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schumie's avatar
schumie
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014

Creative pin box head safety ideas

What I am looking for, or challenging the creative minded members, is a way to cover or pad the pin box of my fifth wheel. I would like to see what you have done to protect kids from running into the pin box. We went camping for our first trip in our Elkridge which was cold and windy so we didn’t spend much time outside, but for our second trip it was beautiful outside. But with the nice weather that meant we were outside most of the time. Unfortunately my son was walking around and forgot about the pin box, since this is our first fifth wheel, and yep…..smack! It didn’t drop him to the ground luckily because he was just walking, but I could not imagine what would happen if he would be in a dead run and hit it. As you all know the pin box is not going to give any, he found out the hard way.

So I am reaching out to all the members to see what you have done. I know the easiest way to buy a tripod for the pin box. Is that the only solution? I know someone out there just wants to release their creative juices and give me a great idea.

I thank you and my son’s head thanks you.
  • Everyone wears a hard hat when they travel with us. You can get them for less than $15 online.

    Like these http://industrialsafetygear.com/hard-hats/PY-HP461.html

    I bought 20 to keep on hand for when we have guests or a party.

    Works better than name tags. Just write the persons name on it with an erasable ink pen.
  • 720Deere wrote:
    RV-Safe Zone

    Check that website out. My daughter has a pretty nasty scar from running into the pinbox so I now have the RV-Safe Zone pinbox cover.


    I bought one of these pin box covers, as well - a little spend at around $45, but my peace of mind to avoiding a scar like Deere mentions.



    My other thought before this was to get some wire and twist it onto the king pin and then hang a flower basket below it; possibly even adding a traffic cone on the ground (I carry 2 collapsible ones at all times). Wouldn't necessarily stop someone from hitting it, but it would hopefully give them awareness to the pin.
  • Set up a tripod then you can't get near it without tripping. That's about all their good for anyway. JMHO.
  • RV-Safe Zone

    Check that website out. My daughter has a pretty nasty scar from running into the pinbox so I now have the RV-Safe Zone pinbox cover. I also had a habit of banging my head on the bedroom slide-out every time I was in the storage on that side so I bought their slide-out guards as well. I tried the pool noodle thing and not only did it look ghetto, it doesn't offer nearly as much protection.
  • I use a swimming pool noodle float thing, and wrap it around the sharp edges of the pin box with tape. I have bumped in to it while stored in my driveway, and had to do something.
  • It is a good place to set a flag pole and fly the American Flag.