I don't know why people love their locking hitch pins so much or why they are worried about the hitch being stolen off the back of their truck. I think this is a better way.
Want next level? Use the same high strength bolt, lock washer, and nut. Add a second nut and then spot-weld the two nuts together. Sure you have to get out your own angle grinder when you want to trade out your trailer hitches but I haven’t taken my trailer hitch off in like six years. Also having an excuse to get out the angle grinder just gives me a good reason to make Sparks which are typically my favorite part of the day anyway.
Great idea... I have an addition for those still worried about someone just removing the bolt, Red Locktite. The hot wrench is needed for that type. I didn't have any Red Locktite when I installed my interchangeable ball so I used Goop on the threads, and glad I did. Two weeks later someone tried to steel my high dollar ball and just ended up repositioning the flats on the upper part. My only regret is not having video of the a-hole scratching his head when he couldn't remove it. lol
Wesley Carver l put JB weld on the treads, l'm not ever going to replace the ball or the hitch , it always stay on truck. I don't worry about the hitch, its the trailer and what's on it that l'm more concerned about. There is no trailer lifting jack on it ,and I park my rig where l can keep an eye on it. On big truck stops l've seen people "walking" the lanes looking at hitches, brazenly, comeplete idiots not afraid of getting shot!
@@crankyemoji2328 i wouldnt try drilling. Use the bolt like he is and if really worried about it coming loose and harder to take add a nylon nut as well cause a nylon nut you would have the wrench all the way
It's spelled "you're" in your use. If you use improper grammar or spelling while calling someone stupid, your insult has been negated. Regardless, there are expensive hitches. I own one. It has several ball angles and level notches, sway bar receivers with bars themselves having shocks, and other custom features. The reason why the agricultural/industrial brand CAT made the hitch pin featured in the video is that there does exist expensive custom hitches for expensive equipment. Just because the average cheap ball will pull your cheap boat, doesn't make someone stupid for owning an expensive custom hitch. You could also tell someone they are stupid for buying good bourbon when they could get some Natural Ice.
After installing your hitch pin, installing a 'hitch anti-rattle clamp' is a great addition. Intended to take up the slack of hitch in the receiver to eliminate movement and rattling noises, it also locks the hitch into the receiver, even if the pin is removed. The anti-rattle clamp is installed and removed by the use of two 3/4" nuts, but once again, the thief needs to have a 3/4" socket handy and enough time to remove it.
Been doing this for years using a washer and a lock washer and lock nut torque it up good. Slows down theft and helps with hitch rattle. Heck of a lot stronger than a regular hitch pin too. Crooks are opertunist all you can do it make it harder for them to get it and look elsewhere..
Yes! Agree! I can't see too many thieves walking around with a socket wrench, let alone the right sized socket and further more needing a second set to keep the other end of the bolt from turning... I like your suggestion! Thanks!
I'm not a thief but I carry a basic tool set with full range of sockets in all my vehicles and have for 30+ years. But then I also work on all my own cars so I keep stuff handy in case I ever break down on the side of the road. I don't see a reason why thieves wouldn't have a basic tool set.
Thieves especially would have wrench set. If you're a thief you have tools to do the job at hand. Most every person I know, I don't think I know ant thieves though, carry at least a set of wrenches in their vehicle.
You are giving thieves credit dude. Lol you're insane if you don't think thieves carry tools sets with them to do what they do. The ones that are seasoned and have specific targets , yea man they carry tools with them. Don't be naive
How the hell does taking a socket wrench to undo a nut make more noise and take longer than a sawzall? You literally just put the socket on the nut and turn it
@@Blacked_OutMedia You only need an extension, socket, and a breaker bar. Break the nut loose, and you can twist it off with your finger. Hell, even an impact wrench can zip that off quickly enough,.
@@Blacked_OutMedia An impact wrench or a tool set? It's not common at all, actually. I carry a battery-powered impact wrench and small socket set along with me in case of roadside repairs. Also, who the hell steals a hitch?
If you have access to a recip saw then you probably have access to a cordless impact. Two seconds and its off, but once again if somebody is looking to steal something they're coming prepared most likely. Good idea none the less.
Looking at the comments on RU-vid shows me that there are so many couch engineers in the world, that all the problems of the world are solved. Just no one willing to do the work.
I did this on my Ram 1500 hemi about a year or so back before I ever saw this video. I used the same Schedule 5 bolt you showed, but added the nylock nut to it with a lock washer. If you get one the length of that one you show, which is exactly what I did, it takes forever just to take it off even when you are doing it yourself and not stealing someone else's. I have a front mount hitch on the Ram that I recently installed, too. I have the Curt license plate holder on it, but it does not hide my actual license plate when in place. I have a special license plate sign on it that reads, "I (heart) love my dog." I don't want that stolen, so I'll be picking up another bolt at either Tractor Supply Store or Ace Hardware for theft prevention. The only real issue I have with the use of the Schedule 5 bolt set up and nylock nut is that I will be putting on a weight distribution hitch in the future and it is going to be a pain in the butt to change out that setup at the hitch.
Good point, with the added lock nut. Only thing I'd tell this guy is. We don't all have the same needs as you: I agree I'm not to worried about my regular 2" ball getting stolen at home. But I have a combo hitch and when I go camping I have a distribution hitch. It's a pain in the ass to put it anywhere at the campground. So I'd like to secure it to my truck. When I'm away from home, I dont necessarily know what kind of local raggies may be hanging around a downtown I've never been to before. Even some kids who'd just think it's funny and chuck it down a hill, then I'm out $200.
What about a combination of a Allen head cap bolt and a wheel lock on the other side? Doubt anyone will a whole lot of universal lug removers and Allen sockets etc
Put a 2nd nut on the bolt and tighten to the 1st nut that way you need 2 tools to remove the 2nd nut making it a bit more difficult to remove. In this game, you are trying to discourage and thief or make it more difficult that they go elsewhere. Don't leave much room where they can get a saw in there to try and cut.
I think the concern is more with expensive hitches like a weigh safe or a b+w tow and stow. A $50 curt isn't as big of a loss as a $350+ hitch. I like the top link pin idea, though. Some good recommendations are given here and I'll admit that I hadn't considered the bolt. I just wish I knew the shear-strength of each bolt grade by size. I don't want my bolt shearing off while towing with my 3/4 ton.
For a little extra security I would use a castle nut. Drill a hole through the bolt and install a cotter pin. A trailer was recently stolen where the thieves took the nut off of the trailer ball. If you don't plan to change balls drill a hole through the nut and bolt and install a roll pin.
Also, I like keeping mine in when not towing because i feel like it provides an extra "bumper" in case someone tries to rear end my truck, that extra 18" of steel might keep me from needing any $body repairs$ to the truck.
I'm not worried about the hitch. If I have a motorcycle on my trailer, someone can take the whole hitch and trailer and hook it to their truck and leave.
I've been doing this for years using a grade 8 bolt but add a large flat washer under the bolt head and before the lock washer and nut. I'm not risking my expensive Airstream using those cheap locking pins made in china. More people need to know about this better alternative.
You don't have to live in a dangerous area to get your hitch stolen. In the area I live, sometimes there are thieves from OTHER neighborhoods that have drove around looking for stuff they can quickly lift off. A hitch is one of them. I've had stuff stolen twice off of the back of my Dodge because it wasn't locked. I grew up in places where I didn't have to worry about this. Must be a city thing. Also, the lock is a deterence. If somebody is determined to take it, they will.
Agree, I used the Reese locking pin twice and found cracks in the key lock mechanism. Don't know what would happen if it fell apart? It's locked by 3 ball bearing which would probably fall out. My conclusion, If I don't understand how it works and can't see it, I can't trust it.
Not everyone wants a welded ball mount. My wife for example always complains that the hitch is still on when not towing because she bumps into it. She could be more careful, but I still hear about it. Further, you might want the ability to change mounts. Sooo, some means of removal is desirable. My one experience with a locking pin is that it froze up from corrosion. I usually oil my locks, but I didn't do this one. It went with the car when I sold it. I never thought about a hardened bolt and I think it's a good idea. To improve security, one could double nut it. That way they need TWO wrenches of that size to steal it. I'm thinking they won't be prepared for that. I think I'm going to tractor supply this week!
My hitch is an equalizer and probably now cost over $800 and they will steal them. However I appreciate your idea for a Top Link Pin with a regular pad lock. I was worried about the cheap Chinese pins breaking and being dangerous.
Check out the new Pinultimate Titanium Hitch Pin by Big Sky Precision. Features a bi-directional key and a positive locking feature. Video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-daGfnc2B8LI.html
I think its not just the hitch that might be stolen but the whole trailer if you have the same you can slide out the whole hitch whilst it is still attached to the trailer and slide it into your one and drive off.
I use the bolt method myself and tighten two nylock nuts together and those nuts are not tightened strongly against the receiver. This way, if anyone had a Sawzall, the bolt will spin making it a bit more difficult to steal than if the first nut had been tightened all the way!
Use Loctite 620 retaining compound in addition and it will take a torch to heat up the nut enough to get it to move. If they're that determined to steal your hitch then nothing will stop them.
The reason for these isn't someone stealing your hitch, it's what's attached to the hitch. At least with a locking pin, it's one more step someone would have to take to steal your bikes/bike rack, trailer, etc... Of course, if someone has a recip saw and a private area to use it, your stuff will be stolen anyways.
Yeahhhh I have a brute hitch from Pro pride and a bolt lock for it. It cost me about 280 after FedEx shipping. It’s that when it was all a sale and it was only like $188. It’s definitely not one of these reese hitches that I got rid of
Get a bolt that's so long the right-sized recessed socket is still too short. You might have to hunt around for it, most long ones are only threaded an inch or two.
The longer bolt puts more threads outside of the hole due to the longer shoulder in the bolt. Short of using all thread to make a bolt with a couple of inches of threads in both ends, the longer bolt with the longer shoulder does the trick. Add to it a steel lock nut for good measure, that's what I have in my company truck and have for years
We’re not too worried about the hitch itself being stolen. Its the 3k$ aluminum trailer that’s attached to it. This is rediculous. A theif with a socket will have that off in 1 minute or less.
Good point on the cheap lock in the video. However the main reason you lock the hitch is to stop someone from easy removing your hitch while attached to a trailer!! FYI spent money on a quality lock its Not getting broke off. Also many places in Ont. can be fined for leaving hitch in receiver if not towing
But there is still a truck parked in front of the trailer, how do they get around that obstacle? If there is anything remotely valuable in there, something tells me the trailer would be too heavy to push out of the way.
Re: if they are stolen a lot or not. I have a relative who I know does not buy them that has like 10 of them. (They have since moved away to who know where, and gotten rid of stuff but that always bothered me why they had so many.) So I know people do steal them. That person doesn't have a truck and they don't have any kind of business where they have to haul stuff either. Shrug.
I have done the same thing., but instead of using a ordinary grade 8 nut and a lock washer,use a "stover nut . They are self locking nut. They hard to wrench on,but they stay.
If you don’t take your hitch on and off much just put clear silicone on hitch shaft and hitch pin. It’s a pain to get pin out when it’s siliconed in. Stops “hitch rattle” too.
I had a machine shop drill a hole in my stainless pin for a padlock but didnt know a tractor supply shop sells them with a padlock sized hole already.🍻👍🤠
I got the same setup plus a stop nut on there just to be sure. All the people on here saying they could get that setup apart easy dont know hardware. It takes two wrenches to loosen that nut thanks to the lock washer. I'm not sure too many crooks running around with those in their pockets.
Ok with all this said with the bolt ,nut ,washer grade 8 not not stainless steel ??? But what about towing with that bolt in ?? Is that strong enough to leave in for pulling trailers ?? In place of hitch pin ?? Just asking ???
While I like the idea of bolting it and forgetting it, it’s not the best idea. For one, I’ve seen too many hitches rusted fast into their receivers so tightly that soaking them in Liquid Wrench, torching them, and chaining the unpinned hitch to something solid while driving forward wouldn’t extract it. The other is state laws fining drivers who have a hitch sticking out of the rear of a truck. I know in Illinois it’s finable
You're also sporting a $14 Walmart hitch. Some of us have a need for an adjustable height and/or multiple ball size hitch Seems your suggestion is a bit short sighted.
Lol not needed?! Dude I live in a very nice small town in New Hampshire on a farm, I’ve had my hitch taken off my truck 3 times, lol I’ve decided todo some custom welding for it hehe
0:15 im guessing you never had an expensive (200+ $) ball mount then. nobody's worried about their $30 ball mount. also, pretty sure the main purpose is to deter theifs from steeling your ball mount WITH your trailer assuming you have some sort of lock on the coupler.
bought a used truck. didnt have key for locking hitch ball. used pipewrench to break off lock. worked like charm took 2 seconds. have also loosened a nut with a pipewrench. took 2 seconds.
I like the bolt idea better and if you are really worried you can add another bolt and then solder the two bolts in two places. This video is from 2018, Today its 2022 and they are stealing everything and anything. to many Junkies', Out there. at least in most big cities and larger States and Towns.
I like this idea as an inexpensive option to no lock at all. All I'm really worried about is when I park somewhere without my trailer attached and someone walking by and snatching up my ball mount with only their hands. I think the ~$20 variety lock options are more likely to seize due to corrosion than to protect against theft any better than the bolt method. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah... ...besides, EVERYONE has the key to THIS lock. Someone was spoiled growing up in God's Country. It's been my experience that p people will steal ANYTHING.
@@grantadamson3478 "Why make it a personal attack?" You have SUPER thin skin if you think this is a personal attack. Street preacher screaming "the world is ending!" Attack = Going up to him yelling "you stupid idiot" , then punching him. Commenting = Walking away from, declaring that "Yeah I'm not taking his advice, since he makes claims that can be verified false." "Do you do that often?" What's it to you if I did? Are you going to cry about it some more?
I personally have had 3 receivers stolen from my Explorer. I have very little room to put a lock. I have been looking for years. I did the bolt thing and still got it stolen. Yes i used impact to install. These were stolen from the parking lot of a club which I DJ' d at with people in and out all night. I finally found and ordered a lock today, which is a right angle lock for tight areas. I HOPE THIS WORKS!!!! I Saw this video doing research for the lock. But good, cheap idea. Welding not an option for me I use 3 different size balls at any given time for 6 trailers I own. LOL
You can get a set of the 3 different bill sizes where all you do is change the ball and not the hitch. I have a bolt in my company truck hitch and haven't had any problems
Get a Teflon nut ! They can loosen it but they will have to wrench it all the way off , won’t be able twist off with fingers ! In NYS it’s illegal to have ball on full time without towing something . They don’t enforce it but , it gives them a “reason” to stop you . I have a iron step in my receiver with a u-clamp and Teflon nuts .
What am I missing here? It's likely that EVERY would-be thief has a socket set. Maybe take your bolt & nut to a machine shop and have them drill it for a pin. The pin would then have to be drilled before the nut could be removed.
We used to take a flathead screwdriver and hammer to the exosed threads, beat them flat, mangle them only problem is it's REALLY difficult to get it off afterwards, add a little rust from that cheap nut and bolt after a few months... never coming off!
You know there is a reason these don't just come welded to the truck. What if you need to swap the ball out for one that's a different size, or you need a different hitch because of height issues.
DANGER. High tensile bolts snap from side pressure. Mild steel is safer as they will flex not snap like a carrot.. High tensile is for pulling Metal parts together..only..
To me it wasn't about someone stealing the hitch and ball, it was about someone pulling the pin, swinging the trailer around and inserting the hitch into their own receiver and stealing your trailer. I agree the grade 8 bolt is probably stronger than the Chinese made locking hitch pins though.
Bolts are good for tensile forces. Pins are good for shear forces. They are NOT interchangeable. If you're going to do something like this, get a threaded pin. You can put a nut on it like a bolt, but it has much greater shear strength.
So you’re saying more people are carrying around sledgehammers and sawzalls than a wrench or a socket wrench? Real truth is that it doesn’t matter what you use because a thief that wants to steal your stuff will find a way. IMO it’s just easier and more convenient to use a locking hitch pin.
Not saying I would steal a hitch of a vehicle, because I wouldn't, but I always carry a 200 piece tool set in my Yukon, have everything I would need to remove this guy's hitch bolt, and I know I'm not the only person on the planet that carries such a tool kit in my vehicle, this mod is pointless and probably very unsafe if he tows any kind of weight with it.
your hitch is $ 20 bucks on Amazon. Not worth the time generally. But having said that, a stolen hitch (even a cheap one) can ruin a trip if you do not have an extra ball mount handy. And a thief can steal the trailer too if the hitch is not locked. A drop down hitch like a B & W may have 3 pins and then the hitch pin, not to mention a super hitch with an extension. Double nuts on bolts are not convenient, but a good idea for a single hitch. Also a well designed locking pin is designed for the exact width of the hitch so extra pin is not available to saw on. All locks can be broken, the idea is to limit the stealing to non-casual thieves and too slow them down so there is some suspicions. I had a cheap hitch taken in a a resort at Paulina Lake Oregon 35 years ago (pretty remote area then, Bend was only 15 k pop) , and I had to obtain a hitch to get my drift boat home. The thief was probable a walk buy, 3 minutes of fun. Not fun for me. Your double bolt would have worked in that case as it was a single level hitch like yours and a casual thief.
@@brentbradley6711 This was many years ago, we were new at it and didn't know about the locks you can get. I kept telling the old man to take the damned thing off and put it inside the van, but did he do that? No. I was NOT a happy camper!
The locks are used to prevent the trailer from being stolen. Break the receiver lock, remove receiver, insert it into get away vehicle. Stolen trailer. I agree, the locking pins are cheap metal. I like your pin with padlock idea
That is impossible unless you have an unloaded 1200 pound or less trailer. You cannot MOVE a loaded trailer away from the tow vehicle and then ACCURATELY push the ball into the receiver of the get away truck.
Another Day in Paradise just search just search stolen trailer in parking lot...... fastest way to steal a utility trailer is with receiver hitch attached. I know as my 5x10 trailer was stolen in broad day light at Lowe’s this way. I had a small coupler lock but doesn’t matter when the take the receiver hitch.
I just don't keep the ball and bar in when not in use! If I'm pulling a trailer, that means I'm with the truck! And my anti-rattle clamp does the same thing anyway!
Put the first nut on, spot weld it to the bolt on the outside, thread a second nut on, spot weld it to the first nut. Hahahaha thatll be on there when they dig it up in 3,000 years!
