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Old 07-17-2011, 07:03 PM   #1
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Stolen Hitch

I know that this has probably been a subject in the past, but I got tired of looking through the threads,lol. So has anyone had their hitch stolen while camping?
Yesterday we were in Cherokee NC. We decided to stop and try our luck and check out the new casino, old but re-done. Went in around 6, out at 8:15. We were in there about 2 hrs and when we returned to our truck John noticed our hitch was missing. . he went inside and talked to someone while I waited by the truck to make sure nothing else disappeared. The security guard showed up, took our statement and a bunch of pictures and proceeded to tell us that it would be at least a week before we would know the outcome of the surveylance video and that we would have to get our insurance company to supeona the casino before any results would be shared because its a privacy issue, whatever! I want to know who took my hitch! Needless to say, we left there and went to the police station to find out that they are closed on the weekend, really???? By this time we were both getting frustrated. We finally found a number that worked out of the 5 they have on the front door and he said someone would call us..... They deputy finally called and took our statement, it is now 10:00 and we have a hr and half drive back through the mountains to get to the campground. On the way we racked our brains trying to figure when this could have happened if it didnt happen there. We only went 2 other places since being at the campground, foodlion and arcade. So the insurance company was real nice and agreed to buy us a new one. The casino called today and said the hitch wasnt there when we pulled in so now we only have the other 2 to check. If it was at the campground, and it is one of our favorites, I dont think I will be going back there. Its kida scary to think people are out there lurking around while we are sleeping. We had 2 of our small grandkids with us. I told John that one day I am going to write a book about all the crazy things that happen to us, guess now is as good a time as any,lol! Anyone have any similiar experiences? Just curious.
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:08 PM   #2
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sorry for your loss. I have a locking hitch pin on mine to prevent theft,, about $10. I also use a heavy duty tempered steel chain with padlock to secure my $250 surge protector to the post. Good luck.
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:20 PM   #3
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So did they unbolt and remover the hitch assembly or pull the pin and remover the ball mount?
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:36 PM   #4
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I know of one forum member that got his WD/sway bars stolen off his trailer while he was in it. Is John sure he put the hair pin in the receiver? It's possible the pin rattled out while driving down the road, and the receiver fell off somewhere. I only mention this because of the missing hair pin for the sway bar.
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:37 PM   #5
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I'm confused. How did you leave the campground without a hitch?
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Old 07-17-2011, 07:59 PM   #6
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Amazon.com: Reese Towpower 7006900 Barrel Style Receiver Lock: Automotive

This has worked for us for the last few Seasons, sorry it's after the fact, hope all works out ok for you.
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Old 07-17-2011, 08:27 PM   #7
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I'm confused. How did you leave the campground without a hitch?
They left the trailer, and went on a day trip.
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Old 07-17-2011, 08:36 PM   #8
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What a crappy thing to happen. My condolences.

We are always concerned about our Hensley hitch bar. It is either locked into the receiver on the truck or chained to the hitch on the ground.

There are some real dirt bags in this world.

Brian
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Old 07-17-2011, 08:39 PM   #9
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I keep everything locked! It's a sad world out there but if it isn't locked someone is bound to take it.
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Old 07-17-2011, 08:54 PM   #10
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I have heard of this happening many times before. One ,the people were asleep in thier camper and someone stole the drawbar and ball assembly,it wasnt hooked up and not locked. I remove our drawbarhead and ball each time we unhook.IT only takes a few seconds to put it in the back of the truck out of sight.
Then you know where it is or at least should be. Where I grewup(matter of opinion) we never locked anything. ITS a DIFFERENT AGE and time PEOPLE.
ITS a shame to have to say but LOCKUP EVERYTHING if yur not looking rite at it.
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Old 07-17-2011, 09:05 PM   #11
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I seem to recall it's illegal in Florida to drive around with your ball showing, if not toeing, remove it.

Still the case?
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Old 07-17-2011, 09:30 PM   #12
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I have a hitch lock pin so I thought i was pretty spiffy. My friend showed up and as we were chattin he told me he could have that off in less than a minute. He came back with these little tools and within seconds had picked the lock and off slid the pin. I guess my lock only kept the honest people honest..

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Old 07-17-2011, 09:43 PM   #13
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I seem to recall it's illegal in Florida to drive around with your ball showing, if not toeing, remove it.

Still the case?
I was a City of Tallahassee Police Motorcycle Officer in the late 60's/early 70's, and it was not illegal then. I regularly have a ball in the receiver in recent years, and have never been stopped.

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Old 07-17-2011, 09:43 PM   #14
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Here in Iowa I understand they just passed a new law for driving around with a hitch on the TV; $100.00 fine.
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Old 07-18-2011, 03:00 AM   #15
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Well, this was the very first time that we did not remove the hitch while camping. On our previous hitch we always used a lock but gave it to the people that bought the Tradewind. I knew I needed to get another one but hadn't bought it yet. The pin was in place so I know it didn't fall out, just another lesson learned the hard way!!!!!

We left the camper at the campground and will go up and camp next weekend and then bring it home. We camp at Misty River often and they will let you leave your camper for free all week if you come back the following weekend and stay at least one night.
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Old 07-18-2011, 04:56 AM   #16
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Well, this was the very first time that we did not remove the hitch while camping. On our previous hitch we always used a lock but gave it to the people that bought the Tradewind. I knew I needed to get another one but hadn't bought it yet. The pin was in place so I know it didn't fall out, just another lesson learned the hard way!!!!!

We left the camper at the campground and will go up and camp next weekend and then bring it home. We camp at Misty River often and they will let you leave your camper for free all week if you come back the following weekend and stay at least one night.
This just is plain a PIA. It is not the value it is the act, it aggravates you, and you are pissed. It's not like the thief is going down to the local Pawn Stars Franchise and negotiate a deal with Rick for a used trailer hitch. We have several Casinos in our area and nothing good happens in their parking lots. The police are going to put no time in looking for the hitch and the Casino makes it hard to get any information, the security guard was more than likely suffering the internet on his smart phone. Don't put one more second of time letting this upset you that just adds to stress.

The camp ground sounds nice enjoy.

Jim
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Old 07-18-2011, 05:28 AM   #17
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Well, this was the very first time that we did not remove the hitch while camping. On our previous hitch we always used a lock but gave it to the people that bought the Tradewind. I knew I needed to get another one but hadn't bought it yet. The pin was in place so I know it didn't fall out, just another lesson learned the hard way!!!!!
You can look at this as an opportunity to upgrade to a Dual Cam or Strait Line system...
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Old 07-18-2011, 09:47 AM   #18
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Our hitch was also stolen while camping. On another trip our Weber Q and good brew disappeared. Now everything gets locked up and put away.
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Old 07-18-2011, 11:19 AM   #19
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I usually throw my hitch in the back of the truck.

The price of scrap iron is driving this easy theft. Just look around a parking lot, there are many hitch balls that could easily be stolen - it wouldn't take long to come up with some easy money.

There seems to be as much theft in rural areas as urban areas due to the influx drugs namely meth labs.
Thieves are everywhere!
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Old 07-18-2011, 12:25 PM   #20
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We used to 're-hitch' the shank, ball and bars back into the trailer's coupler (locked) and put a locking pin in the shank - kept things out of the way...

Now, since we got the mud flaps that are attached to the shank, we just leave the ball/shank in place on the TV and remove the bars (easily done with one pin in each) for storage...the shank is ALWAYS kept in place with a locking hitch pin!

We have a Quick-Bite type coupler (has two opening jaws) that's locked closed with a locking SS pin similar to a locking hitch pin, for security...

So far, so good, but you just never know who you're going to run into out there!
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