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08-22-2015, 11:23 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 4,215
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Anyone replace a Hitch Pin with a bolt?
I have a class A, use the Roadmaster Spare tire carrier which goes into the receiver on the motor home. Then a toad bar into the receiver on the Spare Tire Carrier. My walk arounds include checking all the various hitch pins to ensure that all the keepers are still in place. My thought is to replace the hitch pins with bolts w/ lock washers so as to make it harder for someone to remove the pins and steal stuff, or just to create mischief. Anyone have any idea which bolts to use? I was thinking 5/8" grade 8 bolts from Tractor Supply with associated grade 8 hardware. Any thoughts? I have used locking pins in the past, but have had a few problems with rusting shut, or not always securing to the end of the pin, etc.
__________________
Scot & Laura Kellersberger, U.S. Army (ret)
Newmar 4 wheel drive Dutch Star 3891, SOLD
Now RV'ing on the water in a Trawler!
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08-22-2015, 11:35 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Anyone with a wrench could still 'create mischief.' Why not just buy a locking pin? If you lubricate it and remove it once in a while rust shouldn't be an issue.
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-22-2015, 11:55 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 4,215
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
Anyone with a wrench could still 'create mischief.' Why not just buy a locking pin? If you lubricate it and remove it once in a while rust shouldn't be an issue.
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Yeah, they could, but at least they'd have to have TWO wrenches handy on their person, and that is less likely. I have used the locking pins before, but I have had two over the years that even with graphite in the cylinders and spray wd-40 occasionally, have frozen up. I haven't totally written them off, but just exploring other options. Thanks for your comment!
__________________
Scot & Laura Kellersberger, U.S. Army (ret)
Newmar 4 wheel drive Dutch Star 3891, SOLD
Now RV'ing on the water in a Trawler!
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08-22-2015, 03:06 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: E WA or S TX
Posts: 4,049
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I use a GR8 with nut, long enough to drill and put a padlock through it A quick look, if the lock is there I'm GOOD TO GO!
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04 Horizon QD, 12 Ford Flex, Excalibar, Brakemaster, Winter Texan, RVin! since 1974
Norm, Donna & Tinker Kat(RIP) 01 Z3
Life is a Timed Event, you only get One Go Around!
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08-22-2015, 03:17 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: michigan-tip of the mitt
Posts: 1,444
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I have been pullin' a toad for almost 20 years and no "mischief". It's your money and your time. Go for it if it makes you feel better.
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2003 Class C, 29' Gulfstream
Next stop?
Previous rigs..2 Pickup campers,2 TT's, 3 DP MH's
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08-22-2015, 03:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: E WA or S TX
Posts: 4,049
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Lost a stinger and 2 5/16 ball in a parking lot.
__________________
04 Horizon QD, 12 Ford Flex, Excalibar, Brakemaster, Winter Texan, RVin! since 1974
Norm, Donna & Tinker Kat(RIP) 01 Z3
Life is a Timed Event, you only get One Go Around!
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08-22-2015, 03:39 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 381
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I use an old Master Lock hitch pin. It's inner workings are brass so rust is not an issue. Although we don't have salt on our roads it's been in survive since 2002.
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08-22-2015, 07:38 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 172
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Master lock brand makes several nice locking pins now that are brass, with rubber caps over the key hole to keep out water/grime. Had to buy a new one because the class 4 one is not long enough for my new class 5 hitch. The wife's jeep inherited my 10 year old class 3/4 hitch pin to pull the golf cart!
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2017 Ram 3500 CrewCab MAXTOW DRW, 2015 Forest River Dynamax Trilogy 38RL
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08-22-2015, 07:54 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Are you sure they are brass? Brass is a much softer metal than steel and I'd be afraid it would shear.
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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08-22-2015, 08:18 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 172
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The threaded end that does not bear the pulling stress. The rest of the pin is a single piece, and the cap threads down on this pin by turning the key to screw on the end cap, then pull out key, put on rubber cap over key hole, and it is happy till next time!
__________________
2017 Ram 3500 CrewCab MAXTOW DRW, 2015 Forest River Dynamax Trilogy 38RL
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08-22-2015, 11:00 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Mass
Posts: 292
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I keep my hitch on my pick up all year long with a pin lock only change to tow my boat and I leave a pintle hitch on in the winter months i plow with my truck to and I've had the same lock for 3 years now
Rich,24
2014 wildwood 27rlss
2005 Chevy 2500HD crew cab
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Rich,242014 wildwood 27RLSS travel trailer
2005 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab
2005 GMC Sierra 3500 single cab dump
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08-24-2015, 04:15 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 8
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Been using a GR 8 bolt for a very long time. You must use two wrenches to get them off instead of maybe a hammer to "ping" the other "locks" over.
I don't keep a hitch in all the time, but I do keep a Step/Bar in the receiver when the hitch isn't in.
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