Don't Buy This Hitch Pin!

[Rocket Ship]

I would never use that hitch pin just because it includes that silly sleeve to go from 1/2" to 5/8". That's a horrible design right from the start.

 

[Borrego60]

Glad everything was OK. I have the same hitch pin and I run my breakaway brake cable clip to the swivel part so it has no way to come apart.Had it for years and no problems. It also can not swivel into an position where it can back itself out of the hitch. Just run the clip into the opening and it would have no way to rotate so the pin could not back out.

 

[Rezarf <><]

For any extended trips off road with the trailer attached at 5/8" Grade a bolt and nylock nut are cheap insurance. A spare in the parts bag is always a good idea too, glad to see you were prepared and everything turned out safe! Nice looking trailer for sure!

 

[kai38]

I can't understand trusting a $15K trailer to a $5.97 part. There are much better & safer pins on the market.

 

[PsychoBurb]

I too run 3 point style pins in my receivers. But I have a tractor too, so keeping parts common to one another whenever possible just suits my needs. Instead of a spring steel clip, I slip a 5/8" fender washer over the pin, then use a small bolt and nylon nut to keep the pin from sliding out. It also doubles as a theft deterrent, requiring a would be thief to have tools to get the receiver out.

I know several people that run anti-theft hitch pins. It seems like every time they need to remove theirs the locks are full of grime, insuring a fight to get the thing removed. I've even seen a few of them end up getting the torch out to cut the things off.

I too would never run a pin with the goofy adapter sleeves. it just seems like a cheesy solution to me.

On the safety chains, here in Tx we too must cross our chains. I see the importance of that, although I see trailers being towed on a daily basis with chains that aren't crossed. I have even had state troopers pull up and look specifically at my safety chains, only to drive on when they see them crossed.

 

[highlandercj-7]

I would never use that hitch pin just because it includes that silly sleeve to go from 1/2" to 5/8". That's a horrible design right from the start.

EXACTLY! I saw that pin at Wally World too and thought wow what a sad design. That's a class II hitch pin in a class V reciever, there's no way that is safe. I'm glad no one got hurt. I'm also glad it happened off road and not on a highway, it could have been ugly.

 

[teotwaki]

I bought one of these, Reese Towpower Anti-Theft Hitch Pin with Lockable Swivel Latch, last week at Walmart because it looked like a good hitch pin and I though that it might be safer than one with a spring steel clip.---snip====

Terry, thanks for sharing your small adventure and the issue with the pin. A lot of good things have been discussed here. :wings: