Receiver pins

[Jackcat2]

Yesterday we left New Orleans for Michigan. East of Birmingham, AL we pulled off I 10 for fuel. As I entered the station we felt a sudden slam, as if someone had struck the trailer. I jumped out and found that my hitch shank had come out of the receiver! The pin had fallen out, it was later found on the road at the entrance to the station. The pin that fell out was a Reese locking pin, one I had purchased over a year ago, and used scores of times. Anyone using one please be cautious and be sure it is locked, and remains locked when on use. Personally, I'm going back to the old clip pin type. We are extremely lucky this did not occur on the X way we had just exited. I was able to hook the traler back up, and still had the original pin so we could be on our way with just minor damage to the ball lever.

[AtomicNo13]

Woah lucky is right!
I haven't checked my pin in a while as it is now inconveniently located behind my rock flaps and hitch rider....
Thanks for the wake-up call!

[woodfox45]

I never tow with mine I only use it if I leave my hitch on and park some ware it could be stolen .

[FastEddieB]

Good head's up.

I think I'll revert to the simpler pin for towing as well.

K.I.S.S.

[Sbb]

Three times my cotter pin popped out of my pin. The sp1500 suburban I had at the time did not have enough clearence room for the pin. I learmed that if it was with the open legs down if I hit a bump or dip, the pin popped out. I make a habit of checking the whole system everytime I stop and now have a locking reciever pin on the hitch. Mine never came off, just lost the pin. Pretty scary incident to have happen.

[TomS]

Good watch out! I'm going to back up the cotter pin with a small cable tie around the open end.

[aftermath]

Wow, what a story. I think the pin that holds your hitch in place is called a clevis pin. The clip on mine is quite sturdy and does not come out easily. I would suggest getting a new pin and clip of sufficient size and girth to stay in place. I check mine every time I hook up.

I was surprised to hear that a locking pin would come "unlocked" in use. Thanks for this post.

[thehandyman]

Never did trust the cheap pins make my own. Get a bolt that is long enough to put two nuts on after it is put through the receiver. Then drill a hole in the end for a clevis pin. Tighten the nuts against each other then the pin. Double security

[LivLoveLaugh]

Originally Posted by thehandyman

Never did trust the cheap pins make my own. Get a bolt that is long enough to put two nuts on after it is put through the receiver. Then drill a hole in the end for a clevis pin. Tighten the nuts against each other then the pin. Double security

What grade bolt do you use?
Does anyone out there know the grade rating of a clevis pin?

We have been using a master lock locking clevis pin for the last year with out issue, but, I've always been a bit concerned about the lock coming off. Sometimes the lock does not click into position and we must insert the key to get it to lock into place.

I also like the idea of wraping a cable tie around the opening of the cotter pin just in case.

[J. Morgan]

I use a grade 8 bolt with a nylock nut. (Not pulled tight)

It is a sure attachment that is kind of between a lock and a simple pin with regard to security. At least a crook would have to go to the trouble of getting tools to steal my hitch insert.

The pin/bolt is in double shear, I imagine that a grade 5 bolt would prove satisfactory to the challenge, (there isn't much stress here in normal use), but none the less, the grade 8 bolt means I don't worry about it.

[barts]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

I use a grade 8 bolt with a nylock nut. (Not pulled tight)

It is a sure attachment that is kind of between a lock and a simple pin with regard to security. At least a crook would have to go to the trouble of getting tools to steal my hitch insert.

The pin/bolt is in double shear, I imagine that a grade 5 bolt would prove satisfactory to the challenge, (there isn't much stress here in normal use), but none the less, the grade 8 bolt means I don't worry about it.

Yup. The holes in the hitch will fail long before the pin. Allowable bolt shear stress is 1/2 max tensile (plus safety factor of course); so since grade 8 bolts are 150 ksi, a 5/8" grade 8 bolt in double shear would be good for 46k lbs - sufficient to hang several Airstreams in mid-air.

- Bart

[Airrogant]

Originally Posted by barts

...sufficient to hang several Airstreams in mid-air.

- Bart

I won't believe that until I see some pics! Any volunteers?

[Julie-Bob]

I use a locking pin with a snapover center ring. However you learn a good lesson cheap. Do a walk around each and every time you stop, look at everything, when doing the walk around my family knows not to speak to me, so I can stay focus on their safety.

[nm1oqrz]

Hellow fellow streamers. On my locking pin I drilled a hole for a clevis pin in it between the edge of the receiver and the lock on the pin. Beings it is outside of the receiver the hole will not effect the strength of the pin. Now if the lock head falls off the clevis pin will keep the receiver pin from falling out. It's wasn't easy to drill but it can be done.
Happy camping nm1oqrz

[Jackcat2]

That's what I've now done, drilled a hole in my new pin and stick in a clevis pin alongside the regular one. Not something I'll soon forget.