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03-17-2014, 05:07 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Posts: 188
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5th Wheel Informal Survey
I am interested in knowing if you use a padlock through the locking lever of your fifth wheel hitch. I have heard stories of a passerby teenager unlocking the fifth wheel while you are away from the rig for awhile, causing disaster when you try to pull away later. If there are enough responses, I'll figure a percentage and post it.
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Ron and Elizabeth
2014 Rockwood 8285-IKWS
2006 Ford F250 6.0 Diesel 4x4
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03-17-2014, 05:08 PM
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#2
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Using the web site, you can make an actual poll.
I don't lock. I understand why you would, I just don't.
2 of the 4 delivery drivers I interacted with did lock.
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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03-17-2014, 05:11 PM
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#3
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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I padlock and have a full bed hard cover tonneau cover on while towing and the cover won't lift high enough to get to the handle anyway.
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03-17-2014, 05:13 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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We don't lock, but we do have a bungee cord we use to keep the handle down so that it does not interfere with the operation of our rolling hard cover.
I will usually take the metal "U" of the bungee and put it through the lock hole just as a added measure of security.
If we stop and leave the unit unattended, DW and I *always* do a walk around before hitting the road.
Having said all this though you have me thinking it might not be a bad idea to put a small combo lock on the reese just to be on the safe side...
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Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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03-17-2014, 05:20 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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It would be easier for me to pull the handle off than to padlock it.
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2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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03-17-2014, 05:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Jefferson County, MO
Posts: 5,453
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If I know I'll be stopping for fuel or a rest stop I put a lock on it. For short local camping trips I don't bother.
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Bob and Joyce
2013 CC Silverback 29RL
2010 Ford F250 XL Crew Cab 6.4 liter diesel
ATU Local 788
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03-17-2014, 05:33 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 62
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I do not lock. I'm not usually away from it for very long, I have a retaining pin in it and the truck is high enough it's not something you can just very easily reach in to unlatch, my handle is always pointed down also because of my toneau cover.
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2013 Rockwood 8289WS
2017 F350 6.7 PS extra cab long bed
Curt G25 hitch
Days camping 2016 - 26
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03-17-2014, 05:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 703
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Nope
My Pullrite does not have provisions for locking. Anyway there is no way to pull the handle if the rig isn't raised off the truck.
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2013 Ford F-350 SD Diesel, 4X4, Crew Cab, Lariat
Sabre 2014 32RCTS, Pullrite Superglide 2900 18K
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03-17-2014, 05:49 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 298
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidceder
My Pullrite does not have provisions for locking. Anyway there is no way to pull the handle if the rig isn't raised off the truck.
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X2
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Kevin & Janine
2019 F350 Lariat DRW
2020 Jayco Pinnacle 36KPTS
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03-17-2014, 05:58 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 496
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I do not put a lock on mine. I do use a hitch pin with a integral spring clip though.
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2001 Ford F250 7.3l converted to F350 specs
2014 Flagstaff 8528RKWS
2006 model year Border Collie
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03-17-2014, 06:21 PM
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#11
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Mddle of the Rd Extremist
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 553
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I lock mine religiously since running into a fellow traveler who told the story of "someone" having pulled the handle on his hitch while he'd been parked at a Cracker Barrel. After he described the damage that occurred from his rig dropping into the bed of his TV (and nearly to the ground), I figured an ounce of precaution is worth avoiding the pounds of possible damage...
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Dan, Carolyn & The Bandit (1999-2015 RIP...)
MCPO (Retired)
United States Navy ('65 - '87)
2014 Cedar Creek 38FL
2013 RAM 3500 6.7L diesel DRW Crew Cab
"When you get to the fork in the road, take it....."
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03-17-2014, 06:24 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Up and down the east coast
Posts: 2,351
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I just use the hitch pin and keep moving cargo away from it so it doesn't get knocked out by accident When we stop, I usually do a walk around before we drive off anyway. You can't move the release handle on my Reese R16K unless the king pin weight is off the hitch
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2020 S.O.B.
2016 Jeep Wrangler 75th and a
Cooler full of good ideas
Full Time in the Summer, soon
Part Time in the Winter
Days Camped, Not Enough
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03-17-2014, 06:26 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 328
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Funny timing; I just today ordered 3-different padlocks fron Amazon. A pair to lock the puck locks to the truck bed, a pair for the head plate assy, and one for the hitch pin lock arm.
Iowa: Not as bad as you picture it.
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2013 F-250 CrewCab 6.7 PowerStroke 4X4
2017 Silverback 33RK
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03-17-2014, 06:27 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 338
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I don't move the truck without the pad lock in place.
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Ralph & Adrienne
2016 Flagstaff 8528CKWSA
2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD 6.0L
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03-17-2014, 06:27 PM
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,173
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Never heard of it on a fiver, but I have heard this story plenty from truckers, including an uncle who luckily spotted it on his rig when he was using the loo at a truck stop.
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There's no use crying over spilt milk... unless it's on your keyboard.
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03-17-2014, 06:29 PM
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#16
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Camper Less Camping
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NW
Posts: 3,642
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My Pullrite has a padlock on it at all times!
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2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6 (sold)
Family of 4 whose always on the GEAUX!
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03-17-2014, 06:36 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 880
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No lock, but it does have a pin in it and I check the whole rig any time I stop (tires, doors, hitch, lights, etc.) When on long trips. Overkill, maybe, but the safety of my family and others on the roads starts with me.
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Jack of all trades - Master of none
2012 F350 CC DRW - 6.7L PSD
2014 Sabre 36QBOK
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03-17-2014, 06:38 PM
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#18
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Denver, CO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtelkman
I do not put a lock on mine. I do use a hitch pin with a integral spring clip though.
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X3. and I have the safety rod installed and that would prevent the pin from getting to far.
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2017 Fuse 23T
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03-17-2014, 06:39 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 91
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Funny you bring this up, I keep a padlock on mine but I never lock it, I just hang it in there to keep the rod from coming out without some effort!
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2011 Work & Play 27UL and 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 Cummins.
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03-17-2014, 06:39 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Up and down the east coast
Posts: 2,351
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Quote:
Originally Posted by QCCowboy
No lock, but it does have a pin in it and I check the whole rig any time I stop (tires, doors, hitch, lights, etc.) When on long trips. Overkill, maybe, but the safety of my family and others on the roads starts with me.
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Well said, I am always doing the OCD walk around the camper even though I don't have OCD. The DW tells me I have 3D.
__________________
2020 S.O.B.
2016 Jeep Wrangler 75th and a
Cooler full of good ideas
Full Time in the Summer, soon
Part Time in the Winter
Days Camped, Not Enough
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