Went to our Central Texas FTE group meeting yesterday, and trailered my beast the 45 miles..

had a great time, and trailered her back.. Just about home, I heard this weird sound (had been doing 60-65mph, up and down hills.) like brakes skidding.. weird..
then about 5 miles later pulling into my subdivision, right turn, uphill (100ft), heard it again.. (once braking, once accelerating).. so, pulled over and checked..

Yeow!!. I lost the hitch pin, and the hitch is almost out of the socket!! 1 Inch remaining.. the safety chains are holding it in. the safety chain is under the weight equalizing bar we couldn't find a way to get the hitch back in with that pressure on the bars, and disconnecting the bars didn't help..

so, we decided to limp the last mile home. 1/2 mile done, turning the last corner, BAM... pulled over and the right side safety chain has ripped the anchor off the trailer. (tight I guess!).. and now the hitch is at 45 degree angle to the car, with only about 3/4 inch of 1/2 the hitch bar holding it in..!!!!.. should have taken a picture, no one would believe it..

managed to get the leg down and the suburban backed up just enough to undo the hitch ball, to have the whole hitch fall on the ground!!..

wow!!.. got the hitch back in, and the backup pin in and locked, and trailer back on the hitch for the 1/2 mile ride home.

I did NOT have the safety chains crossed.. If I had, then I would have had an extra inch of safety for the hitch bar..

SO: net

1. ALWAYS cross the safety chains
2. ALWAYS use a locking pin, or check EVERY TIME between drives
3. check the amount of travel would be required to pull the hitch bar out of the socket, and make sure the chains are just short enough to prevent that.

this is the FIRST time in nearly 40yrs that I have lost a hitch pin.. maybe someone walked by the trailer and pulled the clip.. I don't know.. was away from the trailer for 2 hours.

Sam

 

I drill the hole in my pins out and put a cheap master padlock. Help prevent theft of my receiver hitch and some jerk from walking by and pulling the pin. The master lock I use has a larger shank than the original pin hole and just fits the pin so no way to get bolt cutters to the shackle. Sounds like your living right for that day at least.

 

Sam, glad that is wasn't too bad. Glad you made it home OK. Had a great time in Marble Falls. Great to meet you and see your truck in the flesh. I think you are right about someone pulling your pin. Sounds like a kid trick. I agree, the locking pin is the way to go. We had them on all our trucks and trailers as theft was a big problem.

Gil

 

Sounds aggravating and scary! I just don't understand people anymore... That could have been a BIG problem

 

yeh!!.. altho she was strapped down inside, I don't think the race straps hold so well when you do a hitch first full stop into the pavement.

sam

 

Sam,

Wow, way scary!!

After replacing several stingers (danged neighborhood kids) I now always use a locking pin. I like to keep the stinger in my hitch as I've been rearended several times and the little bit of extra protection has helped me quite bit...of course you do smack your knee on it now and again.

Losing a trailer is scary, I lost a small boat trialer several years ago, thank goodness for safety chains. Nowadays I'm paranoid and check and double check my hookups.

I'm sure glad it all worked out in the end.

Bobby

 

I had worried about losing the weight distributing hitch so usually keep it locked. this was a 3 hour jaunt, and not going to be disconnected at all.. so I just used the normal pin.. never again..

Now I have to weld the safety chain strap back on, once I find one..

Sam

 

Sam,
What an experience! Boy am I glad you made it home OK. Makes me think about my pin. Think I will get a lock on it now. I always cross my chains, but I am not sure about the length, so I will check them. Thanks for the reminder!
Glad you enjoyed the meet.

 

Glad things worked out Ok. Sounds like an almost really bad day!!!!!

Trailers are great, but demand a lot of attention.

Goodluck Tomget

 

Same as Don, thanks for the info. I'm really glad you didn't hurt that pretty green truck. enjoyed the visit with everyone.