Stolen tow bars

[Tom_Barb]

Second time this year friends have had their towing equipment stolen off the rear of their coaches.
If your tow bar is attached to your coach by a quick release pin, change it to a grade 8 bolt and a steel stop nut. Lock good and tight.

Tow bars are not cheap and they sell good on E-Bay.

Those who know how, can have your bar and be gone in 30 seconds.

Think about this too,, there are only 5 master keys that will unlock every compartment door in the entire industry.

But I see now the industry is starting to use keyless locking systems, I wonder how long it will be until those are compromised ?

[rgatijnet1]

In addition to the locking pin, I also use one of the anti-rattle devices which means that a thief would have to spend the time to defeat two items before the hitch can be removed. The upside is that my tow bar does not rattle which means less wear and tear on both the tow bar and the hitch.

[hohenwald48]

discovery4us wrote:
The bolt and nut are good but a thief with a Makita impact gun will have it off just as quick as a standard pin.

And a thief with a cut-off wheel on a battery powered angle grinder will have the locks off just as quick.

I suspect most tow bar thefts are spur of the moment impulses on the part of the thief. If somebody shows up with intent, proper tools and a little planning nothing short of an armed guard will stop them.

[dcbrewer]

Tom N wrote:
I use one of these locking hitch pins. Available everywhere.

Same one I use!!

[discovery4us]

My Demco towbar came with a locking receiver hitch pin and locks for the vehicle connection tabs. Always a good idea to have a lock.

The bolt and nut are good but a thief with a Makita impact gun will have it off just as quick as a standard pin.

[Trackrig]

Effy wrote:
Second time? Once would have been enough to get a locking pin. I have one on mine. Tow bars are too expensive and easy to steal not to lock them.

X2 Lock it

Bill

[Tom_Barb]

Tom N wrote:
I use one of these locking hitch pins. Available everywhere.

These do not fit the hole well enough and promote wear in the hitch, and bar.

I had to ream to the next larger bolt size and use a tight fitting bolt. now there is no movement to allow wear

[Tom_Barb]

Pogoil wrote:
Where were they stolen from??? Parking lot or campground- RV. park???

One from their home, one from a Home Depot parking lot.

[Tom_Barb]

Effy wrote:
Second time? Once would have been enough to get a locking pin. I have one on mine. Tow bars are too expensive and easy to steal not to lock them.

2 different owners.

[Effy]

Second time? Once would have been enough to get a locking pin. I have one on mine. Tow bars are too expensive and easy to steal not to lock them.

[Pogoil]

Where were they stolen from??? Parking lot or campground- RV. park???

[Tom_N]

I use one of these locking hitch pins. Available everywhere.

[K_Charles]

I am glad I don't have to live (or camp) in a crime ridden area.