ProPride stolen??

[hhendrix]

I just installed a new ProPride hitch and as most of you know they are very expensive. Has any ever heard of the hitch being stolen? I've been here a long time and I haven't.

Along with that thought, if they didn't have the stinger it would nearly impossible to do a quick hitch transfer and haul the trailer away.
My wife who bought me the hitch for a Father's Day present is concerned it could be stolen. Any of you who has one, do you have a lock for it and what kind?

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by hhendrix

I just installed a new ProPride hitch and as most of you know they are very expensive. Has any ever heard of the hitch being stolen? I've been here a long time and I haven't.

Along with that thought, if they didn't have the stinger it would nearly impossible to do a quick hitch transfer and haul the trailer away.
My wife who bought me the hitch for a Father's Day present is concerned it could be stolen. Any of you who has one, do you have a lock for it and what kind?

Nope, never really thought about it.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Airstream Forums mobile app

[SeeMore]

I own a Propride and know a hitch lock is an option in their product line up though my concern about theft is much further down the shopping list:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fFRT1CWpHcY

[mojo]

No, they usually take the trailer and the hitch.

I do lock the stinger to fence post when the trailer is parked at home. No need to make it easy for someone to hook up and go.

[Daquenzer]

Just put the stinger in the back of your pickup. Any thief that is riding around with a stinger would be pretty amazing.

[ScottnAZ]

I haven’t given it a thought. If someone wants to borrow your trailer, they’re gonna find a way to make it theirs.

Frankly, I feel like the PP is a bit of a deterrent because it looks different than a traditional ball mount hitch situation.

I purchased the pro pride specific lock, but honestly haven’t used it much. It really just blocks the opening for the stinger. As Daquenzer alluded to above, I doubt there’s many thieves rolling around campsites with an extra stinger. Not to mention the time it takes to hitch-up as compared to a traditional ball.

[moosetags]

I have had a ProPride on Lucy for the past couple of years. For fifteen years prior to that she was equipped with a Hensley Arrow. When at a campground, I have always locked the hitch bar to one of Lucy's tow chains with a stainless steel pin padlock. When at home, I store the hitch bar in the garage.

I have been on these Forums for a very long time. I do not ever recall hearing about a Hensley or ProPride being stolen. Nor do I recall a trailer being stolen with one of these hitches installed.

Brian

[ROBERT CROSS]

We have been using a Hensley since 2007...having it or the trailer stolen has not been a concern.


Bob
🇺🇸

Plus...with the cover on it looks rather beat-up.

I also use a MacGyver shin-saver for the stinger on the TV

[hhendrix]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like none of us have a real concern. I like the cone on the stinger idea.

[carl2591]

most of the time the hitch is not used its the chaines.. they will loop them around the ball on truck and lower the jack.. I looped chains through the On Center brackets in front of the stinger opening and locked them together so no loose chain to use and the stinger opening is blocked.

[bel73]

Originally Posted by carl2591

most of the time the hitch is not used its the chaines.. they will loop them around the ball on truck and lower the jack.. I looped chains through the On Center brackets in front of the stinger opening and locked them together so no loose chain to use and the stinger opening is blocked.

You're RIGHT! The problem is, if you lock your chains up I'll just use a chain that I brought and still get away with you're trailer in seconds.

[Bobbo]

You can't stop a professional thief who comes prepared. All you can do is stop the average joe who is driving by and spots a tempting target.

[overlander63]

You'll know if one of your neighbors tried stealing your PP or HAHA. They'll be the ones staggering around with the double hernia...

[David in Lex]

We have about 20K miles on ours. We love it but we’ve never worried about theft.

[NeahBay]

hhendrix,

I’ve had our ProPride for 2-1/2 years, 20k miles, lots of blog reading including here and Facebook group. I’ve only heard (read) of one person having an attempted theft of trailer involving a ProPride hitch. The thief started cutting bolts to drop the PP but gave up and moved on. That would suck of course and require getting new hardware, but better than losing a trailer or entire hitch.

I purchased the PP lock ($150) and install it whenever we will be leaving the trailer at a camp site. Almost immediately upon first installing at home, I found I HAD to grid down the corners of the bracket which surrounds the puck lock, because both my wife and I got pretty good scratches on our shins as we moved around the hitch. Still hurts when you kick the thing, but at least no more cuts.

Also, I’ve painted the stinger and hitch receiver box a bright yellow. I cannot tell you how much easier it is to connect now, ESPECIALLY in the dusk/dark hours. It’s also much safer walking around the hitch and stinger because the yellow catches your eye, as well as driving around with the stinger in place. Having these parts painted black is just impractical.

Bottom line, I don’t “worry” about theft of hitch or trailer, but I take simple steps to hopefully persuade a thief to move to an easier target. If the really want it, they’ll get it. Hence, insurance.

Hope this helps
Bob

[gdavis57]

I’ve had a PP for 2 years. Love it! what I’ve learned in this forum is your whole rig could be stolen if they want it bad enough, hitch included. What you want to do is make it so difficult they steal the other guy’s trailer instead. When stored, I use the PP hitch lock, Jack/stabilizers down, and a very heavy chain between wheels in both sides. Only a grinder would break it. When camped, I use the PP hitch lock and I always store the stinger away from the hitch, usually under some stuff in the back of the suv, locked up. It took me several hours to put the PP on suv/trailer—-can’t imagine getting it off in less than an hour with a bunch of tools. Plus, your rig is insured, right?

[Hans627]

I usually take the stinger with me just to make it a little more difficult for a potential thief.

But I've never heard of a PP hitch being stolen. But of course it could happen.

[doctorlewis]

My stinger is locked in the 2" receiver hitch and has not been removed from the truck in the eight years that I have had the ProPride. These ProPrides are great hitches and I have not worried about someone stealing it. When not hooked to the trailer I have made a cover for the stinger out of PVC pipe that slides over the stinger and painted it red and attach it with zip ties.