Andersen Aluminum Ultimate Hitch Redesigned

Cummins12V98 wrote:
There have been plenty of reports of hitch tampering resulting in dropped RV's. It would be very easy to do with the Andersen since the handle is typically mounted where it is easy to access.

I have read incidents of this happening too.

The good thing about the Andersen hitch is the release handle should be visible from the driver's seat and when approaching the vehicle. You don't have to look over the bed rail to see it. I think a good improvement Andersen could make would be to color the shaft below the handle fluorescent orange so it would really stand out when not engaged.

I don't have a trailer now, but when I was pulling I always did a walk-around checking the tires and hitch after every stop. If I saw something unlatched I'd correct it before getting behind the wheel. I wouldn't have enough confidence in a small padlock to not look at the hitch (and I did have a padlock on the hitch for multi-day trips to hopefully not lose the trailer in motel parking lots).

If I ever drop a trailer because someone unlatched it while I was doing something else then shame on me - lock, or no lock.