|
|
Post by bluegrass2 on Oct 24, 2017 15:37:02 GMT -5
On our trip home from Maine in September, we had a near disaster. We had just come off the highway into a small town and felt a clunk and jerk as we came to a stop, then again as we started to go again. We pulled off the road and proceeded to check out the trailer. We discovered that the hitch pin was gone and the only thing holding the hitch into the slot was the safety chains. When we lost the pin we have no idea but we are so thankful it did not create a serious problem for us. Full-time friends tell us that they have been warned about situations like this when stopping at truck stops. They heard that some truckers have been known to pull the clips, due to "us" taking their parking places. I hate to think that this could have been the situation and we have no idea why or where this happened to us but we wanted to pass this along. Please check you hitch when doing your pre-trip check over and after stops at truck stops or any parking areas. We now have a locking hitch pin. !!!!SAFE TRAVELS!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by doublewa on Oct 24, 2017 16:01:44 GMT -5
On our trip home from Maine in September, we had a near disaster. We had just come off the highway into a small town and felt a clunk and jerk as we came to a stop, then again as we started to go again. We pulled off the road and proceeded to check out the trailer. We discovered that the hitch pin was gone and the only thing holding the hitch into the slot was the safety chains. When we lost the pin we have no idea but we are so thankful it did not create a serious problem for us. Full-time friends tell us that they have been warned about situations like this when stopping at truck stops. They heard that some truckers have been known to pull the clips, due to "us" taking their parking places. I hate to think that this could have been the situation and we have no idea why or where this happened to us but we wanted to pass this along. Please check you hitch when doing your pre-trip check over and after stops at truck stops or any parking areas. We now have a locking hitch pin. !!!!SAFE TRAVELS!!!!!! Let me put a emphasis on what Bluegrass has said: REPLACE YOUR SAFETY PINS ON YOUR 5TH WHEELS WITH A LOCK AND YOUR TRAVEL TRAILERS WITH A LOCK COUPLER! Chuck mentioned using a lock in your 5th wheel a few weeks ago (and also mentioned people pulling the pins at truck stops). This is a real problem and it actually happens more often than you would realize.
Where I live, we have a Love's just off I-70 with a King Soopers directly next to it. The truckers truly believe they own the place (both of them). They park where they want when they want (even though signs at the KS will prohibit SEMI Trucks). If you are "in their spot" or "crowding an area that belong to semi's" (in their eyes) expect retaliation. I've seen it in other forms but didn't think much of it until I became a 5th wheel owner a few weeks ago and then Chuck mentioned it.
Never assume people are nice and nobody will touch your equipment. Keep yourself safe and lock your hitches. Those that might pull the pin on you won't be responsible for the life your equipment fail might take or the damage it might cause. Always, always check your rig before heading out. As the CDL Drivers do (or us former military drivers, too), always do a "walkaround" or Preventive Maintenance Check and Services when you stop somewhere like a truck stop and leave your vehicle unattended. Check your tires, hitch, heck, even check to make sure there isn't a screwdriver in your driveshaft. Furthermore, if someone did try to do damage and you catch it before you leave, the truck stop might have it on camera and you might be able to catch the culprit should anything have been done to your rig.
I know it's a pain, but for your safety and peace of mind, it's well worth it, not to mention for others unknowingly as well. People do horrible things for the dumbest reasons, protect yourself and your investment.
I'll get off my soapbox now. Good Luck and Safe Travels when you folks hit the road! 
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuck on Oct 24, 2017 18:20:55 GMT -5
doublewa, bluegrass2 an the rest of you Most but not all truckers are pretty good people, remember they have family's just like you, but with everything else there are bad apples in the barrel ... I have seen other truck drivers pull 5th wheel pins on other truckers not only owners of 5th an TT just for spite just because they didn't like a curtain trucking company ... I as a long hauler driver always walked around my rig after fueling, after eating or getting up in the morning to make sure things were ok. As well to check for flat tires, the pin pulled, tagging on my trailer or seals broken... Today while traveling I still walk around my 5th wheel an check to see if things are what they should be even after fueling, stopping at a rest area, or stopping to eat, one never knows who may be the evil peace of do-do that whats to play games. Believe me it is not only the peace of do-do truck driver, it is also Joe public or even another RV'er that may be the person who pulls your trailer pin from your 5th wheel or TT hitch  This is why I always lock my 5th wheel while traveling, I also pull a 20ft flat bed trailer at times an have a pin lock so what happened to bluegrass2 will not happen to me Always walk around your trailer no matter if you only stop for a short break, it only takes a minute or two to check that your trailer is fastened, tires are up an things are ok before taking off again, it's all about safety for not only you but others around you going down the road Safe travels Chuck & Hildi out an about in the NW |
|
|
|
Post by doublewa on Oct 24, 2017 18:38:14 GMT -5
I'm not meaning to pick on the truckers specifically. You're right Chuck, it could be any garden variety A-Hole that does something like pulling your pin. In my experience, everyone is guilty until proven innocent (it seems that's the what it is most everywhere these days too but that's another story) when it comes to stuff like this. Vanity truly is a deadly sin and jealousy gets you nowhere, yet awful people that pull this kind of stuff are loaded with both and that's the root (again, another story).
I just don't think that it can be stated enough. . . . SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY. After all you're hauling a (in my case) 11k 35ft missile barreling down the highway behind my truck and it's my responsibility to make sure it's in tip-top shape so that nothing bad happens. Like you said, just 2 minutes walking around can eliminate a POS' evil intentions or any other potential hazard.
|
|
|
|
Post by vagov on Oct 25, 2017 4:47:33 GMT -5
you should periodically replace the cotter pin on your hitch as well. overtime the cotter pin that holds your hitch pin into the receiver can wear out and become loose, gravity will take over turning your cotter pin upside down where if loose can fall out. seen it happen before.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluegrass2 on Oct 25, 2017 18:13:16 GMT -5
Thanks to all for the notes and additional info. You can bet we did start doing a closer walk around after that incident. We both scan and check lights but much more intense now. The cotter pin was obviously compromised first and then the road travel worked the pin out. As I said, we did get a locking pin at the first trailer supply store we found. I will pass the 5th Wheel info. on to our friends. It could very well have been cotter pin fatigue as mentioned above but after hearing the malicious info. possibility I had to mention it. Hopefully, we will all take extra precautions. SAFE TRAVELS.
|
|
|
|
Post by Edd505 on Oct 25, 2017 19:49:28 GMT -5
Like chuck, I drove commercially and part of a walk around before pulling out was checking the 5W jaws, tires, & lights. I think all RV 5W hitches have a place for a lock, I use it, just in case.
|
|
|
|
Post by rvdude on Oct 26, 2017 22:21:47 GMT -5
I have always used a lock on the hitch receiver pin as well as a lock on the travel trailer hitch itself... for safety in situations like that, as well as because I don't trust too many people as I live in the Houston area.
|
|
marlee
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 85 
|
Post by marlee on Oct 27, 2017 12:05:00 GMT -5
Can someone link to the hinge pin lock you use?
|
|
|
|
Post by doublewa on Oct 27, 2017 12:21:05 GMT -5
Can someone link to the hinge pin lock you use? Marlee, It depends on what hitch you have. For example, I have the BW Companion. On my hitch, a standard padlock doesn't have enough clearance on the shank to press down into the cylinder and lock. I have to use either a padlock with a longer shank or a straight coupler lock found in most masterlock combo lock kits at your local auto/super store. Be forewarned though, there's only about 6 total combinations of locks used on padlocks and coupler locks, so I high suggest going with a combination for better security. |
|
|
|
Post by bluegrass2 on Oct 27, 2017 19:26:40 GMT -5
An RV dealer can help. We stopped in to the first dealer we could find. We knew what we wanted but they let us try it to be sure it was the proper fit. We have a TT.
|
|
|
|
Post by rvdude on Oct 27, 2017 21:47:01 GMT -5
bluegrass2, if you have a travel trailer, the hitch locking pin can be bought at any Wal Mart or auto parts store. It is basically like the hitch pin with the cotter pin, except there is a locking cylinder on the end where the cotter pin would go.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuck on Oct 28, 2017 10:17:23 GMT -5
I bought my hitch lock pin at Ace, Hardware, as rvdude stated they can be found a Wally world, any hardware store or auto parts store. I use a Master padlock for my 5th wheel with coating made for weather, but any padlock with a longer shank will do Remember all your trying to do is keep your hitch secure from either being pulled or braking from ware Safe Travels Chuck & Hildi |
|
