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06-14-2012, 02:48 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Posts: 70
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Cotter Pin Cautionary Tale
We had a wonderful weekend trip in the TT this weekend, but had an eye-opener when we got home.
The weather turned hot and humid on Sunday and, while unhitching in the driveway, I pulled hard on the cotter pin that holds the hitchbolt in place. To my great surprise and consternation, the pin flew out of my sweaty hand, and I had no idea where it landed. It took us fifteen minutes to find the pin which had flown about ten feet away from me. Had this occurred upon arrival at a campsite, we would have been in a pickle if the cotter pin remained lost.
Today, I purchased extra cotter pins to keep on board the tt in my kit.
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06-14-2012, 03:02 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Champlin, MN
Posts: 446
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I am a big fan of master locks, lol. All of my hitch items, save the 2 on the WDH tensioners, are master locks of some kind. Secure, easy to take off when you want, and hard to take off when you don't want. Just make sure to keep the keys in a safe place and always keep the spares in the glovebox...
__________________
TV: '17 Ram 2500 Big Horn CCSB CTD 4x4
TT: '18 Wolf Pack Limited 325Pack13
Tow Acc: Andersen Ultimate Hitch 2 goose ball mount, AirLift 5000 bags and HD compressor system
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06-14-2012, 03:03 PM
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#3
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gkconfer
We had a wonderful weekend trip in the TT this weekend, but had an eye-opener when we got home.
The weather turned hot and humid on Sunday and, while unhitching in the driveway, I pulled hard on the cotter pin that holds the hitchbolt in place. To my great surprise and consternation, the pin flew out of my sweaty hand, and I had no idea where it landed. It took us fifteen minutes to find the pin which had flown about ten feet away from me. Had this occurred upon arrival at a campsite, we would have been in a pickle if the cotter pin remained lost.
Today, I purchased extra cotter pins to keep on board the tt in my kit.
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Put a zip tie around pin and nearest hole then it surely wouldn't be lost
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06-14-2012, 03:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Martinez, CA
Posts: 371
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X2 on the locks. Those hitches are not cheap and should be kept secure.
X2 on the extra cotter pins as well.
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2012 Rockwood Windjammer 3008 W
2020 Tundra Dbl Cab 4X4 SR5
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06-14-2012, 06:44 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,446
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I carry extra cotter pins - much cheaper at Lowes than a RV store. Locks sounds like a good idea too.
__________________
Great choice for "Living within my means" and camping for one...
Formerly owned 2011 Salem Cruise Lite 20RBXL & 2011 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab
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06-14-2012, 06:54 PM
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#6
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Another rat in the race
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Redlands CA
Posts: 368
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I lock mine. Kids at a gas station took the cotter pin out (there's no way we could have forgotten to put it on right?) when I used to work construction. Trailer stayed in until a stop light, started out, pulled tight, bent chain holder, fell, bent jack, dented bumper, closed around the ball had to take it to a body shop and have them separated. Now I lock them when towing.
PS all you need is bailing wire the cotter pin is there to keep the main pin from falling out only.
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A rainy day camping is better than any sunny day at work
2004 F250 V10 SD Xcab 2011 Wildwood T26BHXL
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06-14-2012, 06:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Central Nova Scotia
Posts: 519
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I always carry extra pins as I am known for taking one off and laying it on the bumper only to take a short drive somewhere and end up with no pin when it falls off the bumper.
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2011 Salem 30kqbss
2013 Ram 2500
2005 Ram 2500
1968 Pontiac Le Mans
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06-14-2012, 07:32 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 293
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Some good ideas discussed below... I also carry an extra pin & bolt.
Also, has anyone ever had their hitches stolen off their TV?
As Buffalohunter indicated, WDH's are especially expensive and could cause problems and delay if stolen while traveling. Cost to replace hitch, shank & ball would be at least $200.
For that reason, I remove and store when not actually using. However, haven't yet invested in a hitch pin lock (another key to keep up with)... perhaps should consider while it's on my mind.
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2012 Ford F150 4x4, 5.0L, 3.55 2011 Rockwood MiniLite 1809s E2 WDH 600/6000lbs
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06-14-2012, 08:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Champlin, MN
Posts: 446
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreedomTracker
... (another key to keep up with)...
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I keep all my WDH lock keys on my trailer keyset. I dont use the WDH for anything else. I use a Master Lock draw bar for normal utility trailer towing. It has a built in lock system for the pin and I just leave the key in it when it is stored under my rear seats:
Then all the spares go into the glovebox on a single keyring....just in case lol
__________________
TV: '17 Ram 2500 Big Horn CCSB CTD 4x4
TT: '18 Wolf Pack Limited 325Pack13
Tow Acc: Andersen Ultimate Hitch 2 goose ball mount, AirLift 5000 bags and HD compressor system
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06-14-2012, 08:52 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,446
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I have a locking device for the hitch but after being rear ended I no longer drive around with it installed when not towing.
__________________
Great choice for "Living within my means" and camping for one...
Formerly owned 2011 Salem Cruise Lite 20RBXL & 2011 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab
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06-14-2012, 09:05 PM
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#11
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Always drilled the hitch pins out so they would accept a Master padlock and always padlocked the hitch or hitch cover on and carried the key on the vehicle key fob.
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06-15-2012, 10:06 AM
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#12
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Anacortesians
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 1,166
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For the benefit of our UK members, a "Cotter Pin" in US terminology is what's called a "Split Pin" in the UK. It isn't the kind of tapered pin that holds the pedal cranks on a bicycle (not sure what those are called over here).
I'm a bit surprised that people re-use the pins. In engineering school, we were told they were single use only, as the ends that you split apart will fatigue and break off if repeatedly bent and straightened.
__________________
Frank and Eileen
No longer RVers or FR owners
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