dumb problem with blue ox tow bar hookup

[steveandjil]

Hi Folks,

For 5 years I have been towing a Jeep Wrangler behind my Winnebago View. I have a blue ox setup. It works like a charm, but I have one problem - a thick steel pin slides through the tow arms from the motorhome and receiving brackets on that are put onto the jeep tow bar when you are ready to tow. This in turn is held in with a cotter pin. The cotter pin is in turn "locked" into place with a circular piece of steel that is off center in the way it ia attached - this keeps it in place. I know this sounds confusing, but to anyone who has used it, you should immediately recognize what I mean.

Here's the problem, if the pin is put in top to bottom, after towing for a time it turns a bit and gets stuck on the metal of the tow arm. You need a hammer to get it out. It seems this just cannot be right. The one way I can avoid this is to install the pin from bottom to top, but even with those circular locks, it just does not seem safe.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. If my description is impossible to understand, I'll post pics.

Thanks,

Steve

[Grit_dog]

So many different types of hitch pins, lock pins, spring clips, locks, etc.
go browse the hardware store and find something that suits your application and works better than what you have if it’s a problem.

[RVER]

MAKE sure the "fingers that match the tow bar and pin should be such that when you put the PIN in, it is going horizontally and then put the SNAP PIN in the hole of the big pin holding the fingers so they mate to the thing that comes out from the car base plate. I do not understand how your snap pin is getting wedged into the fingers. I have a Blue Ox tow bar etc and am about to have a base plate put on a used jeep I bought, I now am using a Smart
Car and it was easy and hope the JEEP is as easy!!

[Johno02]

Always have used the spring pins, and always carry a couple of extras. Have lost several over the years, and have had some stolen. Have NEVER had one come out. You do need to relieve tension on the hitch or the main pins can be very difficult.

[steveandjil]

Great idea on the pad locks. Appreciate the help that says it couldn’t possibly happen if installed correctly.

I’m going to try the locking pins.

[imgoin4it]

Sometimes I use pad locks. Can get then keyed alike and can’t be disconnected until the lock is removed. Can’t be removed by anyone else while your having lunch either

[haddy1]

The only way they could stick if installed correctly is if your bracket is grooved because of them being installed incorrectly.

[steveandjil]

Actually looking again, I am putting them in the correct way. As your picture shows, they are tightly jammed against the bar. In my case even worse. When they get hot from a long day of driving, they get really wedged. They were not put in the wrong way, and still jam. As in the correct picture, even the thinner orientation of the pin jams against the tow arm metal.

[steveandjil]

So to be honest, the reason I never did it the correct way is as your picture shows, the ring does not close down completely to the rest of the assembly. If that’s ok, then it is clear what you are showing will avoid the problem!

Really grateful for the help.

Steve

[haddy1]

I never even thought that someone would put the locking pins in the wrong way. It seems obvious to me which way they go, but I've only been using a Blue Ox setup for about 17 years. If they didn't wedge, they probably could fall out. Now I have something else to think about every time a MH towing something passes me.

[jplante4]

The heads on those lynch pins are not symmetrical. They only go in one way (correctly). You can jam them in the wrong way and have the problem the OP had.

Incorrect



Correct



Those locking pins are great until they load up with road grime.

[steveandjil]

Yup, just ordered from amazon.

Steve

[DFord]

Blue Ox BX88101 two 1/2 locks and one 5/8 Lock Kit

[steveandjil]

The "big pin" is indeed horizontal. The little pin that holds that in is vertical. The idea of switching the orientation may work, I'll try that. I also saw the locking pins, may try that.

Thanks all, anyone else that this problem?

Steve

[K_Charles]

I agree, there is no top to bottom.