Fifth wheel hitch theft

[JCher]

Hi all. New to a fifth wheel and just had my hitch installed. I notice that the hitch is attached to the bed rails with four pins. Has anyone ever had their hitch stolen from the bed of their truck? Maybe I am seeing a potential problem that doesn't really exist. Thanks. I pick up my fifth wheel on Thursday. Looking forward to that.

[45Ricochet]

$3 vs $18.... You Portland IT guys have never known the cost factor, in it don't equate to the bottom line :B
OBTW this little clip works inside the hitch frame also and has one key for all six locks I own. Like someone said "who needs another key" :E

[rhagfo]

45Ricochet wrote:

Passin' Through wrote:

45Ricochet wrote:
They also have these little clips you can use.



I only use one and think it was about $2.

Where did you find those interesting-looking items? Can you provide a link, or more info?

LINK
😛 looks like they went up a buck

For the price difference I would rather have this one.

Fifth Wheel Pin Lock

I always push my pins in from the outside, clipping under the legs, just makes it harder to get to for kids or thieves.

Doing the same with the lock would make it hard to defeat the lock.

[2oldman]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:
have one - *always* unlocked - open and look all you (they) want.

I met a man at Lake Mead (Government wash) who not only left is coach unlocked, he left his door open when absent. His reasoning was that RV's are so easy to break into, he'd rather have them just walk in and not destroy the door. Besides, who's going to think anyone would leave his door open when not home?

Pretty clever.

[45Ricochet]

Passin' Through wrote:

45Ricochet wrote:
They also have these little clips you can use.



I only use one and think it was about $2.

Where did you find those interesting-looking items? Can you provide a link, or more info?

LINK
😛 looks like they went up a buck

[ol_Bombero-JC]

TucsonJim wrote:
They certainly can be stolen. I'd suggest this:

Fifth Wheel Pin Lock

You only need one to secure the base of your hitch to the truck.

*ANYTHING* can certainly be stolen..:S

Although it's more likely your truck will be stolen, if it makes you feel better - there's always various cables and padlocks which will achieve the same result (with one lock).

If you use keyed alike padlocks for *ALL* your locking chores, it saves a key ring full of various keys - as well as eliminating the need for duplicate keys for "one-of-a-kind" specialty locks like the one in the link..:W

BTW - locked bed covers *invite* curious thieves with any simple pry tool to damage your bed and/or cover to see if you have something of value under there - like a box full of tools, portable gen, etc.
More likely to happen in a parking lot somewhere than a campground!

Hitches don't qualify for "grab and run"..:R

Bed cover = sure!.:C
Have one - *always* unlocked - open and look all you (they) want.
Never any problem - 10 years of 5th wheel hitches in bed.

~

[jacksrbet]

I drilled a 1/4 hole behind the lock pin and install pad locks

[SandSOrrell]

Locking the release arm might be a good thing, although I don't do it. When we pull into a truck stop or rest area, one of us is always either in the truck or very close around it so it's always in sight. I will be sure to add it to my walk-around though. Good idea to check it and the breakaway switch as well.

While parked at a campground, we keep our roll-up tonneu cover closed and the tailgate locked. The only way to get into the back would be to cut open the cover, climb into the truck, and wrestle that 200# pound hitch out of there. No quick feat, unless you are a tall weight lifter! And a cardinal rule of thieves is to get in quick, grab what you came for, and get out quick, with a little hassel as possible. Pretty tough under those conditions!

[Passin__Through]

45Ricochet wrote:
They also have these little clips you can use.



I only use one and think it was about $2.

Where did you find those interesting-looking items? Can you provide a link, or more info?

[2oldman]

A rational fear is having your release lever pulled. Lock that.

[45Ricochet]

They also have these little clips you can use.



I only use one and think it was about $2.

[rseymour21]

I'll admit that I haven't worried about my hitch getting stolen. I also don't have a lock on the release arm when I'm hooked up, I do always check to make sure that it wasn't pulled while we are out of the truck.

But my last trip we overnighted at a Wal-mart and the parking lot was slightly up hill. Then it hit me that it might be a good idea to lock the release arm while sleeping. The landing grear and stablizers are up, the trailer could just roll back and land right on the bed!

[RCMAN46]

I get a kick out of ones who say they have never had a problem. In the last 30 years I have not had to put my spare tire on my car. So I guess it is a waste of space and money to carry a spare.

I bet the last person to have something stolen today probably would have told you yesterday they have never had a problem.

I lock my hitch mainly to prevent 8 year old rug rats from messing with it. My Niece had their 8 year old pull the locking pins on a Reese slider. They had some interesting towing as the trailer slid back and forth at the first stop sign.

[tsetsaf]

Never heard of it happening but I am in the market for a new one where are you parked ;).

[Me_Again]

Splashers3 wrote:
We have 2 locks on the bedrails, and have the 2 that are not locked facing inward. Somebody would have to climb in the bed to pull those, can't be reached from standing outside on the ground. The first year or so we locked the hitch release, but we don't anymore.

I try to check everything when we stop, buy doing a walk around, before I climb back in and head out.

Oh, forgot, we have had the pin removed from our landing gear foot pad. I check those all the time too.

I also drilled two of my pins for padlocks and when on the road put a lock on the release handle. I do the same thing of the unlocked bed pins slide them in the other direction and put the clips on from the inside out inside the hitch rails. I put the locked one on opposite corners. I have about 8 2" shank locks all keyed to the same key.

Chris

[Rob_Mitch]

Years ago I had a receiver hitch stolen off the back of my truck in Houston. I use locks on all my hitches now.