Though extruded aluminum can sometimes work. Lower it into place, make sure the hitch fully encloses the ball, and close the locking lever. The best way to protect your trailer from theft is to leave it hitched up to your vehicle, someone would have to steal your vehicle or move it in order to steal your trailer. The trailer lock also has a Mul-T-lock MT5+ lock core, so there is a pretty unlikely chance that anyone is going to open the lock covertly or surreptitiously. Rekeying vs. Save the extra money and go with something like the Dealkoo, that way you don’t feel as ripped off by the quality. Most negative reviews of trailer locks have to do with the device not fitting the buyer’s pre-existing equipment. These products work by having a ball fit into the trailer hitch and a shackle fasten over the top of the hitch. So if you see a lot of people using something, investigate whether or not they are all investing in what they have determined to be the best security, or if they have settled for something accessible and cheap. This padlock uses the puck style lock body and shutter style shackle, which results in a lock that is hard to remove. A hitch lock is a product that keeps your trailer hitch and receiver together, with the lock preventing someone from lifting the receiver. You adjust the shackle so the lock cannot be slipped off, and then no one can hook up your trailer without the key to the lock. The bars in the hitch serve as the weight equalizer. Trailer Door Lock – For enclosed trailers, you need to worry about more than someone taking the entire trailer. No. Don’t get me wrong, this type of lock can be picked, and has been many times in the past, but there is so close to no chance that a criminal will have these skills that it is highly improbable. Similar to this issue of how the coupler is bolted together, there is an issue with only using a padlock to secure the hasp of the coupler. 6 Simple Ways To Get A Broken Key Out Of A Lock, I Locked Myself Out Of My House! Never Miss Hitch System. It is a huge thick metal slip cover that expertly pairs with a lock type that creates no obvious weakness. Without weight distribution, the trailers tongue weight added to the tow vehicle can cause it to teeter-totter over the rear axle which lifts the weight off the front wheels. The biggest concern for a trailer lock you intend to put on a door is that it needs to hold up to attacks on the lock body, shackle, and the hasp it is secured to. But here is the big disclaimer: this lock is far from perfect. The size and proportions of your trailer hitch will keep certain trailer hitch locks from working effectively. Corrosion resistant. Just read the specs from the lock’s description and cross reference them with the information you have documented about your own trailer. This uses the hoop lock design, similar to what you would see with a U-lock for bicycle security or even some motorcycle security. This can cause a serious loss of steering and braking control, and can also contribute to a setup that is more likely to sway. The fit between the ball hitch and the trailer coupler should be tight enough to prevent a disastrous decoupling while on the road, but not so snug that the trailer will have trouble making turns. Something is not bad by virtue of being popular. You can find this type of lock available from other manufacturers, but they are largely the same. Bolt Trailer Hitch Lock Pin. Recreational and light commercial hitch balls come in a variety of sizes including 1 7/8", 2", 2 5/16" and infrequently, 3". Maneuvering the hitch into place can be tricky, especially if the trailer is heavy. You cross the chains to act as a fail-safe to catch the trailer should it somehow become detached. Secure the coupler clamp with the hitch pin that came with the hitch. A trigger is pressed and a lever pulled up to release the lock and pull it back. Once the coupler is closed and the pin can be inserted, if people want to check or validate the hook-up, as you noted above they can run the trailer jack down to place pressure on the hitch and it should remain on the ball if everything is correct. The hitch ball then can be set inside the coupler. Often what you are storing in an enclosed trailer is meant to be semi-mobile, so criminals may try to unload the trailer instead of stealing it. Though this is an extremely popular style of trailer hitch lock, they are largely ineffective at protecting from even the most incompetent type of thief. 3 stainless steel springs do all the work from sliding the bottom plate in place to locking the coupler latch pin.Picture left, is the hookup spotter mirror option from Gooseneck Easy Coupler. All of these systems do work with most any trailer, and each one of these products are designed so that a trailer can be hitched by just one person. Have you ever driven by a vehicle towing a trailer and noticed the trailer tongue or back of the tow vehicle sagging? To open, pull back spring-loaded collar ; Position coupler over hitch ball; Close hinged portion of coupler, then release collar to close; Insert pin and retainer or pull back latch on top to secure Included in this list are options for sole protection and security meant as an addition to other forms of security. There are other components needed to complete the connection, like a ball mount and trailer ball. I would never recommend that this type of trailer hitch lock be your only trailer lock, but you can still get some level of security out of it. What is a Hitch Coupler, and How Does It Work? Over time and without lubrication, the ball will wear out as will the ball socket on the trailer coupler. It should not be your sole form of trailer security. It can incredibly useful, but many people don’t use it properly and don’t know how to maintain it. Often the hasp can be removed entirely by simply going underneath the device. Use safety chains to link the trailer to the tow vehicle; you should cross the chains. I will start this off by reiterating that this type of trailer hitch lock is hardly a security product, but it might be necessary to secure the trailer hitch to your vehicle. To do this, move the locking lever to the unlocked position, push up the nut locking channel and ball clamp with your fingers, then spin the lock nut several turns counterclockwise towards the ground. Link to purchase Retail price: $49.95. This is just to say, that the Brahma name continues to be on the cutting edge of highly advanced and effective security. Copyright © 2020 United Locksmith. Hoop Lock – A common trailer hitch lock is something like the Reese Lock. Receiver Hitch; Bumper Hitch; Front Mount Hitch You might recognize the name Brahma as one of the most important figures in the history of security, or you might not. You can take a look at a rather dramatic example of the Bolt trailer hitch lock pin being attached as compared to other products. You might be able to use this type of trailer lock as your sole trailer security, but only if you use the best possible products. Using this particular product is the best step you can take to secure your wheels. First, let talk about the construction of the hitch and the way it operates. As far as trailer hitch locks go, there is not much more than you can ask for. Or that is hope at least. So I would say either don’t concern yourself with the security of this type of trailer lock, or get the Bolt Trailer Hitch Lock Pin. A hitch ball (typically 2-5/16” by diameter) transfers the weight, centering the rotational forces. More than just trailer hitch locks (but those too), we will talk about all the relevant trailer locks you might be able to make use of. Fishtailing refers to the erratic side to side movement of the trailer. Some couplers employing a hand wheel to tighten the clamp to the ball; another common arrangement is a lever or toggle to lock the coupler. There are many types of trailer wheel locks on the market, most of which have very well known weakness, including pulling, tire deflation, wheel removal, etc. Whether you are getting a trailer hitch lock or some other form of trailer lock, security begins with the way you lock your trailer. Basic cutting attacks that would work to open most other trailer hitch locks in seconds. Get free shipping on qualified Trailer Hitch Coupler Hitches or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Automotive department. View on Amazon. This is the minimum protection that I would recommend if you are looking for some kind of wheel lock. Not impossible to pick, but it is pretty close to impossible that someone actually will pick it. There are a few types of ways you can lock a trailer. Let go of the channel lock and ball clamp making sure that the flats on the nut fit inside the nut locking channel and that the channel is perpendicular to the sides of the coupler, then try to close the coupler over the ball again. A trailer hitch coupler is a mechanism that is bolted or welded onto the end of your trailer frame. With the lock in place, no one will be able to hook up to your trailer. When a coupler is attached to the trailer ball, it locks into place. Bolt gives you the best protection out of all the other available low-security trailer hitch locks of this ilk. Get free useful tips and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Many of the mass produced products have glaring security issues, so it is important to get the best hitch pin lock if you are planning on using one. A quick Google search on the subject revealed ‘Truck Trailer Hitch Failure Attorneys’ on the first page. 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