Drop Receiver - Leave It Hitched Up to the Airstream?

[Frank&Mike]

I guess I sound kind of lazy ... but ... is there any option I have of leaving the Blue Ox drop receiver hooked up to the Airstream rather than removing it every time after a trip? My biggest concern is not making is simple for a thief to back up and slide the drop receiver into position on their tow vehicle and drive off with our Airstream.

But this piece of equipment sure is heavy to remove each time ... it's a great setup ... but it sure is heavy and a bit of a workout to install and remove each trip. Even though we're in secured storage ... I don't trust any thief ... I wouldn't even feel comfortable leaving it all hooked up when we arrive at our campsite either ... but I sure would like an alternative to this back breaking task. Any ideas out there?

[jim6090]

You might leave it in place, but, buy a locking hitch pin. That would stop most people form messing with it.

[xrvr]

Never heard of leaving it hooked up to the AS. I leave mine hooked up to the truck. Anyone leave it hooked to the trailer and disconnected from the truck? I think that is what the op is asking. Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

[AWCHIEF]

I made a little four wheeled cart for my BO drop bar. At the most the lift is just a few inches.

[AldeanFan]

I often latch the hitch head in the coupler when camping. After unhooking I hold the ball up in the coupler and have my wife lock the coupler latch. It keeps the hitch head out of the way and the kids don't get grease all over themselves when they inevitably brush up against it.

I wouldn't park the trailer in storage with the hitch head attached to the trailer, as you said, too easy to steal. I keep a 36x36' sheet of 1/4 plywood that I put on the floor of the trailer when it's storred, the hitch head, bars and gas grill sit on the plywood to keep the floor clean. It's not far from the door of the trailer to the hitch on the truck so I don't mind carrying the hitch head that far, and since I never set it on the ground I don't have to lift it, just carry it.

[RLS]

Besides the locking pin, is there a way you can wrap the chains around it tight so the bar is hanging down and put a lock on it?

[Larry C]

I always leave the coupler hooked to the ball when we're in a campground. Just get a good padlock on the couple latch, and your normal locking hitch pin in the shank.....I don't ever leave the shank/trunnion head in the truck receiver. In today's tight parking lots, it would be very easy to "bury" that trunnion/ball in the side of somebody's car....

Just sayin'

Larry

[rucos]

I have started lately leaving the hitch locked in place in campgrounds ... i can spin it to the side and lock everything together...then I have a bag cover which mostly puts it out of direct sight and makes it look better. I store it in the garage at home though. I think you can make it very secure, but any really determined thief will probably figure a way if its what he wants! I think most other rigs in a campground have an open hitch and would be easier to take.