Lost a pin on the tow bar. Don't use these pins!!

[Big_Katuna]

Was headed north on I-95 near Ormond Beach and noticed the toad was wandering around and only one side of the tow bar connected.

Slowly coasted in N and pulled off, not using any brakes.

A pin was missing and I was towing with one arm. I unhitched, moved the car and reattached, no damage done. I always carry spare hitch pins.

I had been using the hitch pins with the swivel latch and the best I can figure is the little Chinese rivet fell out and the latch fell off. I KNOW I flipped it around.

I wont be using those anymore.

Scared the bejesus out of me.

Like these. CLICKY

[rockhillmanor]

Paddocks? Are you guys talking about a residential type padlock like you would lock up a storage unit????

I would NEVER even think of using any type of cotter pin with or without some sort of hoky locking clip or a padlock to secure a full size car towing.

Those are the first things I threw out and bought a 'set' of three locking hitch pins keyed the same.

2 go on the toad and the other one goes on the hitch to the tow bar.



You may not have even lost that cotter pin. There are NUMEROUS reports of RV'ers having kids and idiots pulling a pin out while the RV and toad where parked in a restaurant parking lot. AND reports of stolen tow bars off the back of RV's when parked and the toad not connected.

IMHO those of you who continue to use the cotter pins I would be checking each and every time you park that they are still in place. Just saying.

[Solo]

msmith1199 wrote:
I've never used pins. Threw them away first thing and use only padlocks. There have been other stories on here of pins coming up missing after people have stopped for gas or a rest area. I do always try and walk back and take a look after making a short stop, but it would take somebody some effort to cut one of the locks off.

Count me as another user of padlocks. As I was doing my quick walk-around a few years ago after stopping in a public area, one of our pins were missing!! The pin must have been needed by someone else so they helped themselves.

[J-Rooster]

Thanks for the info (Clicky) on that pin. Do you know if the pin failed or some foul play was involved at your last stop before the pin came out.

[msmith1199]

I've never used pins. Threw them away first thing and use only padlocks. There have been other stories on here of pins coming up missing after people have stopped for gas or a rest area. I do always try and walk back and take a look after making a short stop, but it would take somebody some effort to cut one of the locks off.

[wallynm]

We use small pad locks and lock them in place. I have read kids sometime remove the pins when you stop and go in to eat. We check them after every stop as part of the walk around.

[96Bounder30E]

Tinstar wrote:
96Bounder30E, think he's talking about the other kind. Same as the OP

I'm not sure as he quoted my post?... Hopefully Pirate comes back to clear it all up....

[Dutch_12078]

I prefer pins that can be undone quickly in the event of an emergency. Several years ago, another fellow and I were able to unhook a toad from the back of burning Class C because the pins were not locked. The toad and its contents were the only things saved for the owners when they were released from the hospital.

[donkeydew]

had you recently stopped at a rest area? i had both removed at a rest area,don't know if a trucker didn't like to share or a kid but i was lucky to notice it before we moved. now use locking one

[DC_MC]

We only use padlocks. Nobody can undo them except us

[Tinstar]

96Bounder30E, think he's talking about the other kind. Same as the OP

[J_R2]

supercub wrote:
I use locking pins. That way no one can remove them when parked. I always walk around and look, but just in case I forget some day. I've never had any trouble with the locking pins, but I do carry a spare set, just in case.

Ditto. Over 40 years towing in one way or another, have never had on fail. Now lose one when unhooked, yea.

[96Bounder30E]

Pirate wrote:

96Bounder30E wrote:
http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/

These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....

Have had two of them fail. Won't use again. Yes, they were in the correct way. I use this type now.

Please describe how they failed.......I fail to see how.......

[Pirate1]

96Bounder30E wrote:
http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/

These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....

Have had two of them fail. Won't use again. Yes, they were in the correct way. I use this type now.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

96Bounder30E wrote:
http://blueox.com/products/tow-bar/84-0140-kit-tow-bar-pins-with-clip-2-each/

These hitch pins are the only ones that I'll use....

I use those pins in various applications. I've never had one fail.

[supercub]

I use locking pins. That way no one can remove them when parked. I always walk around and look, but just in case I forget some day. I've never had any trouble with the locking pins, but I do carry a spare set, just in case.