Hitch Pin Locks

[CobraDave]

I wanted to protect my BW hitch from getting stolen and also the pin I had was too short, so I began looking at locking pins. On the road I see many people have them. Looking further, they can get pretty expensive and then I cam across their vulnerabilities. Holy crap! You can crank on the lock with a piece of pipe and they break right off! The smaller diameter metal piece inside of the lock is the culprit. It’s also no match for a hack saw or other battery powered saw. Like butter!

I came across one guy who just uses grade 8 hardware. This made sense to me. If you are out somewhere the thief actually has to have the right size socket to get the thing off. A pipe won’t do it and a saw is gonna have a much harder time cutting through it. And it was like four bucks. So here you go! What do you use?

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[buck35]

I'm also a fan of a 5/8 bolt but I prefer a locknut.

 

[LakeBeard]

I use a master lock

 

[2Driver]

The hitch takes such a pounding up and down traveling im not sure that wouldn’t come loose.

I like a pin. Check etrailer. At the end of the day it’s to keep the opportunity thieves away.

 

[varmit86]

I am thinking the idea of a lock it to keep the honest man honest. I am thinking if they have a battery powered saw they are going to have a set of wrenches or what ever they need to get what they want.
For example read the post my truck was stolen last night if they want it bad enough they will take the whole box of chocolates.

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[King295]

I use a lock off of Amazon similar to the below. Works fine and I'm pretty sure it will have a lesser chance of vibrating loose than a non-locking nut.

 

[LazyLavey]

Locks keep the honest "honest"

 

[Cole Trickle]

Just the net and lock washer would make me nervous. Can you drill all the way through and maybe use a cotter pin?

 

[RitcheyRch]

Wise idea on the Grade 8 fastener. I use a BOLT receiver hitch lock.

https://www.boltlock.com/

I wanted to protect my BW hitch from getting stolen and also the pin I had was too short, so I began looking at locking pins. On the road I see many people have them. Looking further, they can get pretty expensive and then I cam across their vulnerabilities. Holy crap! You can crank on the lock with a piece of pipe and they break right off! The smaller diameter metal piece inside of the lock is the culprit. It’s also no match for a hack saw or other battery powered saw. Like butter!

I came across one guy who just uses grade 8 hardware. This made sense to me. If you are out somewhere the thief actually has to have the right size socket to get the thing off. A pipe won’t do it and a saw is gonna have a much harder time cutting through it. And it was like four bucks. So here you go! What do you use?

View attachment 842211 View attachment 842209 View attachment 842208


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[LargeOrangeFont]

If it were me I'd get a bolt that had a smooth shank through the receiver, You might need a thicker spacer and a lock nut however.

 

[HCP3]

I wanted to protect my BW hitch from getting stolen and also the pin I had was too short, so I began looking at locking pins. On the road I see many people have them. Looking further, they can get pretty expensive and then I cam across their vulnerabilities. Holy crap! You can crank on the lock with a piece of pipe and they break right off! The smaller diameter metal piece inside of the lock is the culprit. It’s also no match for a hack saw or other battery powered saw. Like butter!

I came across one guy who just uses grade 8 hardware. This made sense to me. If you are out somewhere the thief actually has to have the right size socket to get the thing off. A pipe won’t do it and a saw is gonna have a much harder time cutting through it. And it was like four bucks. So here you go! What do you use?

View attachment 842211 View attachment 842209 View attachment 842208


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Might as well look into lock pins for your ball too. A locked shank won't do you any good with your ball and/or adjustable slider missing.

 

[Riverryder]

Wise idea on the Grade 8 fastener. I use a BOLT receiver hitch lock.

https://www.boltlock.com/

That’s pretty cool! Would save having a key for the hitch and trailer. Feel like I have way to many keys on my key ring!



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[D19]

All a thief needs is an adjustable wrench, but if you're going to go that way I think your bolt needs to be a .25 longer and you should use a nylon nut.

 

[Ladsm]

I visited Quartzite a few weeks back and there were 100's of hitch inserts for sale in the yard sales out there. Anything from simple to expensive weight distribution setups. I am pretty sure they didnt find them on the side of the road. A couple years back people in Glamis woke up to hitches missing in every camp that wasnt locked up.

 

[McKay]

Wise idea on the Grade 8 fastener. I use a BOLT receiver hitch lock.

https://www.boltlock.com/

Same one I have been using for a few years. Although a buddy did just have his hitch come out of the truck while pulling a trailer last week while towing. He was using a Bolt based on my recommendation. Not sure what happened. They can be tricky making sure it is locked in. So tug on them real hard to make sure it locked.

 

[sintax]

I use a lock off of Amazon similar to the below. Works fine and I'm pretty sure it will have a lesser chance of vibrating loose than a non-locking nut.

This is the one i have, works fine in tight areas

 

[sintax]

All a thief needs is an adjustable wrench, but if you're going to go that way I think your bolt needs to be a .25 longer and you should use a nylon nut.

thats what i'm saying, I'd have to pull over ever 1/4mile to make sure that nut did not come loose

 

[D19]

Just the net and lock washer would make me nervous. Can you drill all the way through and maybe use a cotter pin?

That's backwards thinking. The threads would get gulled up. Also how would you center the position of the hole on a threaded bolt? Even set up in something rigid like a mill, the drill bit would want to move. In a machine shop the hole would be drilled first then the bolt would get threaded.

 

[CobraDave]

some good points. I was thinking I’m a half inch two short on that hex bolt. I have a lock washer on there and used some blue lock tight. Not much in the 5/8 realm that has threads on the end and a hole for a pin. Good point though I will have to keep an eye on it. I know if thieves want it they are gonna take it. But guaranteed this is gonna take longer than a lock.

Regarding the ball being stolen. The ball cant be taken off without taking the whole ball hitch off. A security feature with B&W


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[D19]

some good points. I was thinking I’m a half inch two short on that hex bolt. I have a lock washer on there and used some blue lock tight. Not much in the 5/8 realm that has threads on the end and a hole for a pin. Good point though I will have to keep an eye on it. I know if thieves want it they are gonna take it. But guaranteed this is gonna take longer than a lock.

Regarding the ball being stolen. The ball cant be taken off without taking the whole ball hitch off. A security feature with B&W


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I wouldn't use lock tight because you may end up having to use a torch to get it off later. Anti seize on the threads and a nylon nut would be better.

 

[CobraDave]

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[monkeyswrench]

I used to use a large allen head, or 12pt. Then a lock washer and a 12pt nut. I figured the allen was secure, the 12pt heads made it at least a bit better.

With a battery grinder, they all come off. Makes it obvious and at least a little difficult.

 

[Mototrig]

I haven't had any issues yet. This setup seems to be a good deterrent.

 

[ka0tyk]

12 point nylock nut and bolt is what I have. I always leave my hitch in. Its saved me numerous times from people following too closely.

 

[CobraDave]

12 point nylock nut and bolt is what I have. I always leave my hitch in. Its saved me numerous times from people following too closely.

I’ll look for a nylon but they just didn’t have any when I went. I like the Allen head idea too. I want to keep it on for rear end collisions also.

So does
RDP agree on longer bolt, lock washer and nylon nut?

Don’t think just a lock washer will cut it? I figured it would.


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[ka0tyk]

I’ll look for a nylon but they just didn’t have any when I went. I like the Allen head idea too. I want to keep it on for rear end collisions also.

So does
RDP agree on longer bolt, lock washer and nylon nut?

Don’t think just a lock washer will cut it? I figured it would.


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Also I got the bolt and nut from a local fastener company that had a very high "sheer strength", not just some grade 8 home depot china bolt. There can be a lot of force on that pin when you're driving around.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Exactly why I went with one of these hitch locks.

That’s pretty cool! Would save having a key for the hitch and trailer. Feel like I have way to many keys on my key ring!



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[CobraDave]

I haven't had any issues yet. This setup seems to be a good deterrent.
View attachment 842256

Haha! It’s not Grads truck.


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[CobraDave]

Also I got the bolt and nut from a local fastener company that had a very high "sheer strength", not just some grade 8 home depot china bolt. There can be a lot of force on that pin when you're driving around.

Shit I thought I had the highest strength I can buy! The hardware is from Hillman I believe? I’ll have to check. I gotta stop researching so much.


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[CobraDave]

I’m sure these are 10 times stronger than any normal pin.


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[Hdgasser]

I thought about making something up using some of the bryce fastner hardware a while back but making 1-2 proved to be not very cost efficient but maybe if I had enough interest I could make a dozen or so make it cost efficient??

 

[CobraDave]

I thought about making something up using some of the bryce fastner hardware a while back but making 1-2 proved to be not very cost efficient but maybe if I had enough interest I could make a dozen or so make it cost efficient?? View attachment 842263

That would be interesting. Like a wheel lock. I wonder if anything is out there in 5/8


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[Hdgasser]

That would be interesting. Like a wheel lock. I wonder if anything is out there in 5/8


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Pretty much, I would make the 5/8 shaft threaded at both ends out of like 4130 and use something like above to secure it on both sides.

Wouldnt be for everyone I know some people like to remove their hitches or it's not even worth the $19.99 o'Reillys drop hitch special.

 

[varmit86]

If your that worried about loosing it just weld it in you also won't hear that little slop sliding back and forth.

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[ToMorrow44]

Wise idea on the Grade 8 fastener. I use a BOLT receiver hitch lock.

https://www.boltlock.com/

I use a Bolt as well. I figure these kind of thefts are a crime of opportunity, it’s just a deterrent.

 

[LowRiver2]

The hitch takes such a pounding up and down traveling im not sure that wouldn’t come loose.

I like a pin. Check etrailer. At the end of the day it’s to keep the opportunity thieves away.

Same reasoning I use a small cable lock in Glamis for my gas cans: keep opportunity crooks away

Can’t think of one stolen trailer hitch report taken in OC or LA city in all my years

I’d take the sticker off at the most beyond a normal lock so they don’t notice the brand

 

[wettrthebettr]

I came across one guy who just uses grade 8 hardware. This made sense to me. If you are out somewhere the thief actually has to have the right size socket to get the thing off. A pipe won’t do it and a saw is gonna have a much harder time cutting through it. And it was like four bucks. So here you go! What do you use?

View attachment 842211
What do I use?
I use the stock hitch pin, with a drilled out hole for a master lock. knock on wood , I have never had a problem 30 years + towing.
I keep a spare hitch in my Tool box on the truck.
if someone wanted to steal your Hitch how would a grade 8 bolt and lock nut Prevent the Theft?
I would think anyone with two Crescent Wrench could steal it easy.
I do agree the grade 8 bolt would not come out on it's own.

 

[Hdgasser]

I dont know about you all but I take enough tools with me on river trips that if I had a hoist I could do a motor swap.

A 15/16ths, Milwaukee impact and I would have your $900 genY hitch gone in 3 guhdugadugas.

 

[LakeBeard]

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the first lock they broke was the one I was swearing by...

 

[Yellowboat]

I just take mine out and put it behind the seat. Stops from running into it with my shin

 

[RitcheyRch]

My thoughts as well

I use a Bolt as well. I figure these kind of thefts are a crime of opportunity, it’s just a deterrent.

 

[LowRiver2]

Coupled With the fact that about one out of four people in Lake Havasu have a weapon on them at any given time it is not worth a meth heads life for a trailer hitch LOL

 

[CobraDave]

Here is what I have discovered. Those hitch pin locks are complete trash. I wanted something stronger that wouldn’t rust as easily. It is going to take a thief longer to get my hardware off vs a pin lock.


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[Your ad here]

I have a similar setup using a basic pin with lock. I leave the drop part in the receiver but keep the balls locked up in the toolbox where they are safe from people getting there hands them as that's the valuable parts. I don't like randoms touching my balls or shin whacking my balls. Only get the balls out when towing trailer. Once the trailer is disconnected I clean my balls and put them away.

 

[Singleton]

I just use a hitch with a built in lock
https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/flash-adjustable-locking-ball-mount-albm

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

I just use a regular pin lock. If I think I'm going to leave it in a sketchy area I wrap a big chain through the trailer frame and padlock it to the truck. If they want it bad enough though they'll just take the truck along with the trailer.

I think the best deterrent is to put put big stickers on the trailer that say, "Warning! This Trailer Contains Raw Sewage. HAZMAT Danger!".

 

[HitIt]

I just use a hitch with a built in lock
https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/flash-adjustable-locking-ball-mount-albm

That is awesome. Haven't seen it before. Wish they made a steel one.

 

[Singleton]

That is awesome. Haven't seen it before. Wish they made a steel one.

X2, only use that hitch with the Yukon in Havasu. Use a steel hitch when boat moves AZ to CA.
For ToyHauler, I use the following and it is never left with truck unless trailer is attached.
All setup, it weighs 85lbs and no one is stealing it.

 

[Big B Hova]

I got a 2018 ram. The reciever is huge so I have to run the adaptor with my boat hitch and toy hauler hitch. It rattles like a mofo. Anyone have an easy fix for this?

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I got a 2018 ram. The reciever is huge so I have to run the adaptor with my boat hitch and toy hauler hitch. It rattles like a mofo. Anyone have an easy fix for this?

Drill and tap a hole in the bottom of the receiver and tighten a bolt down.

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