Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

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Apr 17, 2007 | 07:47 PM

#21

Guilty

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Salem, OR

RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

You might want to check out LoJack: http://www.lojack.com/
Lojack is available at most HD dealers and will give yousome added security. I wouldn't suggest that you park your bike in the trailer during the cold/wet months of the year because the trailerwill "sweat" inside, causing rust, mold or whatever on your bike and that would suck. During the summer months the inside of closed a trailer gets REALLY HOT...gas expands, etc. If you have a cover, a siren and LoJack on your bike that should be enough...if someone wants your bike, they are going to get it. You might find that putting it in and out of a trailer is a hassle and everyone in the apartment complex will soon know that is where you store your bike and it will still be a target.Since you livein an apartment complex,you shouldseriously consider getting a heated storage unit close by and still have the siren alarm installed and LoJack.

Apr 18, 2007 | 01:45 AM

#22

goodbirds

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Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 2,395

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From: St George, UT

RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

Goodbirds - steel bar with padlock on one end, what secures the other?

A large square that won't pass through the holes in the wheel. Our trailer has small 3" holes that are like "spokes". Bar is steel bar, extremely strong. A torch would cut it though.

Apr 18, 2007 | 02:10 AM

#23

Speedkingnick

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 1,495

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From: Crown Point, IN

RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

Do you live on the ground floor?

Put it in the apartment......

If on upper floors forget about it.

Buy a set of cheap jack stands - jack up the rear axle just high enough so the tire just barely touches the asphalt. Take out the valve stems.

Go to Best Buy and purchase a cheap car alarm with a loud siren. Mount the siren inside the rear door up high and in the corner. Run a couple of wires to a deep cycle battery that is stored in the trailer. This should keep the alarm active for a few months. Buy two batteries and swap them when they need charging. Keep one inside and on charger - other outside. Buy a cheap plastic case to keep the battery in - just in case of spillage. Hook up the unit so that when the door is opened or the trailer is bumped significantly - the alarm goes off. They usually have a good sensor on most alarms that is adjustable.

Apr 18, 2007 | 02:36 AM

#24

wlbowers

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Joined: Dec 2005

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RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

Quote:

ORIGINAL: firefighter3666

I saw several companies selling trailer alarms systems, and asking a lot of money for them. Has anyone put together their own trailer alarm? Thinking a low end car alarm with sensors setup for each door. Maybe an alarm siren inside the trailer to deafen anyone intruders that make it inside? If I use a car battery inside the trailer, would I only have to recharge the battery once a month? Any help here would be great.

You can make an alarm out of Mechanical door switches, motion switch, in case they tilt the trailor, needs to be a mercury type, a key switch, and a 12vdc loud a$$ siren.

[IMG]local://upfiles/6454/97F2B42BF1A947638A1649B8A38375CA.gif[/IMG]

Apr 18, 2007 | 02:53 AM

#25

timdow

Tourer

Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Right of Center

RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

Sell the condo. Buy a house with a garage which will suit your lifestyle better. Just thinking outside the box here.

Apr 18, 2007 | 10:36 AM

#26

firefighter3666

Thread Starter

Road Master

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 770

Likes: 3

From: Maryland

RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

So, I've had a couple votes for the makeshift trailer alarm. Seems like it would be an easy way to give me a heads up in the middle of the night if something happens to the trailer.

guilty - the trailer has a roof vent that will allow for a small amount of ventilation. this is only planned as a riding season storage option. in the off season, I have access to a heated garage. it's just to far away to be practical when it's warm out.

timdow - you must not live in the washington, d.c. area. the housing costs are obscene, single family home with a garage just ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

Apr 18, 2007 | 11:33 AM

#27

flyslow

Road Captain

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 511

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RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

Quote:

ORIGINAL: wlbowers

Quote:

You can make an alarm out of Mechanical door switches, motion switch, in case they tilt the trailor, needs to be a mercury type, a key switch, and a 12vdc loud a$$ siren.

[IMG]local://upfiles/6454/97F2B42BF1A947638A1649B8A38375CA.gif[/IMG]

Be careful using mercury switches. Many municipalities have banned them due to the environmental hazard they pose. There are several other tip type switches that do not use mercury that might be better suited to this application.

Apr 18, 2007 | 12:20 PM

#28

MortgageGuy

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 100

Likes: 1

From:

RE: Apartment/Condo Living - Bike Security

I asked one of the deputies these questions last year as I was looking for a way to "theft proof" my enclosed trailer and anything that might be inside. His response was that tonguelocks don't do much good in our area. He said when thieves spot a trailer they want...they drive up to it with a winch truck type set up......throw a chain around the tongue and/or frame and drag the trailer to another discreet location to actually hook up to it. He said they don't want to spend time unloading it or cutting locks off of it at the location. He said that something that locks the wheels or even fastens the trailer to something unmovable is a better way to go. He said that experienced thieves know better than to spend a lot of time at the location. Just an FYI.