Do you lock or unlock the hitch while pulling your TT?
I've always have locked the hitch when towing my TT, simply because I don't want to lose the lock. But should you lock the hitch when towing?
Forum Discussion
Huntindog wrote:
Actually if you think it thru, a whole lot of things would have to fail.
1. The coupler would need to become unlatched.
2.both equalizer bars would need for their pins to fall out.
3.Both bars would need to become disconnected to their brackets.
It is highly unlikely that all of this would occur without the driver feeling the loss of WD.
Regardless of what YOU think, if anything goes wrong for any reason and your trailer becomes uncoupled and there was no evidence of any attempt on YOUR part to fully ensure ALL safety devices are fully engaged YOU will be called out by law enforcement.
Many yrs ago an entire family (with kids) was KILLED when the mini van they were riding in was completely obliterated by a run away tow behind chipper.
In the aftermath, the investigation of the accident revealed that the driver was negligent for failing to properly SECURE the chipper hitch. The latch was not secured and neither was the safety chains.
Being stupid ruined the drivers life, took out a family and ruined the remaining friends and families lives all for being lazy and stupid.
How blasted hard is it to stick a cheap pin into the latch hole?
You may "feel" you are right, but you are not and someone else may pay the ultimate price (IE DEATH) of your wrong.
If that hole and pin was not important, then the manufacturers would not bother spending money to include that hole.
WD under normal driving conditions "might" hold the tongue on the ball, but under severe conditions (hard stops, rough roads, ect) it just might not.
Why take the chance?
WD does not supersede other safety items, WD is not a Federally or State DOT mandated item but yet that little pin hole exists on ALL tongue hitch latches..
It (the latch pin) is a safety item and an import one at that.
If I showed up to my inspection station with no pin in place the inspection station WILL fail my inspection until I fix the problem (replace missing pin).
If I were to get pulled over, failure to have ALL required safety items engaged and working can result in fines and/or dropping an leaving the trailer until ALL safety items have been fixed.
