pins for hitch receiver/ball mount?

[jeffsw6]

I recently bought a Curt D900 ball mount. As you can see from the picture it is adjustable and needs several pins to hold it in place. Curt Multi-Ball Adjustable Ball Mount for 2" Trailer Hitches Curt Ball Mounts D900

What can I use in place of those pins to prevent some kid from walking by my truck and yanking them out? I'm not trying to stop a motivated thief who wants to rip off my hitch, just childish stuff that happens when your truck and trailer are parked and no one is looking.

I know wire rope with a crimp would work but that would make it impossible to adjust. I was thinking about a forged bolt & sleeve? If it takes a tool to adjust the thing that's fine with me since it would also take a tool for someone to vandalize it.

EDIT: I did see a lot of receiver locks online, but I don't really want a lock that is going to get stuck on me at an inconvenient time!

 

[JESSE1]

You could use some grade 8 bolts instead of the pins.

 

[Case485Guy]

Have a hitch like that, I use big key rings in place of the R/hitch pins. Wont stop someone from pulling the pins, but would take them longer.

 

[jeffsw6]

Take them longer is good enough for me. I will get some key chains. A spare set in the tool box should save my butt in case someone does take them when I'm out working. As long as the pieces of the hitch are still there anyway!

 

[JasG]

Why not just remove the hitch when not in use?

I was using mine daily for a few months so I never took it out during that time. It is now rusted in place and I can't remove it.

ADDED:

I see you are also worried about when the trailer is attached, I missed that the 1st read. You could safety wire them like they do bolts that people don't want to come loose.

 

[GUS FINK]

Yes you can remove your rusted in hitch
Weld a slam hammer to it heat the receiver tube and slam away it will come out

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes you can remove your rusted in hitch
Weld a slam hammer to it heat the receiver tube and slam away it will come out

Not always. I tried pulling one out of a Astro Van once with a backhoe. Lifted the wheels off the ground. This was after it was heated. Also chained it to a telephone pole and yanked. Did not budge. Had to get a new hitch.

Just do the right thing and remove after use.

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

Yup when they rust in there good they are not coming out. We tryed to get one out, heated the hitch cherry red, the insert still wouldn't move with a 10 lb sledge. The one in our car did come out this way but it was only a 1" insert.

 

[murphy1244]

Not always. I tried pulling one out of a Astro Van once with a backhoe. Lifted the wheels off the ground. This was after it was heated. Also chained it to a telephone pole and yanked. Did not budge. Had to get a new hitch.

Just do the right thing and remove after use.

Chris

You could of sold tickets to that show>>>:laughing:

 

[newbury]

You might could use small padlocks like they use for luggage or just take zip-ties.

I use a lot of zip ties, they are really cheap and need a good knife to cut them off.

 

[JB4310]

Yup when they rust in there good they are not coming out. We tryed to get one out, heated the hitch cherry red, the insert still wouldn't move with a 10 lb sledge. The one in our car did come out this way but it was only a 1" insert.

I was gonna say just leave it in for 2-3 years, you wont have to worry about it getting stolen :laughing:

With all those pull pins it might be tempting to a kid like you say, My bike carrier has a special allen bolt with a raised section in the middle that requires a allen wrench with a hole in the center. just don't lose that special wrench/ key.

I agree though maybe just replace with bolts.

JB

 

[Runner]

I just use a couple of the locking hitch pins, like the one shown adjacent to the picture of the hitch on the link page.

 

[sparc]

I have the same hitch and the same concerns you do. I don't leave the hitch in all the time but there are places I go where I worry if some curious kid or some wise ***** won't mess with the pins and I end up losing half the hitch when not trailering or maybe a load if I do have a trailer connected. So I am doubly sure to visually check the hitch condition before I start out each time.

To lock it up you'd need three hitch locks and then you would have three keys to keep fumble through when you need to adjust the hitch height. To remove the hitch from the truck only one lock. If you color coded the keys to the locks or marked them in some other way to make identification easier it might take away some of that pain. If you do get locks then be sure they are rated for the MAX load of the hitch or better. A set of hitch locks keyed alike would be nice but probably hard to find.

 

[Storm56]

I too just bought one of these hitches, so far very pleased. If I am not mistaken they make a locking pin kit. I am also concerned about theft so for now I simply put in the anti rattle bolt they supply with the kit, the one that srews in from the back with an allen wrench, and tightened it pretty hard. Someone can pull the clips but they cannot remove the pins without some tools. I am going to check out the locking pin kit for an more convenient solution though.

 

[Baby Grand]

You could use some grade 8 bolts instead of the pins.

+1
If they're walking around with a wrench set, you're sort of done anyway you look at it.
I'd use the nylon anti-vibe nuts and try to find them the same dimension across the flats as the bolt head. That way you can curse me when you can't locate two 9/16" wrenches in a hurry.

 

[JB4310]

I have one of these on my pintle /ball combo and once it's a little boogered up, they are a PITA to remove. might prevent someone from just casually tampering with it.

5/8 inch One-Piece Hitch Pin PMP-7520

JB

 

[Blast Chamber]

I just use a couple of the locking hitch pins, like the one shown adjacent to the picture of the hitch on the link page.

+1 on using a receiver hitch locking pin in at least one of the holes. Also, brush all of the pins with some Fluid Film before installing them and they won't seize in place.

 

[TheKid]

EDIT: I did see a lot of receiver locks online, but I don't really want a lock that is going to get stuck on me at an inconvenient time!

I've had one of the Master Lock units on my truck for 10 years now and I haven't had any problems with it. The rubber cover over the key slot and a O ring where the lock portion attaches to the pin keeps water and dirt out.

Here's the one I have.