Check the receiver pin

zuiko · Aug 2, 2004

The trailer I was pulling started to sway pretty bad on the freeway. Pulled over and the pin that holds the drawbar into the receiver came out and disappeared. Luckily the trailer was empty at the time. I managed to get to a walmart and bought two pins, one to carry with as a backup.

I wouldn't have expected one of these to get loose since it isn't being pulled on at all but it's something else to check every time you go somewhere. It sure is good to have working safety chains.

Golfgar4 · Aug 2, 2004

I bet the same thing happened to a guy I was following yesterday. My wife and I were coming home from a concert in a nearby resort town, and I got behind a guy pulling a U-haul. As I was coming up behind him, I commented to my wife that the guy was having trouble with his trailer, because it was swaying back and forth. We were on a 2 lane state highway, with a speed limit of 55 mph.

Well, the guy was only doing about 40 mph, but I stayed WELL back because I didn't know what was going on. I told the wife that either his hitch was coming loose, or he hadn't paid attention to how he loaded the trailer and it was unbalanced. All of a sudden, he hit the brakes and started pulling over to the right. Once he was off of the roadway, I started to go around him. I couldn't see what the specific problem was, but I did notice that he didn't have his safety chains hooked up! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I am VERY glad he pulled off! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

JDgreen227 · Aug 2, 2004

I have towed utility and travel trailers for over 20 years and I have ALWAYS used a lock to secure both the hitchball coupler and receiver pull pin. There are numerous types on the market and I consider them cheap insurance against the trailer coming unhooked.

Another benefit of using a lock on the receiver is it will almost eliminate the possibility of theft. My GMC uses a weight distributing type hitch, with the ball it cost close to $200...I have never understood why some people don't want to pay $15 to secure their expensive hitches.

About 8 years ago I was camping in a state campground up near Traverse City, several people in one isolated area had their hitches "borrowed" overnight. Needless to say, all those folks were NOT using a lock to secure their equipment.

SageBrush · Aug 2, 2004

Amen, I've never had a locked ball mount come loose or had one stolen. I did lose a key once and found out real quick how easy they are to cut. I now use a "stainless" lock, if I lose both keys again I'll post on its resistance to my saw. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

higgy · Aug 2, 2004

I had two hiches stolen, one from my car, one from my MH. Both were taken on the same night. I think that the theives could haul all they wanted that night.

I lock mine on now!

Makes you very mad when they borrow like that.

Dane

Junkman · Aug 2, 2004

I always remove it from the car when not in use. That way, I don't have to worry about theft or anyone having a broken shin bone if they walk into it in a parking lot. I have been told that in MA, you can get ticketed if you don't remove it from the vehicle when it isn't in use. You can also get sued if someone walks into it in a parking lot and gets injured. That was the reasoning behind the law, so I was told.

JDgreen227 · Aug 2, 2004

I find it inane that it would be illegal to leave a hitch bar installed when not in use...seems to me it's no more dangerous than leaving your pickup tailgate down or having building materials sticking out of the back. If someone is close enough to your hitch bar to injure themselves, they are obviously not paying attention or planning to "borrow" it.

Now, is there also a law against those "hitch packers" that use the receiver to support a cargo platform? THAT I can understand being a safety hazard.

DiskDoctr · Aug 2, 2004

How about those extended side mirrors for towing, or even the factory ones on the giant SUVs and trucks (you know, the 2' x3' versions- exaggerating, of course)?

I've run into those before, trying to go between vehicles.

Maybe the hitch law has something to do with the length of the vehicle with the hitch installed?

-JC

BRIGUY · Aug 3, 2004

I always leave my hitch in the receiver. I don't drive my truck to work (80 mi round trip) or take it out in the winter very often. Salt is a terrible thing on $30k vehicles. If I drove the truck in the winter I would use the rubber plug I bought for the receiver. So it wouldn't rust it's self in permanently.

That said the reason I never remove the hitch is because I have been rear ended (fairly lightly) twice. After the first time (had hitch in) my truck was fine and the putz that hit me, his vehicle was a mess. So I left it in from there on out. Second time a few months later the same thing happened, no damage to me and a big hole in the car behind me.

A hitch on the back can also be handy if an inconsiderate person parks behind you, blocking you in. Like at a concert or at college. Quicker than waiting for the police and a wrecker to move the car blocking you in.

Bird · Aug 3, 2004

( I always remove it from the car when not in use )

Me, too. I never heard of a law requiring it, but I didn't have to hit my shinbone on it but once, many years ago, to learn that it shouldn't be on there when not in use. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

zuiko · Aug 3, 2004

It's funny you mention that because I originally had one of those stainless deadbolt type pins with the integral lock. It froze up on me and would not open with the key. I ended up cutting it off with a hacksaw. It's not really hard steel so it is doable but not a fun job.

slowrev · Aug 3, 2004

Junkman,
A politician must have banged his/her shins on one. If it effects them the politicians take action.

markct · Aug 3, 2004

( It's funny you mention that because I originally had one of those stainless deadbolt type pins with the integral lock. It froze up on me and would not open with the key. I ended up cutting it off with a hacksaw. It's not really hard steel so it is doable but not a fun job.
)

i dont understand why everyone is always under the impression that stainless steel is so much harder to cut, or drill or whatever, just like regular steel there are many grades of stainless steel, 303 stainless machines and cuts just as easy as mild steel, sometimes even easier, then there are tougher alloys like 304 that are extremely gummy and work harden very easily. the advantage is that 304 can bend and bend and not break usualy, i have used it for pins on backhoe buckets that had worn quick couplers, a normal pin would flex and break but 304 rarely would. those are just two examples or stainless i work with often, there are many more types some hard some soft so just remember that stainless steel is not all tough, its just like regular steel in that it has different grades

slowzuki · Aug 3, 2004

In Canada those hitches don't get stolen easily after their first winter. They rust solid in place.

A neighbour was going to loan his out but even after dragging his Dodge 1/2 ton around the yard in park with his tractor the hitch still wouldn't come out!

Junkman · Aug 3, 2004

Does anyone have a good solution to remove the hitch when they get rusted in? My yard truck came with the hitch in the receiver 25 years ago and I have never been able to remove it.

MicroPilot · Aug 3, 2004

I wonder if the heat and candle wax trick someone posted in the Muffler Wrap thread would work here?

slowzuki · Aug 3, 2004

I think a torch is the only way...

Junkman · Aug 3, 2004

( I think a torch is the only way... )

As in heating it or cutting it off????? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Henro · Aug 3, 2004

I find it inane that it would be illegal to leave a hitch bar installed when not in use...seems 

I find it insane too...but I will tell you I WISH a friend at work had had his talegate down the day I walked behind his truck and caught the tow hitch bar with my shin...I still think I have a dent there...brings a tear to my eye just remembering... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Inspector507 · Aug 3, 2004

Me too Henro.......I rarely leave the receiver in. But on the odd occasion I DO leave it in, rest assured, my shin will remind me real quick that I did.