Community Forums

Tench · 08-21-2016, 11:20 AM

I have a Class A motorhome and pull a small pickup using a Falcon 2 tow system. I pad lock the truck-side to the truck, but the RV-side is only attached by the supplied hitch pin and clip. I also have a hitch pin which locks at the end, but am somewhat reluctant to use it for fear the locking mechanism might fail (due to my install) and then the hitch pin would not be secured to the RV. So, two questions: Does anyone have a work-around for my concerns, and has anyone ever had an issue with the theft of the RV side of a tow package? Of course, my significant other says to just live with it, but now I just want to know what everyone else does. Thanks.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-21-2016, 12:06 PM

I've never had a theft concern with my towbar (17 years now), but some areas are more risky than others. It's more likely to be stolen from a storage lot than a campground, for example, but mine is kept at home when not in use.

I'm not clear on why you think the lock might fail in some way that jeopardizes the hitch pin. The standard pin could be damaged or vandalized too, probably more easily than the lock.

You could always have the receiver and tow bar drilled for a second pin if you are that worried.

avid_dk · 08-21-2016, 12:51 PM

I purchased a pair of Roadmaster locking pins for the RV side and for the high/low extension. Never gave failure of the locking mechanism a thought. My tow setup is completely Roadmaster except for the hitches points welded onto the LoD bumper on my Wrangler.

Buy quality gear, put it together properly, check it at every stop and drive on.

slickest1 · 08-21-2016, 01:22 PM

I have receiver pins that are drilled a little larger and put a pad lock on them instead of the hair pin clip.

lanerd · 08-21-2016, 03:24 PM

Recently there was a post of the toad (jeep) catching fire and eventually catching the coach on fire due to the fact that the tow bar had locks on it. The owner stated that if he had just the clip-pins, he could have easily remove the tow bar from the jeep and drive the mh forward to a safe distance.

His problem was that the keys to the tow bar was on his ignition switch keys and in his haste to get back to the toad to remove it, he forgot the keys in the ignition. By the time he ran back and got the keys, the fire had already spread to the back of the coach. I'm not sure that even he had the keys in hand, fumbling around trying to find the correct key may also have been a time problem.

It was a total loss of both toad and coach.

I'm not advocating locks or pins.... just repeating what happened to someone else.

Ron

vsheetz · 08-21-2016, 04:02 PM

Locking pins here on tow bar and drop adapter. No locks on the toad side. I have no concern about the locking pins.

avid_dk · 08-21-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanerd

Recently there was a post of the toad (jeep) catching fire and eventually catching the coach on fire due to the fact that the tow bar had locks on it. The owner stated that if he had just the clip-pins, he could have easily remove the tow bar from the jeep and drive the mh forward to a safe distance.

Did they figure out what caused the fire?