Well it will be awhile before I get to play with it.

Hensley Trailer Saver TS3, air ride hitch.
Forgot to get a picture of it, but they make a nice adapter that drops into the factory prep kit. The top is then standard Reese rails.

 

I wondered when soneone would do this. Wish it had been done earlier and I could have saved $1800. I bought the factory hitch and have a old one for sale.

 

I also have an old hitch - 1 year old 18K PullRite Super Glide with the Super Rails

 

This is the base that Hensley makes for their Trailer Saver hitch.

If you need a slotted hitch to match your factory hitch prep this is the ticket.

The slots are supposed to be industry standard. I don't know what the standard is, but if anyone is interested I'll measure it.

 

Next step is to figure out a way to lock the platform to the truck.

 

Looks like two small pad locks in the locking levers would secure it to the truck.

 

Not enough room for a padlock. That is how I secured my SuperGlide to the truck.

 

once the TS3 is locked in place, can you still get to the pins to unlatch the adapter plate? If so then maybe adding a small lip to the bottom of the TS3 to cover the adapter plate pins will secure it.

 

I can't tell from the pics, but it looks like the base arm locking hole ends up under the hitch head. if no room for a small padlock, then a bolt & nut in each should keep the arms from coming out..

Sam

after looking at it again, the top pic shows the tabs on the head that attach to the base. there is nothing between them, so the base locking tab should be visible, and a padlock should work just fine.

 

Not sure what you mean by that.

I have not put the hitch in yet to see, maybe later this week.

 

How much was the adapter plate? We're probably ordering a 2011 soon and I'd prefer to use our old RBW hitch.

Here's a video showing how to install the adapter plate. They show simple pins with hair clips to keep the arms from rotating out once locked. Looks like plenty of room for padlocks.

YouTube - TrailerSaver Under Bed Adapter Installation

 

The adapter plate was included with my hitch. You'll have to contact Hensley to see if they sell it separately.

Maybe very small padlocks will fit but not anything with a 1/4" hoop.

 

Could you drill the holes out to accommodate a larger lock?

 

The hole is big enough, just a bit close to the bottom for the hasp to make the swing.
It may be a moot point and end up having the arms covered when the hitch is is in, and I have a way to lock that.

 

this is what I mean.. line the colors up.. this means the area where the latch is, is visible.

Sam