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JoeyM
JoeyM UltimaDork
10/1/12 8:16 p.m.

I'm thinking of buying an enclosed trailer.

Vanity: If I do, I'd be tempted to have some vinyl decal stuff done on it. (Something about datsuns, autocross, checkered flags, etc.) Of course, that increases the chance someone will break into the trailer.

Humility: Another option is to leave the exterior plain, white and unadorned. There are much better drivers than me who don't feel the need to have their trailer yell "because race car." Undecorated trailers are less likely to attract attention, and (hopefully) less likely to be broken in to.

Subterfuge: I could dissuade thieves and the curious by using misleading vinyl lettering. I imagine, for example, that few people would break into a trailer lettered up as "Joe's Septic Service."

So what is the opinion of the GRM hive mind. (How) Would you decorate a trailer?
Vanity, Humility or Subterfuge

carguy123
carguy123 PowerDork
10/1/12 8:23 p.m.

Try putting a car brand that no one wants. I have an idea of a few, but I'll leave that up to the collective.

That's kinda like Joe's Septic, but Joes might have copper or other fittings that someone would want.

Brett_Murphy
Brett_Murphy GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
10/1/12 8:30 p.m.

Joe's Old Time Bible Revival

Joe's Grave Relocation and Archaeology Services

Peerless Crime Scene Cleaning (hint: put Biohazard stickers everywhere)

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/1/12 8:44 p.m.

"yugo racing"?

logdog
logdog GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/1/12 8:47 p.m.

I think the answer is to go with a 70s van mural. Maybe something with a viking and a half nekid chick holding a sword.

Racer1ab
Racer1ab HalfDork
10/1/12 8:51 p.m.

Daewoo Racing. "We put the "woo" in Daewoo.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/1/12 8:51 p.m.

I left mine blank. It looks like every other landscaping/utility/whatever trailer out there. The fact that it's small for a car trailer (16x7) makes it even less likely to contain a car.

I'm digging the van mural idea though.

yamaha
yamaha Dork
10/1/12 8:51 p.m.

Harley davidson decals? Nobody in their right mind would want to steal that.

Blank attracts attention as well.....my neighbor had his f450 and 28ft enclosed stolen in Colorado with his 2 bmw enduro bikes and new mini in it......

My vote would be to put something unrelated or funny on it

friedgreencorrado
friedgreencorrado PowerDork
10/1/12 8:54 p.m.

I never had an enclosed trailer. But my experiences with the open one (multiple "family guys" holding station on my rear quarter for more than a mile so that he could say "LOOK AT THE RACE CAR!!!" to his kids overandoverandover) leads me to think that if I'd ever managed to move up to an enclosed..

...I'd disguise it as a horse trailer to keep the dumb bastards off my ass. A trailer spends much more time on the road than it does in the paddock.

logdog
logdog GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/1/12 8:54 p.m.

"This is not the trailer you are looking for" under a mural of Obi Wan?

JoeyM
JoeyM UltimaDork
10/1/12 8:57 p.m.

I don't know if this changes things, but I would normally be keeping it behind the house, inside a chain link fence. When I finally scrap the datsun donor, I could probably put it inside my covered carport

There's obviously a chance that it could get broken into in the yard, but I'm more concerned with it happening at events. I supposed the concern says to not make it look racey.....but I'd love to have pennyanteracing.com on the side

friedgreencorrado
friedgreencorrado PowerDork
10/1/12 8:58 p.m.
logdog wrote: I think the answer is to go with a 70s van mural. Maybe something with a viking and a half nekid chick holding a sword.

These days, someone will think it's a DJ..with big electronic somethings worth stealing inside.

That being said, if all thieves vanished tomorrow, I'd so paint up one that way.

carguy123
carguy123 PowerDork
10/1/12 9:00 p.m.

One good thing about a plain white trailer is that if I were to steal it I wouldn't have to worry about anyone recognizing it.

81cpcamaro
81cpcamaro Reader
10/1/12 9:07 p.m.

I would go plain, which is odd since my trailer is wrapped (by the previous owner, motorcycles on it). Plain trailers draw less attention, especially from the DOT. Any logos on it and the DOT could say you are commercial which would cause a bunch of headaches. I didn't have any troubles with mine going to Solo Nationals, so they may not bother you. Just make sure "Not for Hire" is on both sides and you should be okay.

For security, they say to put the trailer VIN on the roof in big letters so it can be seen from the air. Not sure if that would work or not.

Edit: here is my trailer in this thread, logos are painted over now: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/trailer-living-quarters-grassroots-style/46862/page1/

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/1/12 9:10 p.m.

I know a guy--someone who's fairly important in our motorsports world--who labeled his enclosed trailer with something along the lines of animal carcass removal service.

Ranger50
Ranger50 UltraDork
10/1/12 9:10 p.m.

Solid color for me... berkeley those overbearing fat pigs rolling as DOT cops wanting to berkeley the poor man over some decals /signs/murals on the side of an enclosed trailer.

fasted58
fasted58 UltraDork
10/1/12 9:13 p.m.

Disguise it as a FEMA trailer and given the reputation of those, people will prolly run away from it.

JoeyM
JoeyM UltimaDork
10/1/12 9:24 p.m.
mad_machine wrote: "yugo racing"?

Pontiac Aztek Racing.

JThw8
JThw8 UberDork
10/1/12 9:28 p.m.

Anything with racing = target

Anything with lawncare = target

dead animal removal seems like a good bet.

z31maniac
z31maniac PowerDork
10/1/12 9:29 p.m.

I wouldn't put a business name on it. Business implies tools, tools are easier to move than a race car.

I'd go with plain.

Trans_Maro
Trans_Maro SuperDork
10/1/12 9:33 p.m.

We use a mini-freightliner and an enclosed trailer to haul customer cars at work.

They're both white with no decals at all.

"what's in the trailer" is usually met with a "Just a ratty old Mustang".

The folks that own the cars we work on appreciate a little discretion. Helps with the security too.

Shawn

Appleseed
Appleseed PowerDork
10/1/12 11:11 p.m.

"Grandmother-WHAT WAS IT LIIIIIIKKKKEEE!"

codrus
codrus GRM+ Memberand Reader
10/2/12 1:12 a.m.

Depending on state laws, putting a business name on it might also raise questions at weigh stations about whether or not it's a commercial vehicle.

JoeyM
JoeyM UltimaDork
10/2/12 5:06 a.m.
JoeyM wrote: I imagine, for example, that few people would break into a trailer lettered up as "Joe's Septic Service."
carguy123 wrote: That's kinda like Joe's Septic, but Joes might have copper or other fittings that someone would want.

OK, then. "Joe's Super Smelly Septic Service - cheap plastic parts, covered in putrescine"

JoeyM
JoeyM UltimaDork
10/2/12 5:26 a.m.
David S. Wallens wrote: I know a guy--someone who's fairly important in our motorsports world--who labeled his enclosed trailer with something along the lines of animal carcass removal service.

OK, then. Perhaps something like this: Note the use of comic sans to annoy the artistic types BTW, when googling for 'cartoon vulture' I found this

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