If you use a padlock to secure your cargo or trailer, please do yourself a favor and avoid Master Lock padlocks.

1) For slightly more money, you can buy a decent lock (say an Abus) that is significantly better.

2) If you have valuable cargo, get something really good like an Assa Abloy, Abus Granit, or Medico.

Because my move across the country will involve towing most of my most important possessions in a uhaul, I started researching a good lock. To my horror, I found out that Master Locks (which I had used for years) were just about worthless.

They can be bumped, raked, shimmed, and otherwise defeated easily.

 

No lock is perfect. You can disable any of the locks you listed just as fast as a Masterlock if you know what you're doing.

 

or steal the truck or trailer

 

Unless you take out a die grinder, the other locks are much harder to get into.

Nobody is picking an Abloy with a zip tie or shimming an Abus Granit.

 

True. But, that is a different problem.

 

No padlock will stop a determined thief. The cheapest lock on the market will stop a ****** and grab and keep an honest man honest.

 

Or use a master key.

 

Bolt cutters will not easily (if ever) defeat good padlocks like these.

Good:

Better:

Although the first lock can be picked, it isn’t easy. The second lock cannot be picked by “common” thieves. All locks will be defeated by die grinders. But, die grinders make a lot of noise and attract attention.

Good locks don’t have to cost a fortune: The ABUS 20/70 KD B Extreme High Security Stainless Steel Diskus costs $30 on Amazon. It is infinitely better than the Master Lock version or the version they will sell you at the Storage Place.

 

The zip-tie rake was a real surprise. I have a bunch of those master padlocks.

 

A cutting torch is much quieter than a die grinder.