Blue Ox came through for us.
Some where in the last mile or so of our 50 mile trip to our new RV resort, the lock came off the hitch pin and the 1/2" pin fell out.
I was slowing down from 25 mph for a right turn & I saw our Escape looking to pass me on the left side.
As we were checking what happen, a driver stopped to asked if we lost a hitch pin as he just drove by one on the road. Didn't find the lock (yet).
Call Blue Ox and asked if they had any history of lock failures? My wife checks and rechecks all connections before we ever leave.
They said no and apologized all over them self for our problem.
They would be happy to send us a complete lock set at no charge. They arrived Monday.
Can't say enough good things about Blue Ox.
Just one question. Has anyone else have a lock come off?
I have never had a pin or lock come out after many miles with my SOB and approximatly 7K on the U320. Where is your new resort? David
We have pulled our 2007 Escape over 25k miles and never had a problem before. That's why this was a surprise.
We are in the Riverview, Fl area until late Jan 2013. Then heading further South.
Flying back to Detroit tomorrow for the holidays and will return New Years Eve.
Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday.
I worried about exactly that happening, and a while back drilled an additional hole in the hitch pin in front of the lock and installed a hairpin retainer (like you would have without the lock). Now they will both have to fall out... :))
We live in Riverview, Fl. When you get back give us a call and maybe we can get together. Would love to meet you. Ron
Ron, we'll be sure to do that when we get back.
We're staying at Hidden River RV Resort. We got the Passport rate for 45 days and their pool is the 87 degree.
Odd, my brother lost one of his pins last week on the way to Livingston. This after many miles of towing. He had stopped in Pender, NE a few days b4 to have his bar checked out. Never heard of it b4, now 2 incidents. He feels that his pin broke, both he and my BIL have farm backgrounds, and have never lost a linchpin, nor heard of on coming out. I have my doubts about shearing a 1/2" pin though.
I have known 2 cases of loosing the receiver pin, neither had locks, and both had left the rig unattended, where the clip could have been pulled....this was not the case in Brothers loss.
Having only toad only 20k miles, I noticed ridges\ grooves woren on the pins (original Blue Ox pins) since I had their key lock pins, I installed them. So far they only show marks but nothing measureable.
I have a problem with the safety clip just jumping out unless it was in poor condition, but realizing how the memory gets involved and knowing I also have to recheck things more now than ten years ago.
Just saying
Dave M
I too have doubts about the pin just falling out .I had to drill holes in the half inch hitch pin and do the pad lock thing . Things happen in some campground and truck stops . I always check tires , pins etc at every stop . Have yet to see a pin loose , and haven't lost a receiver hitch pin or tow bar either . Brad Metzger
I use a regular Yale, extended steel shackle, padlock too. They don't fall off or disappear. Had to drill out the hole in the hitch pin to make it just a bit bigger for the padlock to fit.
Dick & Sue,
Yes. Several years ago, just north of Fort Myers I was waved over by a passing auto. I looked at my rearview camera and my towed was weaving drunkenly. After pulling over on the shoulder and stopping. I found the hitch pin missing from one arm. The arm was still horizontal and had chewed up the plastic fascia on the front of my CR-V, no other damage. I thought at the time that I had neglected a step in the hook-up. No thought of a system failure. I proceeded to the big RV dealer in Fort Myers in my towed and bought a replacement pin and a spare, re-hooked and proceeded on my way. Haven't repaired the Honda, yet.