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10-09-2019, 01:25 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Redding, CA
Posts: 210
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Does anyone lock their baseplate pins?
I have read that some sick people find pleasure in pushing the pins out of the baseplate and watching the coach take off with their toads dragging behind them. It can cause quite a bit of damage once you realize it and stop the coach causing the car to ram into the back of coach. I am not one of these people that has had this happened but I have read about this happening a couple of times, so far. I have approached this with my husband and he says that it takes a lot of force to have a pin come out and it would probably not happen. I guess it usually happens in a rest stops when people are not diligent in checking their towing equipment. He says that he doesn't want to add weight to our system and an added step to hooking up. I am always on the side of prevention. What do all of you say? Do you do this added step? I do put a padlock on my baseplate bar. Don't want someone walking away with the bar which stays on my car when we park. Thanks for your comments.
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Mary and Pat Barrow
2005 Winnebago Journey 39F
2013 Ford Cmax Energi
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10-09-2019, 01:32 PM
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#2
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Senior Member - DIYer
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 6,360
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I have a lock on my tow bar so it doesn't disappear when the toad isn't connected.
I (we) always do a walkaround check before departing from any stop.
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1999 Fleetwood Southwind 35S (Ford F53 6.8L V10 275hp 4R100 4 spd trans) - Toad 2003 Saturn Vue.
(www.1999Southwind.com)
It won't do MACH 2, but I can get a sandwich and take a pee.
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10-09-2019, 01:41 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Valdosta, Ga
Posts: 1,076
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On long trips or overnight trips I lock the pins. Short trips I don't lock them.
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1998 Southwind Storm 34S
2015 Ford Focus Hatchback SE
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10-09-2019, 01:42 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Winter Springs, FL
Posts: 205
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I don't currently lock my pins, but... THAT is a seriously sick thing to do if true (removing someones lock pins).
I'm still trying to think of why someone would do that 
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Shawn, Susan & Maya (aka "The Baby")
2016 Thor Miramar 34.1
2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (the "Mango Tango")
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10-09-2019, 01:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 1,028
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The PO had locks on the baseplate as well as the hitch so I just follow suit. Works great and gives us peace of mind.
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1997 RexAir 32' Ford F53 Chassis, Banks system.
1997 Suzuki Sidekick JX, Spokane, WA
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10-09-2019, 03:00 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,803
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Heard the stories of pins being pulled but have never heard of someone with first hand knowledge of it happening to them. Seems the story is always from uncle Joe's second cousin's brother.
I don't lock the pins just in case there is a fire and I want separate the toad and coach in a hurry. I do have the tow bar locked to the coach
I always do a walk around before leaving a rest stop mostly checking tires.
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Don
2002 Country Coach Intrigue
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10-09-2019, 03:21 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Vintage RV Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Oklahoma Boomers Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Full Time, TX Home Base
Posts: 17,604
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If you do not lock the pins and stop for lunch or a potty break, aand leave the rV and dinghy unattended, do not trust anyone. There are some clowns that like to sneak around and pull folks pins. Same goes for pins on trailer hitches.
If you do not lock the pins, check them before you pull out.
Ken
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|Full-Time! - 2012 6.7L Ford Crew Cab Dually -2013 HitchHiker Champagne 38RLRSB - Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot
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10-09-2019, 03:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,794
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Always!
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Warren and Debbie, Deep in The Heart of Texas
2018 Winnebago View 24D
2014 Tiffin Breeze 32BR, 2012 Winnebago Navion 24G, 2006 Winnebago View 23H
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10-09-2019, 03:34 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 151
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I have locking pins on all connection points between my motorhome and the Jeep. It’s just peace of mind.
I also do a complete walk around each time we stop. I learned this discipline from close to 35 years towing a boat of sizes ranging from 18 to 30 ft.
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Dave & Helene
2018 Renegade Verona LE 40 LTS
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara Edition
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10-09-2019, 04:32 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 179
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I use locks. Funny your hubby said he doesn’t want to add weight to the system. Hopefully you didn’t buy that, locks aren’t heavy.
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2019 Fleetwood Bounder 35K
2018 Fiat 500 Sport Turbo
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10-09-2019, 05:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 205
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I use locks on all pins. I have had several people approach me in campgrounds and said that they were glad to see the locks on my pins as they had one tow bar arm come loose after someone pulled one of their locking pins at a stop.
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Jim and Shelia
2017 Tiffin Allegro RED 37PA
2018 Chevy Equinox
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10-09-2019, 06:20 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 11,209
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Not a fan of locks on equipment that needs to be routinely unpinned etc
FIRE......don't want to be fumbling with keys
Corroded locks.....difficult to get keys in and turn to unlock etc
Personally........make a 'equipment' check your ROUTINE
Check tires/brake drums-rotors/axle hubs/PINS in tow bars---Hitch handles/latches for TTs & FWs and WASTE DUMP Valves plus LIGHTS (turn/brake)
Only takes a couple extra minutes and then NO Surprises.
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Is it time for YOUR Medication or Mine?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor & NUWA 5vr
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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10-09-2019, 06:38 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,540
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dons2346
Heard the stories of pins being pulled but have never heard of someone with first hand knowledge of it happening to them. Seems the story is always from uncle Joe's second cousin's brother.
I don't lock the pins just in case there is a fire and I want separate the toad and coach in a hurry. I do have the tow bar locked to the coach
I always do a walk around before leaving a rest stop mostly checking tires.
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^^^ THIS RIGHT HERE
I'm relatively new to RVing, only 7 years. I don't tow. I've yet to meet anyone this has happened to but hear about it nonetheless. Somebody's brothers cousins ex-wifes third husband had it happen, though!
I'd be interested if anyone knows of verifiable media reports - newspaper article, TV station report, etc - that can show this has happened more than a couple of times. I'm sure there are uncivilized folks who might find this funny but who actually did it... I suspect this is more urban legend than actual reality.
That said, I'd consider locks as theft deterrence, and my bet is the rate of theft of tow stuff left on the RV is about as minuscule as theft of in-line surge protectors - yeah, it's happened but not to you or anyone you know more than in passing.
It's good to be prudent but it's unhealthy to be paranoid.
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2005 Four Winds Majestic 23A
“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” - Dr Suess
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10-09-2019, 06:45 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,889
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Never.
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2005 Newmar KSDP 3910
ISC on a Spartan
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