Has anyone had a FW stolen, as opposed to broken into? Can't say I've read about such, bumper pulls yes, FW's no. Will be traveling out west over the next dew years, hope to do a bit of boondocking.

I bought one but haven't used it. I guess it depends on where you are camping. If I was camping close to a big urban area, I might be more inclined to use it. But like you say, I think a break in is more likely than stealing the trailer. If I stored my trailer at a storage lot, I would definately use it then.Mark

I use a lock when I'm hitched up, just so someone can't pull the handle and I drive out from under it without knowing. But I've never tried using a lock to keep someone from stealing the trailer.

I use a kingpin lock when our fifth wheel is at the storage lot where we keep our trailer between trips. While I don't think it's necessary, it's still cheap insurance.

My trailer is 20 yr old so I doubt if anyone but me would want it, so for me a lock is not needed, plus I leave my hitch hanging from the king pin when I am parked for extended periods.I guess someone with rails in their truck that match my hitch could take my hitch and trailer if they were willing to spend the time, but they would have to really, really, want an old 5er :)

I have never locked mine, but often thought about it. Although it would not be that easy for someone to steal it. When at campground they would have to put slides in and unhook electric, water, sewer. This would take some time and you would have to awful desperate. When it is parked at home it would take some time to maneuver truck under the kingpin. I don't leave a lot of room between 5er and garage.But I guess you really never know. If someone wants something bad enough they will make an attempt to take it.

Do I need a hitch lock? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Gearitis
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Right here is a link posted in the past Clicky about a Stolen 5er. So it can happen.
Stefonius
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Curly2001 wrote:
I lock it all. Keeps the low hanging fruit people out.
X2!

I'm not laboring under the illusion that I am safe and secure by any stretch of the imagination (especially with 157 compartment locks), but if I can make a casual thief move to the next camper by locking mine, that's cheap insurance.

My storage facility recently had to have a government inspection of their grounds. They needed to move all of the fifth wheels in order to allow for the inspection. When they got to mine, they had to call me because of my kingpin lock. Without that lock, someone unknown to me would have moved my trailer. That would have enraged DW, which automatically makes my life difficult. In that one moment, the kingpin lock paid for itself for all of time.
txdutt
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Oakman wrote:
I use a kingpin lock when our fifth wheel is at the storage lot where we keep our trailer between trips. While I don't think it's necessary, it's still cheap insurance.

that's the only time I use mine as well...if they really want to steal the rig they could get it off but it will slow them down...
dezl_dr
Explorer
May 22, 2015
When we first started RV'ing we really didn't think much about someone stealing our RV. Now, we've changed our minds with all the breaking into homes and stealing. So, we purchased a War-Lok 5th wheel lock (cost around $75) and use it whenever the RV isn't hitched up to the truck.

Like a PP stated - if I have a lock on my 5er and my neighbor doesn't then they will probably steal his 5er. And, if I have an alarm on my house and my neighbor doesn't then they will probably break-in to his house.

JMO, but a small cost for a whole lot of hardship if your 5er ever did get stolen.
~ Mark
C_Schomer
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Mine used to be stored close to the street and access was way easy. I locked the pin with a short piece of chain and a padlock. Craig
rseymour21
Explorer
May 22, 2015
Campinfan wrote:
rseymour21 wrote:
I use a lock when I'm hitched up, just so someone can't pull the handle and I drive out from under it without knowing. But I've never tried using a lock to keep someone from stealing the trailer.

Has this really happened to anyone...and I don't mean, "it happened to a friend" type answer. The reason I ask is because if the weight of the 5er is on my hitch, I cannot pull the handle....need to release the tension first by lifting the trailer a bit.

You are correct, I have never heard of this happening. I figure just because I haven't heard of it, doesn't mean it won't happen! It takes me an extra couple of minutes to put the lock on that I keep in the truck. I do overnite in Walmart and do go into places to eat on the road.
filthy_beast
Explorer
May 21, 2015
I lock my kingpin for the same reason I have an alarm at my home. If there is another fifth wheel without a lock they will probably steal that one. If my neighbor does not have an alarm they will probably go there to steal stuff.
TimnJo
Explorer
May 21, 2015
Hi Wet Coast, you say; "In B.C. it is illegal to have trailer locked to a vehicle while towing."
Do you have a link to this regulation? I will be going through B.C. and I always lock the handle, with the brake pull-away cable, I don't want to run afoul of the famously stringent regulators in B.C.
Tim
momentum_rv
Explorer
May 21, 2015
I use a pin lock when unhitched and I lock my hitch when hitched. For me it helps with my hitching/unhitching routine... in case of distraction, if it's still locked I haven't finish the prep work yet, last thing I do is unlock.

P.S. my hitch will unlatch with the full weight of the trailer on it, as long as it isn't pushed forward or back.
Campinfan
Explorer III
May 21, 2015
rseymour21 wrote:
I use a lock when I'm hitched up, just so someone can't pull the handle and I drive out from under it without knowing. But I've never tried using a lock to keep someone from stealing the trailer.

Has this really happened to anyone...and I don't mean, "it happened to a friend" type answer. The reason I ask is because if the weight of the 5er is on my hitch, I cannot pull the handle....need to release the tension first by lifting the trailer a bit.