5th Wheel Hitches--Include Bumper Pull

[ard58]

Wife belongs to some RV forum through facebook, if I'm not mistaken? Yesterday she read me a post that a couple was traveling pulling a 5R and they stopped somewhere to do some shopping. They came out of store about 30 minutes later and got in their truck and started to leave. The poster said they heard an awful noise and the 5r hit the bed of the truck damaging the bed and 5r. Someone, kids I'm sure, unlatched the 5th wheel hitch while they were inside. Man what an awful way for someone to get their kicks. DW asked if that could happen to us, we have a travel trailer. I said yes, it would take some doing but they could pull our hitch pin, then when we take off the hitch comes out, hitch of trailer hits the ground bends jack, or worse, hits another vehicle. I'm going to invest in a locking hitch pin, ASAP. Just wanted to throw this out as an alert to be mindful of your hitches. Happy and safe camping to all.

[SeaDog]

I've heard of simi drivers that will after leaving their rigs will back a little to ensure the hitch is locked. Might be something to think about with a 5th wheel.

[dblr]

This is why I always do a walk around our rig and check things after ANY stop. After a while it just becomes habit.

[Oakman]

This is why I always put a padlock on the hitch latch when travelling.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by dblr

This is why I always do a walk around our rig and check things after ANY stop. After a while it just becomes habit.

X2
My first dealer instructed me to always do a walk around and pull the hitch release lever insuring that this did not move.

[cavie]

My motorcycle trailer has a lock on 24/7/365. 5er in on permanent site.

[5picker]

Thanks for the reminder.
We all become complacent at times.

[kfd82]

Originally Posted by ard58

Wife belongs to some RV forum through facebook, if I'm not mistaken? Yesterday she read me a post that a couple was traveling pulling a 5R and they stopped somewhere to do some shopping. They came out of store about 30 minutes later and got in their truck and started to leave. The poster said they heard an awful noise and the 5r hit the bed of the truck damaging the bed and 5r. Someone, kids I'm sure, unlatched the 5th wheel hitch while they were inside. Man what an awful way for someone to get their kicks. DW asked if that could happen to us, we have a travel trailer. I said yes, it would take some doing but they could pull our hitch pin, then when we take off the hitch comes out, hitch of trailer hits the ground bends jack, or worse, hits another vehicle. I'm going to invest in a locking hitch pin, ASAP. Just wanted to throw this out as an alert to be mindful of your hitches. Happy and safe camping to all.

Read that post yesterday too. My wife and I are on that same FB group.

I wonder if it just wasnt secured correctly to begin with?
Most people dont know how to operate a 5th wheel hitch, so they wouldnt know how to screw with one. Those who DO know how to operate one probably wouldnt mess with someones trailer.

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by kfd82

Read that post yesterday too. My wife and I are on that same FB group.

I wonder if it just wasnt secured correctly to begin with?
Most people dont know how to operate a 5th wheel hitch, so they wouldnt know how to screw with one. Those who DO know how to operate one probably wouldnt mess with someones trailer.

Unless someone put my landing gear down and took all the weight off of my fifth wheel they could not pull the handle to unlatch the hitch.

I still do a walk around anyway.

[Capt. Mike]

Used to use just a pin to keep the release lever closed on our 5th wheel hitch, but have been using a padlock ever since our truck was broken into a year ago. If they'll break two of your windows to steal stuff, no telling what they might do to the hitch "just for fun."

[Cowracer]

Not quite so distructive, but equally annoying was the little brats a couple of years ago at a COE campground that got their jollies from pulling a bunch of campers black tank valves and then closing them again. You can imagine the mess when someone went to go dump and unscrewed the cap.

The kids were not to subtle about it... I mean, why else would a couple of kids be hanging around the dump station and laughing like schoolgirls. Of course, you could never prove anything, but it sure made a hell of a mess for some people.

Tim

[jtesta1]

Owner operators and small company drivers use to pull the pins on big company drivers for kicks.its all funny till someone gets hurt or even killed.

[sbpierce]

I have a lock on my hitch handle, and 2 small pin locks on both sets of the puck handles. Just makes me feel better.

[wcrafter]

Originally Posted by Oakman

This is why I always put a padlock on the hitch latch when travelling.

X3 Pad lock every time...

[Skyliner]

Some snot retracted our steps and my wife stepped had quite a fall when she stepped out late at night to get something from the tow vehicle.

[oldsmasma]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Some snot retracted our steps and my wife stepped had quite a fall when she stepped out late at night to get something from the tow vehicle.

Several years ago a like minded idiot did the same at our local Walmart. Except the lady badly shattered a leg when she fell. Your wife was lucky. Idiots abound.

[AZ Pete]

someone released the hitch on my gooseneck horse trailer. Fortunately I found the problem before loading and leaving the trailhead. Some people are just sociopaths.

[shorthorn]

I always lock the hitch for this reason

[68 Whiskey]

Excellent information. I have not done this consistently, but now I will make this part of my routine. Thanks for the heads up.