How to secure my propane tanks?

[rosede]

One of my propane tanks disappeared over the winter and the other one is empty. My guess is someone is borrowing them. They borrowed the first one, drained it and is now working on the seconded on. Hopefully, they'll return the seconded one before camping season. I would rather pay for the refills, than have to buy a new one as well and fill it. A 30 pound tank will cost me over $100 to purchase, initialize and fill.

Anyway, I don't want to make a habit of this, so I would like to secure my tanks. I've been looking at high quality bicycle chain/locks. Kryptonite makes very high quality chains that can't be easily cut without power tools. I can chain the two tanks together, but what will keep someone from unscrewing the top and just taking both tanks?

I'm sure that I'm not the first to have tanks stolen. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[BobLandry]

I've never had a theft on the trailer, but I did have an attempt while overnighting at a truck stop. Fortunately my two Yorkies are light sleepers and they can get very loud when they are wakened abruptly. That buys me enough time for my 1911 to take over.

The reality is that given enough time, a thief can cut through anything. The idea is to make it so inconvenient and time consuming to steal your stuff, that they will move on to an easier target. I think that the majority of thefts are crimes of opportunity and that your average dirtbag isn't walking around with a tool box and a set of bolt cutters.

I chained my tanks together with 1/4" link chain and a heavy padlock. I did the same with my battery.

If you store your trailer in a remote location, this may or may not help much, but I think any defense is better than no defense. Lights that work on motion sensors are cheap. So are audible alarms, even if they aren't monitored.

I feel your pain. I have had vehicles broken into and stuff stolen including GPSs and a tailgate off of a new truck and there are few things that makes you want to hurt someone more than having something stolen or damaged that you have worked for, and my sense of humor about this is less than stellar to begin with.

 

[SAABDOCTOR]

IF YOU can take them with you and keep them at home. but any deterant will help if there are other units that are a better target than yours. hope you get your tank back.

 

[jsmith948]

I feel your pain. I have had vehicles broken into and stuff stolen including GPSs and tailgates and there are few things that makes you want to hurt someone more than having something stolen or damaged that you have worked for, and my sense of humor runs out very quickly.

Bob -

An individual I once worked with told me "Man, It don't matter! If that dude has enough money to own an RV, then you know he has insurance."

Needless to say, I kept my eye on that guy. Sad story - but true.

To the OP - I put padlocks on my hold down straps.

 

[JRTJH]

Part of the "keep it secure" aspect is to make the security measure visible so a thief will keep walking to the next "easy target" When we had travel trailers with open access to the tanks and battery I used a cable lock to secure the two tanks through the holes in the bottom of the tanks with a figure 8 around the trailer tongue. As for the battery, a cable lock around the welded battery tray and around the battery box. It could be pushed to the edge of the box, but it took a lot of time to wiggle it over. I never lost a tank or battery, but I had a padlock through the two screw clamps on my outboard and somebody sawed the swivel handle off one of the clamps and took the outboard. So, no matter how hard you try or how secure you think it is, if a thief is determined........

 

[Florida Gypsy]

I chained mine together as well to try and make it harder to take them. It wouldn't stop a determined thief though.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

I cable mine also with a padlock.

 

[GaryWT]

I am sorry to all who have had things taken, anything missing for me would leave a void. My question, are most of your trailers in storage somewhere or on a seasonal site? Are your units parked in your yard and people are coming onto your property. Just curious as my trailer is just out my back door but I do not have anything locked onto it. Thanks

 

[jsmith948]

I haven't lost anything (knock on wood). Our trailer sits on our property and it is locked, the x-chocks are locked, the propane tanks are locked, and there is a lock on our surge protector and king pin - But, then again, I live in California.

 

[rosede]

My question, are most of your trailers in storage somewhere or on a seasonal site?

I have to store mine in at a storage lot. My neighborhood doesn't allow people to keep their campers at their homes.

I used a cable lock to secure the two tanks through the holes in the bottom of the tanks with a figure 8 around the trailer tongue.

I finally had an opportunity to stop by my camper and I see how this can work. I think that this is what I am going to try. I can purchase a high quality cable work it between the tank handles and the frame and then secure with a high quality lock.

Thank you everyone for the reply's.

 

[Zoso1971]

These are some nice locks, you pull the cable tight then lock so they fit tight to anything.

-Jeff

 

[Number 4]

My two 30-gal tanks walked off while my trailer was sitting on a pad next to my driveway in a residential neighborhood. I cabled and locked the replacement tanks but then an RV tech explained an alternate theft prevention method. Flatten one of the two steel "wings" that are welded to the hold-down nut, then bend it back up at about the halfway point. Drill a hole through the flat part of that wing and a corresponding hole through the U-shaped steel bar with notches that secure the tank flanges. Crank everything down, line up the holes and install a padlock with a long shackle and lock 'em up tight.

 

[Zoso1971]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Jeff

 

[sourdough]

My two 30-gal tanks walked off while my trailer was sitting on a pad next to my driveway in a residential neighborhood. I cabled and locked the replacement tanks but then an RV tech explained an alternate theft prevention method. Flatten one of the two steel "wings" that are welded to the hold-down nut, then bend it back up at about the halfway point. Drill a hole through the flat part of that wing and a corresponding hole through the U-shaped steel bar with notches that secure the tank flanges. Crank everything down, line up the holes and install a padlock with a long shackle and lock 'em up tight.

I did this on mine and I believe others have as well. Don't have to flatten and bend anything. Just drill the hole in the flat portion of the wing and a corresponding hole through the U shaped notched bar. Slide a long shank padlock thru it and you're done. Beats the heck out of the chains and padlocks I was using. Just finished pulling one out to refill and replaced a few minutes ago - SO much easier.

 

[Hodgy]

a picture is worth a thousand words.

- jeff

+1 !


Funny how stuff just sprouts feet and walks away.



.

 

[JRTJH]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Jeff

+1

There are as many ways to complete this mod as their are lock styles and drill sizes, but this is the way it was illustrated in a recent Trailer Life Magazine.

NOTE: A long shank padlock would work just as well as this "cylinder/rod lock".

 

[B-O-B'03]

There are as many ways to complete this mod as their are lock styles and drill sizes, but this is the way it was illustrated in a recent Trailer Life Magazine.

NOTE: A long shank padlock would work just as well as this "cylinder/rod lock".

The problem with this, at least for my setup is the rod is just attached with a nut on the bottom... easily removed.

I guess it might slow them down enough to be noticed, but no guarantees.

Fortunately I have never had anyone mess with my trailer... "this is a neighborhood - This aint no residential district" /Richard Prior

-Brian

 

[rcmike-JAY]

One of my propane tanks disappeared over the winter and the other one is empty. My guess is someone is borrowing them. They borrowed the first one, drained it and is now working on the seconded on. Hopefully, they'll return the seconded one before camping season. I would rather pay for the refills, than have to buy a new one as well and fill it. A 30 pound tank will cost me over $100 to purchase, initialize and fill.

Anyway, I don't want to make a habit of this, so I would like to secure my tanks. I've been looking at high quality bicycle chain/locks. Kryptonite makes very high quality chains that can't be easily cut without power tools. I can chain the two tanks together, but what will keep someone from unscrewing the top and just taking both tanks?

I'm sure that I'm not the first to have tanks stolen. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

It might be a pain for you, but I would suggest just taking them home with you while your rig is in storage. A thief is going to get it if he wants it no matter lock or not.

 

[Alpine-KEY]

Here is my set-up....

 

[chuckster57]

The problem with this, at least for my setup is the rod is just attached with a nut on the bottom... easily removed.

I guess it might slow them down enough to be noticed, but no guarantees.

Fortunately I have never had anyone mess with my trailer... "this is a neighborhood - This aint no residential district" /Richard Prior

-Brian

The rod is threaded into the base on pretty much all the LP trays. Allows for one tray and the choice of rod length for different size cylinders. I would think you could use some thread locker to further slow somebody down.