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09-10-2019, 05:05 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Posts: 3,774
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Key Lockable Hitch Pins?
I've crafted a rear step for my work van using Reese hitch parts along with some homebuilt tubes, all connected and held to the frame with usual hitch pins. The idea to make this step removable is ease of towing when/if I need to be towed by anything other than a flat bed or roll back truck. With the raised roof were this van to be hauled on a roll back there could be bridge clearance issues.
I doubt someone would steal this step but one never knows so I'm thinking to add key locking hitch pins. Anyone here used them and to what success--or failure? Since its unlikely I'll need to remove these ever I'm looking for the best quality with a strong locking mechanism and certainly some sort of weather protective cap or cover.
So whatcha got?
TIA
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09-10-2019, 07:54 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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I use two keyed-alike locking hitch pins. Keyed-alike is great if for no other reason than one less key to carry/lose. No issues, other than the strap holding the rubber dust cover tore. I've been using these two hitch pins for 8-10 years.
I can't remember the brand off the top of my head, but I can check when I get home.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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09-10-2019, 07:59 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
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For something like this, where you aren't routinely removing it, I'd just go with some bolts, anti-seize and Ny-locks.
Keeping keyed pins outside full time without regular use, you're likely to find the seized up come time to unlock them.
I doubt anybody would steel the step, but for some reason, hitch pins do walk away shockingly often.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
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09-10-2019, 08:19 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: boise idaho
Posts: 2,625
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I have a set of locking hitch pins to lock my spare tire to my aluminess swingaway and my winch caddy to the receiver. Carringb is correct about rust, but I lube both of mine each tire rotation and haven’t had any issues yet. Plus the ones I ended up with have rubber caps that help keep dirt out of the lock mechanism.
They aren’t bulletproof, but they are enough to keep the lazy thieves at bay. Someone motivated could make their way around them, but not without setting off the alarm.
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"understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of your car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of your car, horsepower is how hard your car hits the wall, and torque is how far your car moves the wall."
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09-10-2019, 09:56 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 385
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I use the Bolt hitch pin, which I like because it uses the Ford key I already carry.
__________________
Tim Potts
2012 Chevrolet Express 3500 6.0
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09-10-2019, 10:42 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 586
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I hate having a zillion different keys, so I use a hitch pin that allows me to run a regular pad lock through it. That lets me use the same key as a bunch of other locks that I have.
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09-10-2019, 02:06 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,072
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..works fine....
__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
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09-10-2019, 02:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Huntington Beach
Posts: 153
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shadetreevanman
I use the Bolt hitch pin, which I like because it uses the Ford key I already carry.
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x2
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=BOLT+7018447&ref=nb_sb_noss
Very nice not having to carry separate key, I just wish their other stuff (bike locks, etc) were priced a little better.
__________________
2008 E350 RB 6.0 - Bullet Proofed, MG 4x4 Conversion
2009 E350 RB 5.4 - Camburg Kit (Sold)
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09-10-2019, 02:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,186
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I’ve had many kinds over the years and a lot of them are junk. I started buying these a couple of years ago and think they’re the best. You can buy them keyed alike. I’ve even bought some later and they keyed the new ones alike for me, too. ETrailer has great customer service.
https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Locks...er/e98880.html
__________________
"PhoTo" - 2014 Ford E350 5.4L RB - Agile 4x4 - CCV Poptop
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09-10-2019, 03:20 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,382
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I chose a locking Hitch Pin with the cable - Cable comes in handy to secure items of concern in our absence. Will also confirm that periodic maintenance and a dust cover are solid advice. I had to cut one off because the key no longer moved the internal tumbler - I (as well as a locksmith) tried everything to loosen that thing up.
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Receiv...ateway&sr=8-23
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TwoXentrix
"AWOL"
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