On Oct.13 we traveled from SC, with our Fleetwood Bounder DP to Dauphin Island in AL with our Saturn Vue in tow. The first day we traveled aprox. 300 miles, stopped in Pine Island overnight. I ran the Engine on the Saturn that evening putting the car in gear and reverse several times. The next day we continued our journey and at aprox. 250 to 260 miles in to our trip, I noticed smoke behind the motorhome. I pulled over to the side and walked back to the tow and noticed heavy smoke coming from under the hood of the Saturn. Running to the RV and getting my Fire Extinguisher, by the time I got back to the Tow there were flames coming out from the Grill of the SUV. The Fire Extinguisher did little at that time. The importance now was to get the Motorhome away from the Flames and heavy smoke. The problem now was that I had the Tow Hitch locked with a Pin Lock to the Motorhome and I had difficulties unlocking the lock. I finally succeeded unlocking the Hitch, unhooking the safety cables with the aid from another motorist that kept the flames away from me with his Fire Extinguisher. I pulled the RV away from the flames and by the time Fire Department and Police showed up, the SUV was burned out. Had I not been able to unlock the Hitch the Motorhome would have burned to the ground with the SUV. As of today we have no Idea what caused the Fire, but I suspect the SUV jumped in to gear for what ever reason during the tow, because the back of the SUV was covered with oil. I heard of destroying the Transmission in this case, but the Tow Vehicle catching Fire is absurd. Lucky I only received slight burns on my left arm, forehead and ear but otherwise we are OK.:S

Teddychamp, thank goodness you are OK even though slightly injured. I would be more afraid of someone stealing my hitch than the very small chance of my tow car catching fire. Either way, that's what insurance is for.Glad that you saved the coach.MM.

If I had motorhome insurance, it would not have been worth saving the motorhome more than burning up my left arm, even a little bit.Glad to hear you are safe, but really - the motorhome is much easier to replace than either arm or your hair, or - whatever might have caught fire.Be happy the battery did not short and explode next to you on the ground under the RV.Also happy to hear you where not wearing polyester, as it tends to melt to the skin, while cotton will just catch fire and not melt to the skin.Fred.

Friends had their toad pass them on the side of the road while driving along the freeway in the desert. They think the hitch pins had been removed by someone at a restaurant parking lot earlier. They recovered their toad, undamaged, and reconnected it, padlocking the hitch on every trip thereafter.I've always padlocked our hitch.

Yes thank goodness everyone is ok. You have given me pause but I still think keeping my hitch lock will serve me better than unlocked. I won't use lock pins at the base plate so I can maintain a quick release if needed. Sounds like that would not have helped much if flames were keeping from getting near those connections.

Fishinghat wrote:Friends had their toad pass them on the side of the road while driving along the freeway in the desert. They think the hitch pins had been removed by someone at a restaurant parking lot earlier. They recovered their toad, undamaged, and reconnected it, padlocking the hitch on every trip thereafter.I've always padlocked our hitch.I use to, but don't any more. But I sure do check the lynch pins as part of my pre-trip walk around before pulling out of anywhere I'm stopped! I also carry extra ones, just in case.

Do not Lock your Hitch | Good Sam Community

mowermech
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
gotsmart wrote:
mowermech wrote:
I never leave the key in the Jeep when we are stopped. The first thing I do when we stop is remove the key and lock the doors. After all, I have an expensive Yaesu radio in there, and I don't want to make it easy for somebody to get it!
The last thing I do before we leave is unlock the Jeep, put the key in, and set it to unlock the steering.
The same procedure, EVERY time!

Those FT-101s can be a pain to replace. lol :W

Actually, the FT-101ZD is on the desk in the home radio shack, with an Astatic D-104 lollipop mic attached. It feeds a Butternut antenna through a Dentron Super Tuner. Besides, it is a 110VAC unit.
However, the FT-301 series are 12VDC, and can be used in a mobile application. IF you have lots of room.
The Jeep has an FT-857D. Nice radio, but pricey!
There are almost always half a dozen or more FT-101s of various models, on eBay.
I just checked, there are currently 12 radios and 373 parts/accessories listed under "Yaesu FT-101"!
Jagtech
Explorer
Nov 09, 2013
The hitch on my rig has a combination-type lock, which I can have removed in less than 10 seconds if necessary. No need to go looking for a key.
et2
Explorer
Nov 08, 2013
My Blue Ox came with all locking connections which I use. I'm not worrying about something being stolen. More of something coming loose hurting someone or pranksters. If something burns then so be it. I'm not risking my life trying to unhook in a panic situation. What happens when that burning car rolls back into traffic after you safely rescue your MH?
gotsmart
Explorer
Nov 08, 2013
mowermech wrote:
I never leave the key in the Jeep when we are stopped. The first thing I do when we stop is remove the key and lock the doors. After all, I have an expensive Yaesu radio in there, and I don't want to make it easy for somebody to get it!
The last thing I do before we leave is unlock the Jeep, put the key in, and set it to unlock the steering.
The same procedure, EVERY time!

Those FT-101s can be a pain to replace. lol :W
J-Rooster
Explorer
Nov 08, 2013
I call it keeping an honest man honest! I lock my receiver, my hitch and my tow bar always when traveling and have been doing it for a long time.
mowermech
Explorer
Nov 08, 2013
I never leave the key in the Jeep when we are stopped. The first thing I do when we stop is remove the key and lock the doors. After all, I have an expensive Yaesu radio in there, and I don't want to make it easy for somebody to get it!
The last thing I do before we leave is unlock the Jeep, put the key in, and set it to unlock the steering.
The same procedure, EVERY time!
msmith1199
Explorer II
Nov 08, 2013
Sully2 wrote:
Valkyriebush wrote:
I use a non-starting toad key to unlock steering wheel. Car won't run for more than a couple of sec's with this key.

I use a regular starting key to do that and then lock all the doors....I can unlock them remotely so I dont worry about a key being in the ignition

The point was if the key is in the ignition and the toad isn't locked to the motorhome, then even the stupid auto thieves can steal your car in about 30 seconds. Unless you have ballistic glass in the car locking the door only adds about 3 seconds to the process.
Sully2
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Valkyriebush wrote:
I use a non-starting toad key to unlock steering wheel. Car won't run for more than a couple of sec's with this key.

I use a regular starting key to do that and then lock all the doors....I can unlock them remotely so I dont worry about a key being in the ignition
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 07, 2013
I lock hte hitch adapter (Tow bars 2" square shaft) to the RV in 2 different ways.. WHY

Well 1 because it came loose once, Near as I can tell a safety cable (Break-away) snagged the haipin and then the big tow pin came out.

The other way because it stabilizes my bicycle carrier (Ant-rattle clip or hitch immobiliser depending on who and when you buy it )

I do not lock the arms at the Towed end, Just the spring clips. (one of which went walk-about on me but I did not loose the pin it locks)

I also carry a much better extinguisher plus training on using them (Something you should get, Mac the Fire guy is a good instructor by the way, I am NOT an instructor, You can google Mac)

Last "RV Fire" I saw the RV had a bit of smoke damage to the outside, I suspect a good bath fixed it.. The tow vehicle however (Pickup and trailer) was toast.

Not my 1st Car-B-Que. but hey.... I was a police dispatcher for a quarter century. And fire was there already when I passed on this one (I have had a couple (2 or 3 forget which) where I made the original call...I'm sure one poor guy was quite surprised when the FD showed up at the Taco Bell where he was lunching "THAT'S MY TRUCK" kind of surprised,, Well, it was his truck) Turns out I was the ONLY one who called that one in per my daughter's Godfather, who was the Fire Dispatcher on duty that hour)
deandec
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Aha.....so perhaps my locking the hitch and then putting the key inside the toad prior to towing is not a top idea......