Anti-Theft Tips: How to Lock Your Bike Trailer to Prevent Theft
Not sure how to lock your bike trailer? Here are some tips to make your bike trailer theft-proof so you can hit the road with confidence!
Helmet? Check.
Water bottle? Check.
Fanny pack? Check.
But before you hop on your bicycle, there's one thing you may have forgotten…
What's your plan for locking up your bike trailer?
Sure, theft isn’t the first thing people think of when taking their bike trailer out in public. Anecdotally, we've seen a huge rise in reports of their Wike bike trailers being stolen, right out of a shed or garden!
The good news is that it's easy to learn how to lock your bike trailer to prevent theft, whether you are at home or out and about.
Here are some tips to make your bike trailer theft-proof so you can hit the road with confidence!
Are Bike Trailers Really a Theft Risk?
It happens. In the decades we've been making bike trailers here at Wike, we've only ever heard of a handful of bike trailer thefts, but the thefts we've had reported are higher than ever these days in 2024.
Cyclists who’ve experienced other forms of theft, like stolen bicycles, wheels, or helmets, typically aren't all that concerned about losing their bike trailer.
There are a few possible reasons for this. First, bike trailers are generally only ever left unattended in safe areas such as parks, grocery stores, libraries, and schools.
Bike trailers are also a bit cumbersome to take off with, and they don't resell for as much money as the bike itself.
But there's no denying that bike trailer theft does occur, and the majority of these incidents happen when the trailer is left unlocked and unattended in a public place.
So, when you're out and about, make sure you lock your bike trailer! A few extra seconds are all it takes, and there are several ways to go about doing it.
5 Ways to Lock Your Bike Trailer to Prevent Theft
Locking your bike trailer isn't as complicated as you might think! Below, we’ll explain 5 quick and easy ways to lock your bike trailer so it won’t get stolen.
1. How to ‘Lock’ a Bike Trailer Without a Lock
Don't want to carry a heavy lock whenever you ride with a bike trailer? Here’s a different way to ‘lock’ your bike trailer when you stop at the grocery store, library, or wherever you need to go.
You can easily secure a bike trailer without a lock just by removing one or both wheels. Afterwards, you have two options: carry the wheels with you or leave them inside the trailer.
Usually, removing one of the trailer wheels is enough to deter someone from taking it. It's pretty hard to move a bike trailer without the wheels on, so you can be confident leaving it behind.
This trick helps prevent theft and eliminates the need to carry a big, bulky bike lock with you wherever you go!
2. How to Lock a Bike Trailer with a U-Lock
Do you want the most security for your bike trailer? If security is your priority, then a U-lock is a must.
There’s no doubt that this style of bike lock is effective at deterring thieves. Its horseshoe shape limits leverage, and its bulky locking mechanism resists hammers and chisels.
You can lock your bike trailer with a U-lock by removing the trailer from your bike and locking it to a stationary, unmovable object like a bike rack. Ideally, the lock should be raised off the ground so that a thief cannot smash it between the ground and a hammer.
U-locks come in different sizes, so pick one that fits around part of your bike trailer frame with as little a gap as possible.
Note that there has to be a convenient gap between the metal frame and body of your bike trailer for this locking method to work. If that doesn't work, try the wheel locking method described in section 4 below.
3. How to Lock a Bike Trailer with a Chain or Cable Lock
Chain and cable locks offer less theft deterrence than U-locks, but they are way more versatile and adaptable. Compared to solid, bulky U-locks, chains and cables are lighter and easier to attach to bike trailers. Cable and chain locks are also less expensive.
You can lock your bike trailer with a chain or cable lock in the same way as a U-lock. Just remove the trailer from your bike and secure it to a stationary, unmovable object like a bike rack. The locking mechanism should be raised off the ground so thieves can't smash them with a hammer.
Note that there has to be a convenient gap between the metal frame and body of your bike trailer for this locking method to work. If that doesn't work, try the wheel locking method described in section 4 below.
4. How to Lock a Bike Trailer By Locking Its Wheels
A simple method of theft prevention is to remove both wheels from the bike trailer and lock them together to a stationary object.
It's pretty hard to move a bike trailer without the wheels on, so you can leave the trailer's body unlocked nearby without having to worry about theft.
This method has one disadvantage: you need to remove the wheels each time you want to lock up and put them back on again when you're done. It's a tad inconvenient. But if there’s no good area to lock the trailer itself, or there’s no spot on the frame that’s lockable, locking the wheels is a very effective alternative.
5. How to Lock a Bike and Bike Trailer Together
A trailer locked through the rear wheel of a bicycle. This is one of the safest ways to ensure your bike and trailer do not get stolen.
To secure both the bike and the trailer at the same time, you can lock the bike trailer frame to your bike frame using a chain or cable lock, then lock your bike to a stationary object as you normally would.
Alternatively, you can lock just the wheels of your bike trailer to your bike as described in section 4 above. How simple is that?
Enjoy a Worry-Free Ride with Your Bike Trailer
Remember: even though bike trailer theft is pretty rare, locking up is the best bet to give you total peace of mind!
We hope that this information helps you feel more comfortable using your bike trailer on a daily basis. Whether you're going to work, the grocery store, or just a neighborhood park, you deserve to bike with confidence!
Our mission is to design bike trailers and cargo bikes that allow people to walk and cycle effortlessly through their everyday needs. For a bike trailer that won't disappoint, browse our full catalogue of high-quality trailers for bikes or contact us if you have any questions!