Pad Locks

[glazier]

Who uses pad locks on their 5th wheel hitch? Have you ever heard of someone pulling the jaw slide on someones hitch, on purpose to cause them to drop their trailer?

[One Country Boy]

I just use pins here. Never had anyone open the slide on me. Did that happen to you? Hope not.

Jim

[Haul n it all]

I think this is a urban legend, heard the story many times but never met anyone with first hand experience. That said I never get in my truck at a shopping plaza, rest area or restaurant or any public parking area without checking the hitch and elec. plug + door and walking around trailer looking for some idiots idea of humor or vandalism like bottles under tires and the like. In 20 some years I have never found anything wrong but it only takes one nut to ruin your day. And no I don't lock the hitch with a pad lock ,just a clevis pin. I carry to many keys already.

[glazier]

No, I have never met anyone who had that happen. You just see a lot of people on other boards talking about this topic. I could see locking the hitch to the truck to prevent theft. I would never dream of someone being that big of a thug to pull the jaws open on a fifth wheel.

[taviking22]

I use a spring jawed carabiner on the handle lock. I'm more concerned about the lock handle vibrating open, hitting a bump and having the hitch jaws open than having some nitwit purposely pull the handle. And I thought I was overly paranoid about accidental releases!

I do try to remember to do a walk-around when returning to the rig after parking to do a visual check.

[gmauermann]

I guess I'm the exception here. I'm a rookie 5'ver and the dealer who installed my Reece 16K recommended locks on the hitch to prevent tampering. I bought a set of 2 matching padlocks and lock the jaw slide and 1 corner of the hitch leg to the bed rail with a lock link.

[yogi154]

I also use a pin but my new Reese 20 K hitch is so hard to un-lock ( A Good Thing ). You have to go from reverse to neutral and re-release the brakes and some times that still is iffy.
Ok what do you use to lock the 5th wheel hitch to the bed rails??? I tried the reciever locks but they didn't reach.
Thanks Wayne

[gmauermann]

I use a pull pin lock plate. You insert a padlock through the lock plate at the end of your pull pin. A set of 4 costs $13.50 at www.hitchcorner.com, although you only need to use 1 of them to lock 1 pull pin to the rail.

[yogi154]

Thanks Gmauermann
I ordered the lock plates & a ladder rack for the bikes.
Wayne

[jasum]

Originally Posted by yogi154

I also use a pin but my new Reese 20 K hitch is so hard to un-lock ( A Good Thing ). You have to go from reverse to neutral and re-release the brakes and some times that still is iffy.
Ok what do you use to lock the 5th wheel hitch to the bed rails??? I tried the reciever locks but they didn't reach.
Thanks Wayne

If you spray white grease on the underside where Reese points out, your hitch will release a lot easier.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Haul n it all

I think this is a urban legend,

X-2. RVing for over 45 years and have never had anybody mention having that problem.

[vcbice]

The only time I have heard of this issue is on the forums. I do not put any locks on mine, but, I also check it before I get back in the truck. Just takes a glance in the bed of the truck before I open the door.

What I have had happen is the brake cable has come loose. So, I check it more often than most might.

[prm99v6]

I use a Bolt padlock to lock the arms on my B&W so it can't be removed (at least super easily) from the truck. It's just a deterrent for the quick passerby. Guess I could do the same thing with the jaw handle.

[Jim Smyth]

I put a lock through so no one can undo my hitch.

[RoadrunnerII]

I use locks. Used hitch pins with safety pin clips when farming. Had them go missing.
Hitch is locked down to truck all 4 pins. Reese adapter is locked. Kingpin Release is locked. Stone catcher on 2 inch receiver is locked. I don't trust spring safety pins and I don't need the problem IF someone wants to be a jerk and pull a pin.
Yeh I am paranoid I'd it's locked its not coming undone unless I do it or a lock fails

RoadrunnerII

[Rock]

Ya I lock one of the mount pins on my Reese hitch and also pad lock the handle just for piece of mind. I carry a lot of stuff in the bed and do not want to chance something moving and lifting the lock handle in a turn. I also put the safety cable thru the handle pad lock.
I keep the hitch clean and lubed and most times the handle unlocks or just a slight move of the truck will do. Now unlocking the slider can be a problem. I can have the DW rock truck while I try to move slide handle and most time that works. But also have had to drop landing gear and remove a little weight.
Rock

[Marine71-76]

Yes we use a padlock on our hitch. No, it didn't happen to us however, a truck driver friend had it happen to him. Not taking a chance.

[Rock]

Marine 71-76
How do u guys like ur FBTS? I am retired Coastie. 1972-1998
Rock

[Marine71-76]

Originally Posted by Rock

Marine 71-76
How do u guys like ur FBTS? I am retired Coastie. 1972-1998
Rock

For the most part we love it. It lacks storage that our Cameo had (basement storage was awesome). We travel with 3 felines & the litter box fits nicely in the front bathroom. One thing we would have liked was for the downstairs bathroom to be a storage area (which it is for us - don't use the toilet). There are small things that if QC had been used there wouldn't be some of the issues. Now we are dealing with the underbelly being wet on the door side - we think it is the trim between the side & roof line & it is running down the joint.

Thank you for your service!

[Rock]

When u find ur leak please post the cause.

Rock