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.valhalla360 wrote:
ktmrfs wrote:
However if your trailer uses a 2 5/16" ball and the keyed security lock is one that goes through the hitch pin, it's at best a cosmetic lock. that leaves the ball socket on the hitch open and all it takes for someone to drive off with your trailer is for them to drop the hitch onto a 2" ball, and then drive off.
I believe the OP was referring to while driving...so there's already a 2 5/6" ball blocking a thief from dropping it on their 2" ball...not to mention, it's doing 60mph down the freeway.
To the OP: We have a simple spring clip that keeps it from accidentally being released. No key'd lock.
agreed, but if that is also the OP's "lock against possible theft when unhooed" it's not providing much protection while in storageGdetrailer wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
Everyone that is locking thiers...
I assume you are all using WD?
If so try this the next time you are hitched up with WD engaged.
Open/unlatch the coupler. Then use your jack to try and lift it off of the ball.
It can't be done.
And, if just one thing fails on your WD system your trailer is free to pop right off the ball
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.
valhalla360 wrote:
Only if you have so little tension on them as to not be transfering any weight.Huntindog wrote:
Everyone that is locking thiers...
I assume you are all using WD?
If so try this the next time you are hitched up with WD engaged.
Open/unlatch the coupler. Then use your jack to try and lift it off of the ball.
It can't be done.
Your test is not the same as when driving down the road:
- When slowly lifting with the jack, the bars will bend a little before lifting the back of the truck, which keeps the ball in the hitch.
- Hit a big pothole just right and the forces can be many times higher. The bars can bend 2-3 inches allowing the ball to drop far enough to come out.
So, far less likely with the WDH engaged but not impossible. Still silly not to put a pin thru the latch.- Yes, I always do, no reason just because I want to.
Huntindog wrote:
Everyone that is locking thiers...
I assume you are all using WD?
If so try this the next time you are hitched up with WD engaged.
Open/unlatch the coupler. Then use your jack to try and lift it off of the ball.
It can't be done.
And, if just one thing fails on your WD system your trailer is free to pop right off the ball..
I fail to see a valid reason to not at least stick a pin through the lock hole on the coupler like this..
A mere $1.38 to save you and other motorists from having a very bad day.. Heck it is the absolutely cheapest safety item you will ever find that you can buy..
Step up a couple of Dollars and you can get one with a tether chain like this..
The chain when connected prevents you from accidentally losing it..
An actual lock on the coupler is not needed, a pin or bolt is sufficient and prevents the coupler lever from flipping to the open position..
If that coupler lever does flip up, your going to have a lot of slop/,movement between the ball and coupler.. The resulting movement would not be safe or fun each time you start and stop.
Myself, I do add a lock to the coupler lever, not to prevent the lever from flipping up while traveling but to prevent someone from playing games and unlocking the coupler or removing and taking my trailer if I am out of sight from it..Huntindog wrote:
Everyone that is locking thiers...
I assume you are all using WD?
If so try this the next time you are hitched up with WD engaged.
Open/unlatch the coupler. Then use your jack to try and lift it off of the ball.
It can't be done.
Your test is not the same as when driving down the road:
- When slowly lifting with the jack, the bars will bend a little before lifting the back of the truck, which keeps the ball in the hitch.
- Hit a big pothole just right and the forces can be many times higher. The bars can bend 2-3 inches allowing the ball to drop far enough to come out.
So, far less likely with the WDH engaged but not impossible. Still silly not to put a pin thru the latch.- On my WD hitch trailer I put the lock in so it doesn't get lost. Although many times I don't lock it just put it in the hole. Been doing that since 2005 and not lost a lock yet.
On my 2" ball trailers I always put a clip in the coupler to keep the lever from lifting. - Everyone that is locking thiers...
I assume you are all using WD?
If so try this the next time you are hitched up with WD engaged.
Open/unlatch the coupler. Then use your jack to try and lift it off of the ball.
It can't be done. ktmrfs wrote:
However if your trailer uses a 2 5/16" ball and the keyed security lock is one that goes through the hitch pin, it's at best a cosmetic lock. that leaves the ball socket on the hitch open and all it takes for someone to drive off with your trailer is for them to drop the hitch onto a 2" ball, and then drive off.
I believe the OP was referring to while driving...so there's already a 2 5/6" ball blocking a thief from dropping it on their 2" ball...not to mention, it's doing 60mph down the freeway.
To the OP: We have a simple spring clip that keeps it from accidentally being released. No key'd lock.
