Hitch receiver locks. Needed or not?

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CP

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Jan 12, 2012
Posts
131
Just trying to get input as to using locks on the hitch receiver for my Fleetwood Terra class A
motorhome.  I have blue ox hitch/receiver/tow bar and as they are new I think I should get something to help keep someone from helping themselves to them (hate to think this way but want to be practical).  Just looking for others thoughts on using locking pins or not.

Thanks
CP
 
Mine has been locked in place since 2004 other than when I removed the towbar to make it easier on service guys. I know it is not likely to go anywhere, and the pin is not going to fall out either accidentally or because someone pulled the pin.
 
We have our hitch locked also.  We do unlock it every so often and make sure it's not "frozen" so that if we do have to take it off, it will come off.  ;)

We also have a lock on the tow bar assembly, probably overkill, but we feel better.

Marsha~
 
Pins have been known to "accidentally" fall out. Padlocks don't seem to have that problem. I lock every pin that could cause me a problem if it "fell" out. So, the tow bar is locked in the receiver, the tow bar arms have both pins locked, the cross bar on the car is locked on one side and one pin under the car. They all get unlocked and cleaned before our 7 month winter trip and after. The ones on the tow bar arms get cleaned and lubed more often as they are the ones that get used during every tow.

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you too!

Ken
 
My first trip to Las Vegas and QZ I used the standard pins... Well, on a road I should not have been on (I have a drop hitch) one of the hills the brakeaway cable for the towed (As near as I can figure) got into the spring pin that locks the tow pin in place and pulled it.. The reslut was a test of the safety cables (They held).

After that I put on a locking pin,

NOTE: I am 100% sure vandals did not pull the pin.. As I said this was a road I should not have been on (Think Movie RV, not quite that bad but close) and I had to drop the towed about a mile back, the pin was in place when I re-hitched, I looked.. So I  know nobody pulled it at over 20 mph.  They had like 2 minutes tops while I walked back to the door and climbed into the driver's seat and there was nobody close.
 
We've never had one in the 14 years we've had a motohome, but rarely is our coach in an area where theft is a risk.  Your situation may differ, either at home (or where the rv is stored) or on the road.
 
I have a set of locking pins for the 'toad attachment points' and for the 'receiver' that are all keyed alike.  However, I also have to use a drop hitch segment that requires another locking pin.  They don't seem to make sets with that many pins keyed alike.  I hate having (and fumbling) with multiple keys.
 
Reese, I think, makes a receiver pin that takes a common padlock, you can get padlocks keyed alike and in many cases they can even be keyed to a lock you already have IF, that is, you go to a locksmith (may be a slight additional charge)  I still have a lock here in the motor home that takes the key that fit the back door of my house, it also fit the entry door of the last trailer I had.. all keyed alike, 3 different locks from 3 different companies no less but all keyed alike.
 
I have always had locks on my receiver hitches mostly because I was always fishing or hunting.
 
You can drill a larger hole in a standard receiver pin and use a padlock.  I did this in order to use padlocks that are keyed the same and to avoid the need to buy locking receiver pins.
 
I had one on my last MH; Lazy Days cut it off when I traded the MH so I could take the tow bar with me. No more! Thank You!

Ernie
 
Ernie n Tara said:
I had one on my last MH; Lazy Days cut it off when I traded the MH so I could take the tow bar with me. No more! Thank You!Ernie

How was this the fault of the lock?

I remove my (locked on) tow bar from the coach after every trip and clean, inspect and lubricate it.  A few drops of oil keep the locks working like new. 
 
I have had the pin come out twice on receiver hitches over the years. When I started towing a TT with a sway bar hitch I started to use a locking pin. When I upgraded to a motorhome the locking pin switched to the MH.
 
I take my cue from airplane maintenance, and lock or pin all my fasteners that are critical. Vibration is an amazingly powerful  wrench.

But I do lock my tow bar assembly at the receiver. Just because.  8)
 
They must work. I have had our hitch locked for 15 years and the towbar is still there. 8) 8)
 
I use to not lock my hitches- till some low life pulled the pin on my car hauler while I was at a truck stop and went in to get a bite to eat. I had just purchased the coach. I didn't look at the hitch when I came out and started down the freeway. Hit a bump and van and car hauler started looking smaller in my rear camera. Not good. I stopped as fast as I could and the carhauler and van stopped beside the guardrail. That force broke all the safety chains. It could have killed someone. Now, I have locks on everything. Too bad there are so many low lifes out there to mess with your stuff.
 
Ernie: You hit the nail on the head!!! That must have been one hell of an eerie feeling. That Hairpin clip can somehow manage to work it's way off; Gremlins Huh!!                                                                                                                       
    I had a rear wheel come off my pickup and pass me one time because the person at the tire store only had hand tightened the lugs on that side when I had purchased new tires. Any time I had this done since I always recheck them with my own  4-way lug-wrench. I always ask that they set the torque to the manufacturers specs.; as i have also had them air impacted so tight you needed a pipe on a breaker bar and socket to loosen them.
 
Just Lou said:
I have a set of locking pins for the 'toad attachment points' and for the 'receiver' that are all keyed alike.  However, I also have to use a drop hitch segment that requires another locking pin.  They don't seem to make sets with that many pins keyed alike.  I hate having (and fumbling) with multiple keys.
Lou,
When you have a lot of keys clean the head of the key and put a dot of paint on the key and on the lock. I find this saves time but I still fumble with the keys. I was in a locksmith shop and saw a different method of identifying keys. They had plastic slip on covers in different colors.
Bill
 
Every hitch receiver I have (1 MH 3 4X4s) has a locking pin.  It is just an insurance policy and keeps honest people honest and makes those that are into mischief off looking for an easier mark.  I even had a lock on the 5th wheel hitch pin when I used it.  They don't cost that much and are well worth it IMO.
 
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