I haven't seen this question before, so thought I'd ask...What do you all do with your WD bars and sway control after you have unhooked for a weekend excursion?
I used to set mine across the battery box on the tongue of my Safari but I just changed that out to a dual 6V Blue Sea box with a crowned lid and can no longer do it. Besides, the WD bars are either getting all junked up with dirt or my kids and dog decide to grease themselves up with the lube on the bars or the hitch ball.
Any creative ideas out there on how to temporarily store those WD bars and sway control without grease staining something?
Those stands look nice!! However, personal experience has shown me Silvertwinkie speaks with wisdom and common sense.
Been ripped off twice - once for *one* wd bar, next time actual hitchpin itself (thank GOODNESS for "walkaround inspection" prior to departing). Started storing "hitch works" under galley when not in use (even while occupying trailer). Found slim, low-profile wooden box w/lid at the flea mkt; holds bars, hitch, pin, assorted clips, rags, WD40 - nicely, neatly inside either inside truck or trailer. Well organized, clean - and no worries!!
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Mr. Goate in Sunny California
1988 Classic 290, 2005 Interstate
We need to keep sand and dirt away from the greasy ends, and we don't want to lose the bits. I take 3 Wal-Mart plastic bags, and pop the greasy end of each bar in a separate bag . I then slide the bar, bag end last, into the underbody storage for the sewage pipe, but from the door side. The friction control also goes in the third bag in the same storage, which is secured with 4 marine grade padlocks. These bars are heavy, cumbersome, and greasy, and my solution is not ideal, but it's the best I've been able to think up so far. Nick
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Nick Crowhurst, Excella 25 1988, Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel. England in summer, USA in winter.
"The price of freedom is eternal maintenance."
They will fit nicely in the rear bumper storage. My sewer hose is in a tube underneath, so the rear bumper storage is mostly empty. I keep a couple of small padlocks on it.
The sway bar will go in there, also.
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
That's a great idea. My only concern would be adding the small locks to it (not that it doesn't need it). I would think that would be an advertisment for something good inside and those clips could be hacked off fairly simply. Normally, who would care right? But a loss of one or both bars would have serious issues for a trip home if they were lifted while away from home.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea very, very much. But until I can't fit the hitch and the bars in the Bambi's rear storage, I think that's when I might have to look closer at the bumper storage idea and take my chances if they don't/can't fit in the trunk of the car.
The small padlocks are to prevent any small pilferage while the trailer is at the storage yard or when it is unattended while on the road. I figure if someone wants into the bumper compartment, bad enough, they'll get in; all it would take is a big screwdriver. OTOH, I think most thieves are far too lazy to tackle anything that takes very much thought or effort.
I have travelled for years (including Mexico) with small padlocks on various things and I have never had a problem.
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
I don't mess with the spring bars... they stay in the hitch and connected to the screw jacks. I do take the drop bar out of the receiver on the truck though.
Originally posted by RoadKingMoe I don't mess with the spring bars... they stay in the hitch and connected to the screw jacks. I do take the drop bar out of the receiver on the truck though.
moe
good one, i was gonna suggest the same for people with standard wd set ups.
leave the whole thing in the hitch, lock the ball and both of the chains with padlocks.
OK. I was going to take a picture of what I do but I have not so I will try to describe it.
My father (previous owner) put two hooks on each side of the tongue to hang the bars on. The 'L' part toward the trailer which leaves the chains hanging by the jack.
Whenever I leave the trailer at home, I take the chains and padlock them with the padlock shank going through the ball receiver lock on the tongue (what is that called?). This way the ball receiver is closed and the chains are secure. Now someone could disconnect the chains but I am hoping to slow them down. I also have a expanding wheel chock that is padlocked for stability and security.
When we leave the trailer somewhere and travel around with the tow vehicle, I put my hitch ball unit INSIDE the tongue ball receiver (there it is again!) and do the locking method as above. For good measure I also put my hitch receiver lock on the hitch ball unit.
My thinking with this is:
1. The wheel chock makes it hard to move the trailer.
2. With the bars padlocked they are harder to steal and less appealing.
3. With the ball receiver closed (only), it is more difficult to put the correct sized ball in there although a smaller one would work.
4. With my hitch in the tongue and locked, it is near impossible to put a ball in there but the hitch could go into a vehicle receiver.
5. With my vehicle receiver lock on my hitch it is near impossible to put in another vehicles receiver.
I know that if someone wants it bad enough they can do it. I am just trying to make it tough enough for them to move on.
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Roger & Roxie Smith (WBCCI#27380 - Air#178)
Visalia, CA (between Fresno & Bakersfield)
1992 25' Excella - Nuestra casa rodante
2003 F-250 6.0 Turbo Diesel Crew Cab http://www.casarodante.org
I keep mine (and my friction-type sway bar) in the back of my truck (which has a cap over the bed) on 2 U-shaped metal brackets that I made which hang on the inside of the bed just below the bed rail, and I secure them with bungie cords. That way, they're up and out of the way, dry, and secure (since I normally keep my cap locked when I'm not there).
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I do take the drop bar out of the receiver on the truck though.
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