Someone tried to steal my trailer hitch . . .

[JohnD]

Last Friday (12/23/2016) when I went outside to go to work I discovered that someone had tried to steal my Reese 16K Pro Slider out of the back of my truck.

I found a couple of the hitch pins that hold the hitch to the rails pulled, plus all four of the plastic end caps on each end of the roller tubes popped off.


You can see the black plastic caps in this photo

Apparently someone scared them off.

My question is this . . .

Under each plastic end cap on the roller tubes is one large screw with allen wrench heads and I'm not sure what they do.

I'm not sure if these were messed with and wondering if I should have the hitch checked out before I try to use it again?

I'm thinking that whomever it was didn't have a clue about 5th-wheel hitches and thought that was the way to remove it from the back of the truck.

 

[Nabo]

wow - how gutsy someone is. Before we got a bed cover, we had locking pins on the rails that we got from tractor supply store. Now with the locking bed cover, nobody knows about the hitch, aux tank and potable gennies inside the bed.

 

[LBR]

I have 1 pin on each side drilled on the end for a small O.D. long shank padlock that I put on... bolt cutters can't reach it.

 

[Jesstruckn/Jesstalkn]

I better get a lock on my new hitch. My old lock wouldn't fit though the holes on the new B&W hitch. I better solve the problem before it disappears.

 

[rhodies1]

I have 1 pin on each side drilled on the end for a small O.D. long shank padlock that I put on... bolt cutters can't reach it.

Ive done the same thing,drilled the pin slightly larger to accommodate a long shank lock, works well.

 

[klindgren]

The gall of some people. If it were me John, I'd have someone "professional" look at the hitch to ensure everything is good. No sense in taking any chances.

 

[cookie]

You need a tonneau cover. Out of sight, out of mind.

Peace
Dave

 

[JohnD]

You need a tonneau cover. Out of sight, out of mind.

Yup . . . on my bucket list, but have some other things higher on that list first.

Guess I'll have the shop look at the hitch next week when I go over there to arrange getting the Prowler in for the axle repair.

I still don't know what those screws under the roller tube end caps are for:



- - - Updated - - -

I have 1 pin on each side drilled on the end for a small O.D. long shank padlock that I put on... bolt cutters can't reach it.

I think I saw a hitch pin lock designed for the smaller class receiver hitches at Walmart, CW or AutoZone with a thinner shank . . .

I'm going to look for one of those to see if that will fit (great, all I need are more keys for the camper ).

 

[RoadJunkie]

I don't think I would be concerned about the alleged thief making changes to the in-tube adjustments. I mean, what are the odds of a thief having the exact size Allen wrench required to move/adjust the bolts?

 

[porthole]

Since my hitch only goes in and out once a year I replaced the pins with bolts and ny-lock nuts. Obviously does not stop it from being stolen, but it won't just pop out either.

 

[JohnD]

I don't think I would be concerned about the alleged thief making changes to the in-tube adjustments. I mean, what are the odds of a thief having the exact size Allen wrench required to move/adjust the bolts?

I've considered that . . . but you never know what they might have done.

I'm going to look at them later to see if I can figure out what exactly they do.

- - - Updated - - -

Since my hitch only goes in and out once a year I replaced the pins with bolts and ny-lock nuts. Obviously does not stop it from being stolen, but it won't just pop out either.

Yup!

I'm looking for options to lock it down.

I have to go to the auto parts store today so I am going to look for that hitch/lock thingy I saw.

 

[Bones]

glad it was not stolen. They probably wanted it for scrap value since they didn't know how to get it out.

 

[Lou_and_Bette]

I'm going to look at them later to see if I can figure out what exactly they do.

Call/contact Reese and ask them...go straight to the experts

 

[JohnD]

glad it was not stolen. They probably wanted it for scrap value since they didn't know how to get it out.

That is my thoughts exactly!

Of course, the joke would have been on them.

Takes three people to pick that thing up without blowing a walnut!

 

[Kbvols]

That is my thoughts exactly!

Of course, the joke would have been on them.

Takes three people to pick that thing up without blowing a walnut!

John, I have that same hitch it can be broken down to 2 pieces very easily if you want to remove it for the "off season" that is what I do. The weight is not too much to handle more awkward than anything.


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[Gary521]

There are lock brackets that fit on the end of the mounting pins. These allow a padlock to fit and prevent the bracket or the pin from being removed. I use two of these with two locks. No drilling necessary. Here is a link.,

https://www.etrailer.com/Locks/Reese/RP58093

 

[JohnD]

There are lock brackets that fit on the end of the mounting pins. These allow a padlock to fit and prevent the bracket or the pin from being removed. I use two of these with two locks. No drilling necessary. Here is a link.

Thanks for that!

The link didn't work, but I found it, plus the other one I was talking about above:

http://www.etrailer.com/comparison.aspx?pc=RP58093&pc2=TR63254

Both of them are great solutions . . .

One of them will find it's way into the bed of my truck soon!

 

[mlpeloquin]

I use two locking hitch pins to make sure mine does not go away in the night. Keep the original two in the truck in case the two non locking one walk away. I purchased them at the advice of a friend. He and his wife, wile crossing the country, stropped for breakfast. He never looks at his hitch, but for some reason after breakfast he did glance at it. All four pins had been removed. If he did not see it his truck and fifth wheel really would have been damaged badly. He was stuck for three days before he got new hitch pins. It only takes one rotten person to think something like this would be funny. Got to be proactive to protect yourself against thieves and idiots.

 

[Terry H]

I use two of the Fifth Wheel Base Rails Lock[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] on my hitch, diagonal from front left to rear right. Product video. [/FONT]

 

[BigGuy82]

I've got a Truxedo Titanium cover and I keep the tailgate locked. The cover is made of aluminum slats that roll up. I also lock the tailgate. While the cover isn't impenetrable, it still is an effective deterrent. I also lock the hitch to the bed. I'm surprised the scum didn't try to grab the tailgate - worth a lot.

Hindsight is 20/20 but since it looks like they tried to pull it up,I'd have a hitch shop check it out. Just my 2 cents.


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