This is just my feelings on this matter, but why have a hitch that can come unhitched when you can buy a hitch that cannot come loose after it is latched. <br><br>I have the old style RBW hitch with the sliding bar that slides across behind the pin. I made a simple modification so that I can add a padlock and the bar cannot be moved until the padlock is removed. This also prevents someone from unlocking my hitch while parked with the trailer and gone shopping. With the addition of one more padlock and a short chain, my hitch is secure in the bed without the trailer.<br><br>Dan

 

YO,,,,,,,,, Dan,<br> Long time no talk to,,,,,, <br>Anyway, I've got the same hitch as you have (I like it because of the solid bar), however,,,, that solid bar ain't going to help if some knucklehead (ME) forgets to latch it in the first place! I've never done it,,,,,,, yet,,,, But as someone mentioned,,,,, &quot;Murphy's Law&quot;. <br> If,,, just IF,,, I happened to forget,,,, look at the money that could be saved, not to mention the embarrassment or down time while your truck and 5er were being fixed.<br>Scenerio: I'm hooking up the rig,,,, the wife slips coming out of the camper and I run to check on her,,,,, thus forgetting that I didn't finish latching the pin cuase it's pouring down rain and I'm mad at her cause I warned her about coming down the steps with all that stuff in her hands, plus the dog. Now the dog (Chee-Wa-Wa) has wandered over under someone elses rig and is about to be eaten by their Rottwiler and I have to crawl on my hands and knees to get it. By this time I'm soakin wet and muddy when I jump in the truck flinging the muddy Chee-Wa-Wa into the back seat. And just about the time I drop the truck into gear to pull out,,,,, WHAM!! <br>I REST MY CASE<br><br>So how have ya been Dan? ;D

 

Hi Dennis<br><br>All is well with me.<br><br>As I pointed out, when my hitch is latched and I have put the padlock on, it cannot be opened until the padlock is removed. This makes a pin catcher of no use. <br><br>I have modified two of these hitches for padlocking the bar in place after it is closed.<br><br>On my present crossbar all I had to do is drill a hole for the padlock, because it is made a little different, being the rocking pad style. The other one was not the rocking pad style and I had to weld a small bracket on the sliding part behind the bar and then drill my hole for the padlock. Both work great and I love the security of knowing my hitch cannot be unlocked until the padlock is removed.<br><br>Dan

 

Dennis

One more thing, how can you run your pin into the hitch and it not latch the sliding bar? As soon as the pin hits the hitch it locks, if you have the handle up.

Dan

 

[quote author=dan239 link=board=11;threadid=6875;start=15#69368 date=1037727508]<br>Dennis<br><br>One more thing, how can you run your pin into the hitch and it not latch the sliding bar? As soon as the pin hits the hitch it locks, if you have the handle up.<br><br>Dan<br>[/quote]<br><br>You are correct Dan,<br> I guess I'm a little paranoid,,,, plus, ever since we got the new 5er, my bar does not slide all the way across sometimes. I think it is due to the new pin being unworn and new. Also I don't have the rocker on mine and it tends to bind a little when the trailer and truck are not level with each other. Therefore, I have to manually lock the bar. I guess I need to take a closer look at mine before next pulling season. I would really like to get the rocker head for mine.<br> Dad on the other hand, has the jaw type hitch. It just seems like such cheap insurance against the &quot;Murphy's Law&quot; problem. Like I said,,,,,, Maybe I'm just paranoid! :

 

I see there is a little debate here! My reason for installing the catcher is my own. I have seen many truck bedrails that have been damaged just like mine. I don't know HOW the hitch released the pin. I just know that it DID. I've never lost my boat trailer off the 2&quot; ball, but I still hook my safety chains. I hope this never happens to anyone ever again, but it will. My pin catcher may never be used, but it's there just in case. Have a good day fellows!<br><br>ronster

 

Does anybody know if soneone has tested a pincatcher, either accidently or on purpose?

 

Ronster<br><br>We really do not have a debate going here. It is just my opinion that if you have the right 5th wheel hitch and it is latched with a padlock added, it cannot come open under any condition other than total distruction of the hitch. If that were to happen the pin catcher would be of no value.<br><br>What I am contending is to get the right kind of hitch and the pin catcher will never be needed. If someone wishes to buy a hitch that can come unlatched, then be sure and add a pin catcher.<br><br>The hitch that I have is the RBW old style, with the heavy crossbar and a rocking pad. If you look at it with the pin locking bar in place, you would agree that a pin catcher could never be used. When I back the hitch into the pin, the thing I am waiting to hear is the loud &quot;clunk&quot; of the locking bar sliding into place.<br><br>My main point here is, if anyone is about to buy a 5th wheel hitch, then buy one that does not need a pin catcher because of poor design.<br><br>Dan