just noticed that Dewalt has a jobsite alarm for just what you are talking about. I haven't heard any prices but it would be interesting to find out. http://www.dewalt.com/usX/security/
the shipping containers are HARD to enter if you don't have a key... I don't know what kinda steel they are but even with a torch it doesn't cut like mild steel... I have 2 40' i purchased for $750 ea cost $200 to have em moved but the 2oft ones can be moved on a good size rollback for $100
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See our recent post about our tools stolen....
My question is, when the site is in the country and cell service is limited....Plus it may take the cops 10 mins to get there.
I'd say make the alarm silent....then let the cops catch them.
Or mayby wire it to a claymore mine and blow the bastards up!
Steel TCUs are great. Experience shows - avoid the alum. models if possible. Our is a 12' custom done by the highschool shop class. In retrospect, we should have considered getting a TCU and having them do the trailer for it. Last job had a pair of appx 8x8 rental containers for records. Something about the office ceiling being framed with 2x4s (12 OC) and literal tons of paper records over head. Plus termites. Five file cabinets full plus we loaded five shelf units full.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
TCU's?
TCUs? Trade term - like fascia. TCU = Twenty Foot Container Unit
FCU = Forty Foot Container UnitThe ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I had the "Trailer Dog" alarm system installed in mine Bear. I've been fairly pleased with it. Really pleased actually.
The rear barn doors and the side door have sensor that set it off if opened. It also has the vibration sensing mechanism. If I lower it down onto the ball of the truck without disarming the alarm, it goes off. Moderate shaking will set it off too. I can't tell you whether or not a passing train would trip it though, because I've never been in that situation.
The feature I really like is that if someone tries to drive off with it, not only does the alarm trip, but the trailer's brakes lock up as well. The system runs off a 12V battery that stays charged via a small solar panel mounted to the top of the trailer. It's very important that the solar panel remain clear of snow and leaves and whatnot because if the battery gets the chance to drain down the system needs to be reprogrammed. From experience :( it takes about 48 hours to drain the battery with a blocked panel.
To be honest, I believe the flashing LED lights on the outside are the best deterrent of the whole system.
I bought my system in March and it was a very new product. By now, they (Trailer Dog) are supposed to have the GPS integration ready for market. I need to look into that. With the GPS system you can arm and disarm the trailer from a cellphone or your computer. You can also track your trailer should it somehow become mobil. If the alarm trips it's supposed to ring your cell phone and then you can go online and find out what tripped it (door, window or motion) and figure out it's current state.
I believe the GPS system added another $1G to the cost of the system... not cheap. I think you also have to pay a monthly fee as well. FWIW, the package I have ran about $900 installed, IIRC.
Google Trailer Dog for more information.
Sorry to hear of your misfortune.
If it tells you what tripped then you would need a cell backup for it I would think. All in all it's got to be worth it.
Hold my beer, and watch this!
http://www.hay98.com/
Yeah.. it's pretty good piece of mind for a grand. I mean, if someone walks off with the compressor, that's 1000 bones right there. Table saw, another 5, SCMS, another 5. It adds up quick.
In all honesty... there's only been 3 jobs that I've felt comfortable leaving it on since March. One was in a really tight neighborhood in a community with a ton of dough and nosy neighbors who I made friends with. The other two were addition frames I did where they let me park it in the back yard and were occupying the house during the work.
New construction is tough to leave tools on. I think remodeling and additions would lend to a bit safer environment.
I'm so untrusting I'd haul it home every night no matter the hassle.
Hold my beer, and watch this!
http://www.hay98.com/
Edited 8/21/2005 1:40 pm ET by Gunner
Do that - and get the alarm. My van, loaded for a job the next day was emptied of most of the good stuff while parked under a streetlight about 75' from my bedroom. I would suspect a trailer has at least $10,000 or more on board. The media for my 4.5 grinder cost more than the tool. I was out +2,000 and my bags and saws, etc.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Tnx for the tip. I am off to google trailer dog. Also considering folding steel security grates. Get the back doors open and this thing is there, plus now the alarm is really annoying the neighbors.Will ask if they have a ball lock - or can you just drive the whole thing off and loot at leisure?The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I don't know if anything works, if the bad guys want it they will find a way to get it. I try to make it hard for them though. In my work trailer I bolted a jobBox to the floor, it will hold most of the small tools air guns, skillsaw, cordless drill, cords, 4' level ect. I can then put the chop saw on that and chain it to the box.
In reality I pack all my tools in, work a good 8-12 hours then pack about 80% of it out. Some jobs I can secure and I will leave some tools but I hide them around the house. So I still end up packing stuff around so it's not out in plain site. I figure if I do that I might as well pack it in the truck.
It is just too much of a pain to get ripped off, my buddy had his 8x16' trailer broke into twice took all the easy to carry stuff air guns, cordless ect.
Hear you.I don't load for the next day anymore. I get out there at 0400 and load up the stuff for that day. Leave the top deck of the van bare and dull for those who check it out by night - and they do.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.