Fifth Wheel hitch security

Voyager Mike wrote:
What no one seems to be thinking about is that a fifth wheel hitch in the bed of a pickup is useless unless the mounting plates on the frame beneath the pickup bed are taken also. You cannot just bolt a hitch to the bed of a pickup, it would rip out or rip the bed off the truck. Have you ever looked underneath a truck to see the typical six small bolts that hold the bed on?

About the only use I can think of, would be for someone who had some serious wear problems, and want to steal some parts. Even then, have you ever heard of anyone doing that?

The head is very easily removed on any B&W without it being locked and is of value.

I lock both sides of mine and also the handle that closes the jaws around the KingPin.

up2nogood wrote:

mowermech wrote:
" Locking it just keeps honest people honest. A thief will get something if they really want it."

While I understand the sentiment behind that statement, I have to disagree.
Truly HONEST people don't steal things, whether they are locked or not.
THIEVES, on the other hand, may be deterred by a lock, or may merely be slowed down by it.
I wonder if vandalism and theft are REALLY prevalent enough to justify the worry? Yes, it DOES happen (apparently; I have no personal experience with either occurrence, except for the theft of a CB radio and a handy-man jack many years ago. But, that was in my back yard, not when traveling!) How many of you have had NO such occurrences while traveling around the country, and don't lock everything?

I agree,I lock the fifth wheel, and that will just slow them down some, probably be better to leave it unlocked less to repair. Storage locks are useless. I have never had anything stolen while rving . As far as the hitch goes never worried about it, but the truck has never been in a place where I think someone would have a decent chance at stealing it. Matter of fact never gave it any thought that someone would steal mine, but I guess it could happen, but will not lose any sleep over it, nor will I change what I am doing. Heck if it got stolen then I could make Cummins happy, and get a B & W and never worry again about dropping a fifth wheel :)

Good man! I am glad all my preaching about B&W's have made an impression on you!

Thanks for the laugh.

What no one seems to be thinking about is that a fifth wheel hitch in the bed of a pickup is useless unless the mounting plates on the frame beneath the pickup bed are taken also. You cannot just bolt a hitch to the bed of a pickup, it would rip out or rip the bed off the truck. Have you ever looked underneath a truck to see the typical six small bolts that hold the bed on?

About the only use I can think of, would be for someone who had some serious wear problems, and want to steal some parts. Even then, have you ever heard of anyone doing that?

mowermech wrote:
" Locking it just keeps honest people honest. A thief will get something if they really want it."

While I understand the sentiment behind that statement, I have to disagree.
Truly HONEST people don't steal things, whether they are locked or not.
THIEVES, on the other hand, may be deterred by a lock, or may merely be slowed down by it.
I wonder if vandalism and theft are REALLY prevalent enough to justify the worry? Yes, it DOES happen (apparently; I have no personal experience with either occurrence, except for the theft of a CB radio and a handy-man jack many years ago. But, that was in my back yard, not when traveling!) How many of you have had NO such occurrences while traveling around the country, and don't lock everything?

I agree,I lock the fifth wheel, and that will just slow them down some, probably be better to leave it unlocked less to repair. Storage locks are useless. I have never had anything stolen while rving . As far as the hitch goes never worried about it, but the truck has never been in a place where I think someone would have a decent chance at stealing it. Matter of fact never gave it any thought that someone would steal mine, but I guess it could happen, but will not lose any sleep over it, nor will I change what I am doing. Heck if it got stolen then I could make Cummins happy, and get a B & W and never worry again about dropping a fifth wheel :)

I think the best best for a lock would be a locking pin. It's thick enough where you can't really cut through it with easily accessible/portable tools.

But let me ask this... who here has had their hitch or knows of someone who has had their 5th wheel hitch stolen?

I've removed mine by myself several times, and I can tell you it's not a pleasantly easy task. It's very heavy, and there's a lot of loud banging, scraping and cursing involved. I've gotten better at it with practice though.

Well folks after receiving a particularly vitriolic private message from a neophyte member I am going to abdicate my member status in this thread/forum. Best of luck to all. Goodbye.

AZ T&T wrote:
I've always been worried I would loose the top section of my companion hitch so I run a cable lock through the loops for the gooseneck chains and up the middle of the hitch. If anything it will slow down a thief.

I don't think anyone but another camper would even know how to get it off. ;-) As it takes wrenches to get the base out, I don't worry about it all that much. I have a basic lock on the pin (slotted tube with padlock) just to keep honest people honest. ;-)

Lyle

I seem to remember a couple of years ago someone posted that someone stole the pins out of the rails and he had to go hunting for replacement pins before he cold get out of campground.

To secure my Curt fifth wheel hitch I use these plates that are sold on Amazon by Hitchworkz. I promise you that no one is going to steal my 5th wheel hitch.

http://amzn.to/172Ny5u

" Locking it just keeps honest people honest. A thief will get something if they really want it."

While I understand the sentiment behind that statement, I have to disagree.
Truly HONEST people don't steal things, whether they are locked or not.
THIEVES, on the other hand, may be deterred by a lock, or may merely be slowed down by it.
I wonder if vandalism and theft are REALLY prevalent enough to justify the worry? Yes, it DOES happen (apparently; I have no personal experience with either occurrence, except for the theft of a CB radio and a handy-man jack many years ago. But, that was in my back yard, not when traveling!) How many of you have had NO such occurrences while traveling around the country, and don't lock everything?