Safety Check reminder - look at all parts of the hitch
In addition to my travel trailer, I have a utility trailer that I use to tow my Kubota tractor back and forth to some property I own for both mowing and snow removal. Last night, I hitched the trailer and towed the tractor up and back. When I got home, unloaded, and unhitched, I found that the hair pin cotter that retains the hitch pin was missing. All that was holding the hitch pin in was the friction of the draw bar pulling against it. I could have just as easily lost the drawbar and everything attached to it. I presume that the hair pin cotter probably just broke from stress and fell out. Not only did I not check the rigging before I left to come home with the tractor, I stopped on the way home for a sandwich, and didn't check the rigging there either. I could have caught that either time had I done the walk-around that I "always" do, but failed to do twice last night!
So... the moral of the story is to remind us to walk around our trailers and check our rigging every time we stop and have the chance.
Roger
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havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987... AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
In addition to my travel trailer, I have a utility trailer that I use to tow my Kubota tractor back and forth to some property I own for both mowing and snow removal. Last night, I hitched the trailer and towed the tractor up and back. When I got home, unloaded, and unhitched, I found that the hair pin cotter that retains the hitch pin was missing. All that was holding the hitch pin in was the friction of the draw bar pulling against it. I could have just as easily lost the drawbar and everything attached to it. I presume that the hair pin cotter probably just broke from stress and fell out. Not only did I not check the rigging before I left to come home with the tractor, I stopped on the way home for a sandwich, and didn't check the rigging there either. I could have caught that either time had I done the walk-around that I "always" do, but failed to do twice last night!
So... the moral of the story is to remind us to walk around our trailers and check our rigging every time we stop and have the chance.
Roger
Wow,
You had an angel looking over you last night!
I don't use those pins for that reason. I use a locking strait hitch pin.
Ever time I stop I do a walk around of the entire trailer and towing setup. I have found one of my WD locking pins missing. I carry spares.
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Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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