I had my pickup in for some service and the mechanic along with another customer pointed out to me that I needed to protect my new 5th wheel hitch from being stolen. I had not considered this threat before now, but with the number of drug addicts and low lifes around, I guess I should take some precaution.If you have yours locked down, how did you do it? Mine has these four pins that keep the hitch attacked to the bottom rails.I don't see any way of chaining it down.It's a Curt 20,000lb model.

Some people weld tabs onto them so that they can be padlocked.I have a hard bed cover that locks.(edit to add) Though, that's not why I have the bed cover. I have that because I wanted it. I figure my hitch is heavy and would be a hassle to be stolen. That's enough for me.

I asked a similar question a year or so ago. The general concensus was 5er hitches are pretty heavy and cumbersome. Scumbags probably aren't interested in the time it takes to remove them or the physical strength one has to posess to move them.I have a locking pin on one side to keep the head attached to the hitch. Another thing could be add a locking pin to the base that attaches to the bed rails.

Mine is locked under a solid cover. So first part is out of site, out of mind. Second is a decent lock on the cover.

I have these metal tabs that have a larger hole connected to a small hole. If you rail pins have a groove in them instead of a hole for the clip. You slide the tab over the end of the pin through the larger hole and into the smaller hole then put a lock through the larger hole. If I can find a pic I will post it.

See if you can find some pull pins with locks on them. That is what I did or just wrap a big chain around it. Could use the release pin and put a lock there with a chain around the rest. Something like that. A cover of the bed is nice but sometimes not needed.

Ideas for protecting my hitch from theft | Good Sam Community

relaxin
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
leave a really big and nasty dog tied up in the back of your truck with a sign around his neck that say's "go ahead and try"
austinjenna
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
Drill the hole in the hitch pin larger and put a padlock on it

Thats what I did as well, quick, easy and no tabs or anything else to buy
dpam
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
To prevent theft I use cable ties. The pins that came with the hitch have a hole and a cutter pin that goes through the hole. I put a cable tie around the cutter pin ends and pull it tight and then cut off the excess cable tie.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jun 23, 2013
I lock the head to the base with two padlocks on my B&W and one on the handle. I do this more for the jerk that could pull your handle while at a rest stop than theft.
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 23, 2013
The entire truck is more vulnerable and desirable than the hitch. A thief will steal the entire truck and not fool around with the hitch!
If your worried put an alarm on the truck and forget about it.
There is little to no black market for hitches.
They are not worth much, are too hard to handle and there is very little demand/market for a stolen hitch. It's not like everyone can use it.
sharkbait2012
Explorer
Jun 23, 2013
I use these hitch lock plates that are sold on Amazon by Hitchworkz. They are easy to use and can be used with your existing hitchpins. $19.95 is not a bad price to keep someone from stealing my thousand dollar fifth wheel hitch.

http://amzn.to/142Pk5k
xPIXx
Explorer
Oct 28, 2012
Drill the hole in the hitch pin larger and put a padlock on it.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 28, 2012
When I am in area I don't trust I put the steel ring and lock on the King Pin!
b_pilot
Explorer
Oct 28, 2012
You should be more concerned about someone stealing your fifth wheel trailer than the hitch. My 36th foot Everest 5th wheel was stolen from my storage lot. You can check out my story here. I've nere heard of anyone having a hitch taken out of their truck. But then I'd never heard of a large 5th wheel being stolen either. If scum bags want something, they will go to any lenght to get it.
mrwacky
Explorer
Oct 27, 2012
After reading one reply, I thought it made the most sense. I'm calling the insurance agent and making sure that a replacement hitch is included in the event of theft. It would be an inconvenience to find the hitch missing, but it only took two days for the original to be delivered.

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