I paid a local marina a fee to allow me to park my race car trailer where they also rent spaces for people to keep their boat trailers. On the way home from work, I dropped by to get some parts out of my storage box and the trailer was gone.

No one with any authority was there so I left my name and number and plan to follow up with a phone call tomorrow morning.

Just how SOL am I? I am assuming that the people that rented me the spot will wash their hands of this.

This will break the bank. I can't cover this, a HANS, a helmut, a new seat plus all of the normal offseason stuff. People suck.

I couldn't agree more! Lets hope they just had to move it behind a really big boat and you couldn't see it. I guess they could have 'borrowed' it for some reason.

OMG! I'd ask for their insurance card and call mine. Let them work it out, hope it turns out right for ya. Thieves definitely suck.

yah.. that sucks.. you're prolly SOL.. we had a couple trailers stolen back when i was a landscaper and there's really nothing you can do

trailers are high theft items because it's so easy to get new license plates for them..

but who knows.. maybe the storage company has some kick ass insurance..

If you paid them, and there was nothing in writing, they probably have some responsibility. If you signed a waiver, they may have no responsibility.

No legal advice Keith, although my mom is an attorney (former contract attorney, although retired and with lapsed BAR membership), and may be willing to look over any docs that you signed. You may be better off in that respect talking to a standing member in your state.

We left the Camaro in the trailer with all the track gear on Sunday night, looking to unload on Monday. I worried the entire time, despite having retired neighbors that would notice someone cutting the lock and stealing our rig.

Whenever I hear of stolen race trailers, with or without cars inside, it tears me up. I'm glad to hear that, if it is gone, that the car wasn't part of the take.

Good luck.

Jason

I had my trailer in a storage yard for a while and the contract pretty much absolved the yard of any responsibility whatsoever. The good news is that insurance on the thing ($100 ded comp, $250 ded liability) is like $12/year.

Just to clarify -

This marina is a business that includes dock spaces, land-based spaces, a garage (for boats), a big restaurant/bar right on the water. The spaces that they rent are the grassy area where the bar overflow parking ends up. There is no limit to access to this area. I had a lock on the hitch-ball latch and that was all I had for security.

I signed a lil paper about the size of a dollar bill which was simply a receipt for paying a 6-month fee to park my trailer there; I also have the cancelled check. If I signed I waiver of responsibility, I don't remember doing it though I tend to "switch off" and sign those things without thought any more. I figure I'll start with the rental place, once they disappoint me then I'll call my insurance company (homeowners?) then after that just be depressed for a while once I find that I am screwed. That is my prediction on how things will go.

I did not have specific insurance for the trailer.

Let's see what happens today.

I'm sorry to here about this Keith, this really sucks.

Other then a wheel lock, which I don't think is any better then a hitch-ball latch, how is anyone to secure an open car trailer?

Keith was the car in the trailer? Or just a bunch of race acc.
sorry to hear about this.

John

I hate this for you, Keith. Damn the luck.

While the trailer itself might not be covered, it's very possible the contents are under you home owners policy.

That definitely sucks... Good luck on the outcome.

This just sucks Keith! I would call the police right now! And get on all of the local boards you can find, so poeple will be on the look out!

Don't write off the rental company so fast. You'd be surprised just how much liability they can be at, regardless of if you signed a waiver. For instance, you ever been to one of those pools that says, "Swim at own risk"? Did you know that if something happens that they can still be liable?

My point is that you need to fight like hell to have the rental company pay for everything. You signed a rental agreement with them. The trailer was on their property. That makes it their responsibility (to a point). Go up the chain of command at the company until you get someone to give you what you want. If you get to the CEO, and still don't get it, tell them you'll have your attorney call them. Then, see about getting an attorney. It could be too expensive, but maybe not. Oftimes they will work on a contingency basis, where they get some percentage of the winnings. That means you won't get all your money back, but you may not have to pay, either.

One thing you should do now is get proof of the stuff in your trailer. Receipts are golden. Credit card statements are pretty good. Photos of the trailer are platinum. Think about any pictures that may have the trailer in the background. If you bought something (your seat, for instance) with cash, and have no way of proving it was in the trailer, it'll be tough to get reimbursed for it. Also, sworn statements from people who saw what was in the trailer can help (wife, fellow racer, etc.).

Also, call the company that sold you the hitch lock. They may have a policy that reimburses you if the trailer is stolen.

Just to clarify - my whining about HANS, helmet, seat was because I have to buy them this off-season - none of these were in the trailer. What was in the trailer was rotors, pads (one set was brand new), belts, hubs, rad hoses, bleeders, bushings, oil, tie downs, etc. I can't produce credible receipts for these things.

The car was NOT on the trailer. The car is sitting on jackstands in my garage waiting for me to install my new springs and a post-season fluid change....

It seems that the rental place isn't moving fast. I am trying to get them to call the police but the "General Manager" is out and they are trying to contact her. We'll see.

I think I'm SOL but I am going to keep trying. I won't give up until it's a dead issue. That's just the way I am.

Update:

As it turns out:
There were some guys fooling around with the trailer trying to steal it and the marina staff got suspicious. They went and talked to these guys and correctly concluded that they were not the owners of the trailer. They ran them off and noticed that they just parked down the street waiting. So, instead of risking the trailer being stolen when they left for the day, they actually forklifted it to another lot at another location.

I am extremely pleased that the trailer wasn't really stolen and genuinely impressed with the lengths that these people took to protect my property.

Maybe people don't suck after all.

Wow! Totally unexpected happy ending!

Holy CRAP!!!!! I too never thought it would come out with this ending. Now sit back and have a beer.... or a couple..

John

Keith,

Go buy a lottery ticket. while you are hot!

Fuckin' A! THAT is cool!

No, plenty of people suck, but the important thing is that the people who suck didn't get your trailer, and that the marina people didn't suck.

That is really great news, and I'm glad it turned out for the best!

Karen

My insurance company wouldn't even cover a trailer unless it is stored on my own property, so I'm unsure that your homeowner's insurance would be any better.


That is great news!

WOW - congrats!!

DAMN, somebody is smiling on you!
Time to find out who at the Marina took action and I see some free liquid refreshment delivery in your near future.

Costas
cars and such...

That is awesome.... great work by the marina folks.

I need a cigarette

that's amazing,you don't hear of people being that concearned with thier job or others property very often. Congrats on the good news.

I don't know if its in your budget, but maybe a night out for dinner and beer for those folks at the marina!

Way cool ending!

Yeah, I'm going to get something for that guy but I am going to find out what he would enjoy first.

....I bought 5 Powerball lottery tickets on the way home from work...

Wow, congrats on renting storage space from people who actually give a shit!

Time to put some big ass chain through the wheels on each side and one of those big receiver locks. Make it so they'll really have to screw the trailer up if they want to get it that bad.

That is an amazing ending Keith. Very happy to hear it.

But here is the real question... is the trailer still where it was fork lifted to?

I guess I really am a pessimist, but I would still buy the guy a beer for trying.

Damn - Those marina people kick ass! Amazing that someone actually still cares about their job these days. So - Did you call your ins co, and get that $20/year insurance already?

A.

Glad they had your trailer somewhere else but was thinking...wonder if the workers remembered what yard they moved it too and were they kind enough not to poke holes in the side of the trailer while using the fork lift.

that would be my luck....they should have called ya and not gotten you all in a tiff.....

overall you are lucky!

I dropped by the trailer on Friday evening. It was undamaged and intact. All parts and spares were in the trailer and other than the lack of a tongue lock, it is the same POS that it was before.

It is now in a fenced, locked area with video cameras.

Wow...

Now, is this fenced area in the same yard? Just wondering why it wasnt there before.

When I leave my trailer somewhere I usually put a tongue lock and a big orange plastic coated chain through one of the sets of wheels. Its kind of like my thoughts on car theft...mine doesnt need to be theft PROOF, just more inconvenient to steal than the next one.

A lock won't stop a thief, but it'll keep an honest man honest.

Wow! I love stories with happy endings!!

I had a similar day once ... I relived the range of emotions reading through this thread.

No, the trailer is in a different lot that has a very high fence and video cameras. With the boats and yachts in the lot, I don't think a lil car hauler will get much attention there...