Trailer defense system

A method for installing a trailer defense mechanism onto a trailer including a bottom wall and a floor surface defining an interior volume, the method comprising:

• provide a cavity within the floor surface of the interior volume;
• providing the trailer defense mechanism including a base support, a kingpin, a housing, and an actuator;
• coupling the base support to the bottom wall within the cavity;
• slidably coupling the kingpin to the housing;
• positioning the housing and the kingpin slidably coupled therewith within the cavity such that the base support engages with the kingpin;
• and
• operatively coupling the actuator with the housing, the actuator configured to translate the housing in a first direction, thereby causing the kingpin to move in a vertical direction to transition the trailer defense mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state.

A trailer defense system comprising:

• a trailer including a kingpin configured to engage with a coupler of a vehicle to facilitate coupling the vehicle to the trailer;
• a trailer defense mechanism configured to (i) couple with or be integrated within the trailer, and (ii) selectively actuate between a locked state and an unlocked state;
• and
• a control system configured to control actuation of the trailer defense mechanism to transition between the locked state and the unlocked state;
• wherein, in the locked state, access to the kingpin is inhibited by the trailer defense mechanism such that the kingpin and the coupler are unable to engage with each other;
• and
• wherein, in the unlocked state, access to the kingpin is permitted such that the kingpin and the coupler are not restricted by the trailer defense mechanism from engaging with each other.