By: Patrick E. It's race day at your local speedway, and you've got your motorcycle ready for some high-octane knee-dragging. Your pickup truck is towing a trailer with the motorcycle secured on top.
Once you arrive at the track, you go off for a while to visit with some friends. When you come back, your truck is there, but the trailer - and your motorcycle - are gone. Nothing ruins a good weekend of racing or a good weekend in general like having your entire rig stolen from under your nose, but it can happen.
Fortunately, there is towing equipment available to prevent incidents like that from happening. Hitch locks are designed to stop thieves from stealing your trailer. A hitch lock keeps your trailer hitch and the receiver together until you unlock it, often with a key.
These locks prevent anyone from lifting the receiver, and they won't be able to un-hitch the trailer unless the lock is off. In this next section, we'll discuss the many different types of trailer hitch locks, and which of these hitch accessories are right for you. There are a wide variety of hitch accessories available to keep your trailer secure.
They come in different shapes and sizes and can be placed on different parts of the trailer and receiver hitch, but their function is the same: to keep your stuff from being stolen. Receiver hitch locks fit crosswise into a hole on the receiver connected to your towing vehicle. Trailer locks come in two main types based on their appearance and function: receiver and coupler trailer hitch locks. Steel is often used to make trailer locks, including stainless steel and heavy-duty steel products with a zinc or chrome finish to help protect against rusting and corrosion.
Steel locks are more durable than aluminum. Look for products with anti-lockpicking tumblers that use key cylinders with four or more pins. If this type of damage is a risk, such as when the trailer must remain at a job site, find a lock with a protective cover to absorb impact damage. Heavy-duty locks commonly serve this purpose, though they cost more than a standard trailer hitch lock. Bright colors are another good security feature: A bright yellow lock may deter thieves from even attempting to steal a trailer.
If the trailer lock must accommodate more than one trailer, look for a versatile lock. However, hitch pinlocks are separated based on size, trailer hitch class, and towing weight capacity. Keep tools, materials, and fastening gear safe in the trailer with one of the best trailer hitch locks.
This list of top picks considers the type of trailer lock, compatibility, material, and overall quality to help shoppers find the best trailer lock to protect valuables from theft.
The heavy-duty Trimax UMAX universal trailer lock, which is manufactured with durable hardened steel, has a seven-pin key cylinder that resists lockpicking attempts. The steel core is covered in thick, ballistic-grade nylon that absorbs hammer blows and other impact damage while protecting the metal core from rusting and corrosion.
This coupler-style trailer hitch lock fits all standard trailer hitches and has a keyhole cover that slides up to prevent dirt, mud, and debris from clogging the tumbler. Most coupler-style locks have only one adjustable side, but this one has a dual-ratchet locking system.
Therefore, without further ado, allow me to take you through an ultimate guide to fully understand trailer hitch lock.
Trailer hitch lock is a small and dependable investment tool that is designed to save us a lot of heartache and headache down the road. Further, it is essentially the secondary insurance policy for preventing theft of your trailer. We purchased one ourselves and recommend to have one for your caravan or trailer.
The receiver hitch attaches crosswise right to the main receiver hole attached to your trailer. And you cannot detach this lock with a number or key combination. Further, many of these locks are delivered with more than one metal pin which secures your asset. The procedure is straightforward since they are delivered with locks and keys.
Also, you will be given a detailed tutorial of using your specific locks by the manufacturer since they are different models. Most of the trailer hitch locks delivered with two keys, so another one remains as a spare in case of master key loss.
Be sure that you make a copy if you lost the master key. Some of the locks have an exceptional laser—cut key combination, so it might be a challenge to get a duplicated key. If you misplace both sets, you will need to contact a locksmith to open your lock before you attempt breaking it or eventually remove it by yourself.
Further, you can still contact your producer to know if they can make the replacement keys for your model lock. Below we mentioned methods for reopening your trailer hitch lock if the key was lost. The simple answer is yes. This lock is made with superior materials and designed to solve our common issues of checking and looking after your trailer now and then.
The lock prevents the trailers from getting towed away and hitched up. The level of security still reflected in the prices, so worth spending time before making an order. But the other material that some manufacturers will tout is aluminum.
The main selling point for an aluminum trailer hitch lock is a lighter weight than most steel-based locks. Trailer hitch locks are actually available with quite a wide range of price tags. Selecting the best trailer hitch locking mechanism for your travel trailer or RV starts with identifying whether you need a receiver lock or a coupler lock. From there, here are a few specific scenarios for which ease of the locks we reviewed above would be the best fit.
It features a two-part design with heavy-duty materials that make it resistant to any method of theft you can imagine. Most companies refer to hitch locks as those that keep your hitch and your hitch receiver securely together. Trailer coupler locks are designed to keep someone from attaching your trailer to their truck and taking off with it. The diameter of this hole will tell you the maximum diameter that your receiver lock can be to fit snugly.
This is a relatively simple process. But if you neglect it for too long, water and debris left on your lock can cause certain components to develop rust. This may make it harder to lock and unlock and it can also make your hitch lock less secure overall. The good news is that simply wiping your lock down with water and a soft towel is an easy and effective way to clean it.
Investing in a quality hitch lock for travel trailer use is a minimal financial hit at the end of the day. Last Updated on April 25, by Aaron Richardson. Aaron and his wife Evelyn have lived on the road since , traveling the country in their Keystone Fuzion. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
Learn how your comment data is processed. Check Price On Amazon. Price: This is one of the most affordable high-quality hitch locks on the market today.
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