How to lock hitch/king pin handle-arm

[quick83]

Im sure this has been addressed before but I can not find it. Can someone help me learn how to lock the above handle/arm to keep someone from pulling it out when we are stopped somewhere and not watching. heard people do this so when you pull out the RV stays and the truck goes and RV falls on the truck. Thanks for any advise on how to make or buy lock devise for this.

[ependydad]

We need to know what kind of hitch that you have.

[TURBS]

Or pics!

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "6 nights"

[Oaklevel]

Need pics or type of hitch. We have a Reese & where the two holes line & come together on the handle put a standard Master Lock or other lock in place.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by quick83

Im sure this has been addressed before but I can not find it. Can someone help me learn how to lock the above handle/arm to keep someone from pulling it out when we are stopped somewhere and not watching. heard people do this so when you pull out the RV stays and the truck goes and RV falls on the truck. Thanks for any advise on how to make or buy lock devise for this.

I have been pulling a 5er since 2007 and I have never lock my Reese locking mechanism. The safety pin is installed and the break away brake cable is fasten to the safety pin but I do not paddle lock the hitch.

I have never had anyone loosen the locking jaws but I always check the handle when we stop before leaving. It is ease to see if the handle is in the incorrect position for towing.

Another item that I used is made by Blue-ox called a Bed Saver this attaches to the hitch and will catch the 5er King pin if they separate. This will save the pick-up trucks bed from damage.

[Oaklevel]

My Reese has no safety pin but I assume you are taking about in the handle where a lock can go (instead of the pin).

[Scotty]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

My Reese has no safety pin but I assume you are taking about in the handle where a lock can go (instead of the pin).

Yes

[quick83]

here you go, thanks for the respones

[Ford Idaho]

I have thought about just taking the handle off.



With the jaw closed wrap some tape around the handle just inside the hitch head.
Pull the handle out, center punch a hole in the middle of the tape.
Drill a hole big enough for the padlock shackle to fit.

[OldCoot]

My Reese 16K has a latch that flips over a groove in the handle that will take a padlock which I use. Also have the hard cover tonneau cover which keeps it all out of sight.

[14 CC 38CK]

Hey Oldcoot what kind of cover did you get ? I got the Paragon cover that folds out of the way when we haul the 5vr and when we disconnect I can close the cover and protect the hitch . It works really good and is made of alluminum so no worries of some one being able to get in the bed .

[jackandjoanne]

I painted the jaws on my hitch bright yellow, easy to see if the jaws are closed even if it is a little dark can also see if it is high pinned.
just an idea

[Rick_Geneseo]

The down side of locking the bar is emergencies. If you need to separate the two because of fire, that's time wasted looking for a key, especially if it's on the ignition key ring.

[Jestercyco]

I have the pullrite hitch. I did mark the bar as to when it is fully engaged. You can put a lock in the top over the bar. It is a full lock all the way around your pin.
Jester

[MilCop4523]

great answers to a great question. I have the Reese 15-16K 5th wheel hitch and have not had a chance to use it yet. actually a little scared to latch it up.
i had looked at the Bed Saver by Blue-ox - seems like a great add on to protect the truck. friend of ours in Louden 3 yrs ago pulled away from a stop and had his 5th wheel drop on the box and ended up writing the truck off.

I think ill order one and attach it before i pull out.

[extremebike]

Originally Posted by Jestercyco

I have the pullrite hitch. I did mark the bar as to when it is fully engaged. You can put a lock in the top over the bar. It is a full lock all the way around your pin.
Jester

Yep I have the exact same hitch. I called Pullrite and they told me the same thing. In the elongated hole above the bar.

[wbdavey]

Ford - get a padlock with a fairly thick shank. When the Pullrite is latched, put the pad lock through the oval shaped hole above the handle. The padlock prevents the handle from lifting to the top of the oval and therefore the handle cannot be pulled. I used to put the lanyard for the breakaway switch on the padlock so it didn't get forgotten.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by wbdavey

Ford - get a padlock with a fairly thick shank. When the Pullrite is latched, put the pad lock through the oval shaped hole above the handle. The padlock prevents the handle from lifting to the top of the oval and therefore the handle cannot be pulled. I used to put the lanyard for the breakaway switch on the padlock so it didn't get forgotten.

I have not been worried about locking the handle (yet) but I do thank you for the handy heads up....

[ttg]

I've got the same "Pull Rite" hitch. I have been putting a small Master Lock padlock through the elongated hole above the release bar that you lift and pull to unlatch. Try this and you will see that that the bar can not be lifted and therefore can't be pulled.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by 14 CC 38CK

Hey Oldcoot what kind of cover did you get ? I got the Paragon cover that folds out of the way when we haul the 5vr and when we disconnect I can close the cover and protect the hitch . It works really good and is made of alluminum so no worries of some one being able to get in the bed .

If you look in my albums here on the forum, I modified an Undercover full bed hard cover and tow with the entire bed covered with the exception of the area for the actual pinbox itself. With it, they can't even get into the latch, let alone the padlock.