Utility Cycling - How do you lock your trailer?

My wife and I ride a tandem and we have a Wike kid trailer for our 1.5 year old daughter. We would like to do all our grocery shopping by bike, but we're afraid of leaving the trailer out. I use a short U-lock to lock up our bike, (We live close to the university and I have had two bikes stolen in the last two years). The wheels on the trailer are a very easy quick release, i'm not concerned about somebody stealing the wheels because their specialized for the trailer, but I am nervous of running a cable through them to secure because the wheels do come off easily. Maybe just having a cable lock through them will be deterrent enough? How do you lock your trailers?

I have separate chains and locks for my bike and my trailer, and lock them up independently when I park up. However, my trailer is also locked on to my bike with a permanently attached dedicated length of chain and lock when I take it out on utility runs.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Gareth_Lewis/Bicycles%20and%20bits/Garethtempfile265.jpg

My trailer and any of the bikes that are hitched to pull it all have solid axles so I'm never worried about the wheels. When I need to, I lock them together with a combo U-lock facing opposite directions. If anybody wants them badly enough, they can figure out how to heave something that takes up 6 feet square into the back of their truck.

:)ensen.

I been curious about this too, my trailer's hitch is just off the side of the bike. Any suggestions on proper ways to lock the trailer so it doesnt go missing?

I keep a spare 6-foot steel cable with the trailer. I loop it around the trailer's frame, pass it through the rear wheel of the bike, and secure the other end to the bike's U-lock. So far, so good.

I use one of those cables that have the two loops at each end, put it around the trailer frame, then loop through itself and loop the other end through the u-lock that is locking the bike.

I don't lock it. So far, so good, but I know I'm pushing my luck.

I use one of those cables that have the two loops at each end, put it around the trailer frame, then loop through itself and loop the other end through the u-lock that is locking the bike.

this seems like the idea I was thinking of. Just need something simple, thats still easy to carry around.

I just bought one of these lock alarms for my bike of ebay. It saves me having to carry chains n' padlocks around.

http://www.lockalarm.com/Resources/cablelockarrows.jpeg

Lock Alarm Site.
http://www.lockalarm.com/index.html

When I haul my trailer and need it to be locked, I just haul my trailer along side my bike and hook the wire through the wheels.

Regards
Tom

PS... I have this mounted on my front forks.

I just bought one of these lock alarms for my bike of ebay. It saves me having to carry chains n' padlocks around.

http://www.lockalarm.com/Resources/cablelockarrows.jpeg

Lock Alarm Site.
http://www.lockalarm.com/index.html


When I haul my trailer and need it to be locked, I just haul my trailer along side my bike and hook the wire through the wheels.

Regards
Tom

PS... I have this mounted on my front forks.

so wire cut, alarm sounds?

If the wire is cut or the key lock is tampered with ---- The Alarm sounds.

Regards
Tom

I keep a spare 6-foot steel cable with the trailer. I loop it around the trailer's frame, pass it through the rear wheel of the bike, and secure the other end to the bike's U-lock. So far, so good.

Pretty much what I do, but my trailer cable has it's own lock. Since I make a lot of stops, using my Ulock would be inconvenient. This way the trailer can stay locked all day.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/IMG_1805.jpg

Pretty much what I do, but my trailer cable has it's own lock. Since I make a lot of stops, using my Ulock would be inconvenient. This way the trailer can stay locked all day.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/IMG_1805.jpg

I like this. This calls for a trip down to MEC.

I have a Burley Bee, on it I've looped a 6ft cable thru the frame and I leave it and another cable lock coiled around the trailer tongue. When I hook up the bike, I lock it to the seat-stay. The coiling on the cables keeps the chain pulled away from the spokes. I keep those cables with the trailer. When I park, I just cable lock the front of the bike like I normally would. Saves a lot of time.

Neat thread

I work as a courrier, and occationally get large catering orders that I use my burley flatbed for. I keep it locked up alone downtown ulock through frame, cable to wheels. When I'm towing it around, I have a short cable that goes around my chainstay and and the safety strap loop on the trailer tongue. I have a hoseclamp around the pin that holds the tongue into prevent tool free removal, and also on the quick release skewers.