On Oct.13 we traveled from SC, with our Fleetwood Bounder DP to Dauphin Island in AL with our Saturn Vue in tow. The first day we traveled aprox. 300 miles, stopped in Pine Island overnight. I ran the Engine on the Saturn that evening putting the car in gear and reverse several times. The next day we continued our journey and at aprox. 250 to 260 miles in to our trip, I noticed smoke behind the motorhome. I pulled over to the side and walked back to the tow and noticed heavy smoke coming from under the hood of the Saturn. Running to the RV and getting my Fire Extinguisher, by the time I got back to the Tow there were flames coming out from the Grill of the SUV. The Fire Extinguisher did little at that time. The importance now was to get the Motorhome away from the Flames and heavy smoke. The problem now was that I had the Tow Hitch locked with a Pin Lock to the Motorhome and I had difficulties unlocking the lock. I finally succeeded unlocking the Hitch, unhooking the safety cables with the aid from another motorist that kept the flames away from me with his Fire Extinguisher. I pulled the RV away from the flames and by the time Fire Department and Police showed up, the SUV was burned out. Had I not been able to unlock the Hitch the Motorhome would have burned to the ground with the SUV. As of today we have no Idea what caused the Fire, but I suspect the SUV jumped in to gear for what ever reason during the tow, because the back of the SUV was covered with oil. I heard of destroying the Transmission in this case, but the Tow Vehicle catching Fire is absurd. Lucky I only received slight burns on my left arm, forehead and ear but otherwise we are OK.:S

Teddychamp, thank goodness you are OK even though slightly injured. I would be more afraid of someone stealing my hitch than the very small chance of my tow car catching fire. Either way, that's what insurance is for.Glad that you saved the coach.MM.

If I had motorhome insurance, it would not have been worth saving the motorhome more than burning up my left arm, even a little bit.Glad to hear you are safe, but really - the motorhome is much easier to replace than either arm or your hair, or - whatever might have caught fire.Be happy the battery did not short and explode next to you on the ground under the RV.Also happy to hear you where not wearing polyester, as it tends to melt to the skin, while cotton will just catch fire and not melt to the skin.Fred.

Friends had their toad pass them on the side of the road while driving along the freeway in the desert. They think the hitch pins had been removed by someone at a restaurant parking lot earlier. They recovered their toad, undamaged, and reconnected it, padlocking the hitch on every trip thereafter.I've always padlocked our hitch.

Yes thank goodness everyone is ok. You have given me pause but I still think keeping my hitch lock will serve me better than unlocked. I won't use lock pins at the base plate so I can maintain a quick release if needed. Sounds like that would not have helped much if flames were keeping from getting near those connections.

Fishinghat wrote:Friends had their toad pass them on the side of the road while driving along the freeway in the desert. They think the hitch pins had been removed by someone at a restaurant parking lot earlier. They recovered their toad, undamaged, and reconnected it, padlocking the hitch on every trip thereafter.I've always padlocked our hitch.I use to, but don't any more. But I sure do check the lynch pins as part of my pre-trip walk around before pulling out of anywhere I'm stopped! I also carry extra ones, just in case.

Do not Lock your Hitch | Good Sam Community

50 Replies

ArchHoagland
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
I carry five fire extinguishers spread around the bays, one in the toad.

I keep all bays unlocked while traveling and the toad hitch is not locked. I check the pins every stop just before I pull out.

In case of an emergency I want to be able to get to everything.

I'd be curious to know who your insurance company is and how much they paid you for the car.
A lot of them advertise cheap rates but when you have a problem you find out why they are cheap.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Nov 05, 2013
If my toad was on fire and was going to spread to the motorhome I'd head to the fridge and save my beer then kick back and watch it go! Please don't tell my insurance man that I wrote this.
Yellowboat_
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
Your experience is something to think about. Currently, I lock my hitch. I understand your point but there are risks with not locking a toad. I think I will keep a key in my pocket just in case.

I tow a 2009 Vue. What year was yours? You say you started your engine on your Vue and put the transmission in reverse. My owners manual says nothing about starting the engine. Did your Vue owners manual require you to run the engine and shift through the gears?

Safe travels.

JD
PapPappy
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
I don't have a toad (yet), but when I tow my utility trailer with our van, I put a padlock on the hitch, but don't lock it. Most of the time, people see the lock, and figure "it's a lock"...and I can pull it off in a second.
Of course, I'm talking about a utility trailer worth about $500, not a toad worth 20 times that!

Glad that you are OK.....and that the RV was OK
crasster
Explorer II
Nov 05, 2013
I think this is one of those things that just "happen". Freak accident.... rare statistic... Locking hitches also prevents theft...

We can either have insurance or take the gamble.... Locking or not.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
Fishinghat wrote:
Friends had their toad pass them on the side of the road while driving along the freeway in the desert. They think the hitch pins had been removed by someone at a restaurant parking lot earlier. They recovered their toad, undamaged, and reconnected it, padlocking the hitch on every trip thereafter.

I've always padlocked our hitch.

I use to, but don't any more. But I sure do check the lynch pins as part of my pre-trip walk around before pulling out of anywhere I'm stopped! I also carry extra ones, just in case.
Two_Jayhawks
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
Yes thank goodness everyone is ok. You have given me pause but I still think keeping my hitch lock will serve me better than unlocked. I won't use lock pins at the base plate so I can maintain a quick release if needed. Sounds like that would not have helped much if flames were keeping from getting near those connections.
Fishinghat
Explorer II
Nov 05, 2013
Friends had their toad pass them on the side of the road while driving along the freeway in the desert. They think the hitch pins had been removed by someone at a restaurant parking lot earlier. They recovered their toad, undamaged, and reconnected it, padlocking the hitch on every trip thereafter.

I've always padlocked our hitch.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
If I had motorhome insurance, it would not have been worth saving the motorhome more than burning up my left arm, even a little bit.

Glad to hear you are safe, but really - the motorhome is much easier to replace than either arm or your hair, or - whatever might have caught fire.

Be happy the battery did not short and explode next to you on the ground under the RV.

Also happy to hear you where not wearing polyester, as it tends to melt to the skin, while cotton will just catch fire and not melt to the skin.

Fred.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
Teddychamp, thank goodness you are OK even though slightly injured. I would be more afraid of someone stealing my hitch than the very small chance of my tow car catching fire. Either way, that's what insurance is for.

Glad that you saved the coach.

MM.

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Do not Lock your Hitch

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