Was headed north on I-95 near Ormond Beach and noticed the toad was wandering around and only one side of the tow bar connected.Slowly coasted in N and pulled off, not using any brakes.A pin was missing and I was towing with one arm. I unhitched, moved the car and reattached, no damage done. I always carry spare hitch pins.I had been using the hitch pins with the swivel latch and the best I can figure is the little Chinese rivet fell out and the latch fell off. I KNOW I flipped it around.I wont be using those anymore. Scared the bejesus out of me. Like these. CLICKY

Good to know! I noticed early on that the pins in tow bar always crept to one side while under way. If I install them one way, the keeper clip rides up against the "knuckle", so if the keeper fell out or I forgot to put it in, the pin would eventually work its way out completely. If the pins are installed the other way, they ride up against the bent end and stay in place even with no keeper clip in place. I marked the connector knuckles so I always insert the pins the right way now.

After many years of towing with a tow bar, I noticed that the pins would always move in one direction. Because of that I always insert my pins from the inside to the outside so that the keeper for the pin is on the outside. I know some will say that it does not matter which direction you put the pins in but I have found out differently. In any case, by installing the pins this way, it puts no pressure on the locking pin. Pin install example

Never had a problem with ours coming out but like stated above, we put them on from the inside out.

I will start watching. I install mine so the keeper is away from the safety chain.

http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....

Lost a pin on the tow bar. Don't use these pins!!

Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Jul 20, 2016
I prefer pins that can be undone quickly in the event of an emergency. Several years ago, another fellow and I were able to unhook a toad from the back of burning Class C because the pins were not locked. The toad and its contents were the only things saved for the owners when they were released from the hospital.
donkeydew
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
had you recently stopped at a rest area? i had both removed at a rest area,don't know if a trucker didn't like to share or a kid but i was lucky to notice it before we moved. now use locking one
DC_MC
Explorer III
Jul 20, 2016
We only use padlocks. Nobody can undo them except us
Tinstar
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
96Bounder30E, think he's talking about the other kind. Same as the OP
J_R2
Explorer
Jul 20, 2016
supercub wrote:
I use locking pins. That way no one can remove them when parked. I always walk around and look, but just in case I forget some day. I've never had any trouble with the locking pins, but I do carry a spare set, just in case.

Ditto. Over 40 years towing in one way or another, have never had on fail. Now lose one when unhooked, yea.
96Bounder30E
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2016
Pirate wrote:
96Bounder30E wrote:
http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/

These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....
Have had two of them fail. Won't use again. Yes, they were in the correct way. I use this type now.

Please describe how they failed.......I fail to see how.......
Pirate1
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
96Bounder30E wrote:
http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/

These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....
Have had two of them fail. Won't use again. Yes, they were in the correct way. I use this type now.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
96Bounder30E wrote:
http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/

These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....
I use those pins in various applications. I've never had one fail.
supercub
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
I use locking pins. That way no one can remove them when parked. I always walk around and look, but just in case I forget some day. I've never had any trouble with the locking pins, but I do carry a spare set, just in case.
gatorcq
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
outside in. Traveling that way since 2008, replaced 1 pin due to loss.
And yes most if not all are from overseas

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Lost a pin on the tow bar. Don't use these pins!!

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