It's just plain common sense pulling any trailer that you perform a walk around inspection of lights, hitch apparatus, and tires before your trip and at ANY stop.
COMBINATION PADLOCKS (no key to search for or get lost)...no tracing back to the truck to grab the key you needed and forgot....
I use combination padlocks to lock my hitches in place... with combination locks there are no key to keep up with!!
I simply "drill out" the hitch pin and insert a combination / padlock.
Longer (properly sized) hitch pins can be purchases at Tractor Supply.
I try to use hitch pins that are long enough that I do not have to alter the safety clip...rather I drill an additional hole large enough to slip a pad lock thru. It may seem a bit excessive - but I use a pad lock in locations where there is a removable pin / connection and I STILL use a pad lock in the ball / lock.
Here's some pictures / examples of what I do....No keys to get lost or fumble around with!
This actually happened on my last trip. I always do a walk around. I think the MH guy next to me got my lynch pin after I did my walk. He was acting very suspicious. Luckily my hitch pin stayed in place. I started to do my walk before I leave a spot and not when I stop.
I can vouch for the vandalism. Living in Dallas it's now a way of life. After 8 years without incident, lately it seems a fad to pull the inner sleeve of a Class III hitch if not locked in place. In searching and procuring a replacement, I met several shop personnel who opined it happens a lot lately. Locking pins are a must. Sign of the times.
I also do a walk around when stopped for any reason, bathroom, fuel, or just a little rest. Even though I have a TPMS I always use a mallet to thump all tires, MH and toad. If stay hooked up over night in addition of walk around we check all lights on MH and toad, turn , brakes, running, and etc and record this on my pre trip check list, also carry extra pins, safety cables, and etc.
A- Approach vehicle from outside . Do visu as l check for anomalies. Does everything seem to be in order? Does anything look out of place?
E- Engine compartment. Everything in order? Anything broken? Belts, hoses and fluids OK? Leave engine hood/door open.
I - Interior of vehicle. All in correct order? Gauges, switches, levers, mirrors, etc normal and adjusted appropriately? Nothing broken, cab secure. Transmission in Park/Neutral. Parking brake set. Start engine. Check gouges with engine running. Note anything unusual. Leave engine running. Any unusual noises?
O - Outside of vehicle. Inspect exterior/body for damage or anything abnormal. Check wheels tires, hitches, drive train, glass, mirrors, lights, exterior wiring, etc. All OK? Listen to running engine. Any unusual sounds. Visually inspect engine while it runs. All OK?
U - Most omportant step .Return to driver's seat. Sit down. Turn engine off. Be comfortable. Close your eyes and take 3 deep, slow breathes. With your eyes closed, make a mental assessment of yourself. Are you ready, willing and able to Drive this vehicle, make this trip? If not, shut it down. Call for help, if necessary, and walk away.
It's called a pretrip inspection, and you need to honestly tell the judge that you performed it. Make a checklist of all your safety items. Walk around and check each item before your departure. Then stop every several hours and do a rief recheck of all essential safety items.
I generally force myself to use a rest stop every three hours for a walk, bathroom break and a bottle of water. I also check my emails and text messages since I won’t this while driving. That’s when I do a visual inspection of the trailer hookups, tires, etc…
Every morning while driving on the road also I do a full vehicle walk around and inspection including running my hands around the tires and checking the TV fluid levels.
I drove my Sprinter Van 400,000 miles across the country doing this, and rarely had any unexpected road failures.
Not only rv’s. The same kind of sickos that disconnect rv’s also “pull the pin” …disconnect the semi-truck from the 5th wheel. Then the driver isn’t just dealing with a lightweight trailer. A semi truck plus a full load can weigh 80,000 lbs. the trailer by itself 60,000 loaded. In either case, it’s extremely dangerous. That’s why drivers are supposed to do an inspection and have to record it on their log sheats.
Locking pins!
It's just plain common sense pulling any trailer that you perform a walk around inspection of lights, hitch apparatus, and tires before your trip and at ANY stop.
COMBINATION PADLOCKS (no key to search for or get lost)...no tracing back to the truck to grab the key you needed and forgot....
I use combination padlocks to lock my hitches in place... with combination locks there are no key to keep up with!!
I simply "drill out" the hitch pin and insert a combination / padlock.
Longer (properly sized) hitch pins can be purchases at Tractor Supply.
I try to use hitch pins that are long enough that I do not have to alter the safety clip...rather I drill an additional hole large enough to slip a pad lock thru. It may seem a bit excessive - but I use a pad lock in locations where there is a removable pin / connection and I STILL use a pad lock in the ball / lock.
Here's some pictures / examples of what I do....No keys to get lost or fumble around with!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=193245&d=1501261166
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=193215&d=1501261153
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=193246&d=1501261166
I use locks on all my pins, and do a walk-around before leaving any stop..
This actually happened on my last trip. I always do a walk around. I think the MH guy next to me got my lynch pin after I did my walk. He was acting very suspicious. Luckily my hitch pin stayed in place. I started to do my walk before I leave a spot and not when I stop.
DON'T use these....
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx__BlKOkdYCg0onxigCo-CtuUzGDMKp6d?si=yjKjGf0HcSUTXV6N
I can vouch for the vandalism. Living in Dallas it's now a way of life. After 8 years without incident, lately it seems a fad to pull the inner sleeve of a Class III hitch if not locked in place. In searching and procuring a replacement, I met several shop personnel who opined it happens a lot lately. Locking pins are a must. Sign of the times.
I also do a walk around when stopped for any reason, bathroom, fuel, or just a little rest. Even though I have a TPMS I always use a mallet to thump all tires, MH and toad. If stay hooked up over night in addition of walk around we check all lights on MH and toad, turn , brakes, running, and etc and record this on my pre trip check list, also carry extra pins, safety cables, and etc.
I like the AEIOU LIST :
A- Approach vehicle from outside . Do visu as l check for anomalies. Does everything seem to be in order? Does anything look out of place?
E- Engine compartment. Everything in order? Anything broken? Belts, hoses and fluids OK? Leave engine hood/door open.
I - Interior of vehicle. All in correct order? Gauges, switches, levers, mirrors, etc normal and adjusted appropriately? Nothing broken, cab secure. Transmission in Park/Neutral. Parking brake set. Start engine. Check gouges with engine running. Note anything unusual. Leave engine running. Any unusual noises?
O - Outside of vehicle. Inspect exterior/body for damage or anything abnormal. Check wheels tires, hitches, drive train, glass, mirrors, lights, exterior wiring, etc. All OK? Listen to running engine. Any unusual sounds. Visually inspect engine while it runs. All OK?
U - Most omportant step .Return to driver's seat. Sit down. Turn engine off. Be comfortable. Close your eyes and take 3 deep, slow breathes. With your eyes closed, make a mental assessment of yourself. Are you ready, willing and able to Drive this vehicle, make this trip? If not, shut it down. Call for help, if necessary, and walk away.
It's called a pretrip inspection, and you need to honestly tell the judge that you performed it. Make a checklist of all your safety items. Walk around and check each item before your departure. Then stop every several hours and do a rief recheck of all essential safety items.
I generally force myself to use a rest stop every three hours for a walk, bathroom break and a bottle of water. I also check my emails and text messages since I won’t this while driving. That’s when I do a visual inspection of the trailer hookups, tires, etc…
Every morning while driving on the road also I do a full vehicle walk around and inspection including running my hands around the tires and checking the TV fluid levels.
I drove my Sprinter Van 400,000 miles across the country doing this, and rarely had any unexpected road failures.
I do a walk around after every stop. Along with the hitch and safety chains I also check the tire straps and safety chain on the car on the dolly.
Agree with others. Locking pins Even have them on the bike jack
Not only rv’s. The same kind of sickos that disconnect rv’s also “pull the pin” …disconnect the semi-truck from the 5th wheel. Then the driver isn’t just dealing with a lightweight trailer. A semi truck plus a full load can weigh 80,000 lbs. the trailer by itself 60,000 loaded. In either case, it’s extremely dangerous. That’s why drivers are supposed to do an inspection and have to record it on their log sheats.