Locking the hitch ball

[skeeter123]

I've been looking for locks for the hitch and trailer for my '02 XLT (2" hitch with tow pkg). I've seen lockable pins to secure the drawbar in the hitch, anti-rattle hitch locks, and trailer locks. But I wonder what's to keep someone with a wrench from just unscrewing the ball from the hitch. Last time I did it, took all of 30 seconds. Is there a common solution to lock the ball on the hitch?

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Trailer balls are not a commonly stolen item- I've never known of one to be stolen. If you have a lock washer and pull the ball down really tight, I can't see it being that easy to steal. If you want to make it harder, use some red locktite.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Or if it's never going to come off anyway, just file some of the threads below the nut...

 

[chezoom]

or you could just remove the hitch from the reciever.

 

[stocked]

Just have someone throw a couple tack welds on the bottom side of the bolt to the threads... It will never come off again without a grinder lol

 

[GETMYBELTSON]

If some punk comes up to your truck with a wrench big enough to remove a hitch ball and he notices that you've locked it on (by welding, messing up the threads, etc) he is probably going to be inclined to do something else with that big ass wrench, and it'll probably cost a lot more than replacing some petty ass trailer hitch. Do you lock-tite your valve stem caps too?

 

[Stic-o]

you could do something like this and leave the ball off. Then it's worthless to steal

http://www.realtruck.com/switch-ball-trailer-hitch-ball-set/R14408P1C1T.html

 

[Mounty 09]

The last ball I had on my mountaineer was on there so good that I had to cut it off. I wouldn't worry about it. Whats a new ball cost, $5?

 

[skeeter123]

I hadn't thought about locktite-ing the valve stem caps, but it's on my list fur sure, now...

I'm pretty tight with a buck, but I wasn't worried about the ball so much as what was attached to it; ie the trailer. I'd seen locks to secure the hitch to the receiver, locks to secure the trailer to the ball, but nothing to keep someone with a wrench (conveniently sold down the aisle from the hitch locks) from unscrewing the ball and making off with my precious trailer.

So back to the valve stem caps: should I go with the blue locktite, or the red?

 

[ncranchero]

Green.

Red or the spot welds for the ball-to-insert. A family member just bought a nice F150 and I wondered why there was still an insert & ball on it when he got it. No key for the Master locking pin. Less than a minute and it was off. I only have basic lock knowledge and tools. Locks are for the honest and/or those that don't understand how simple locks really are.

If they want it they'll get it.............

 

[Ranger379]

i use a lock on my hitch...keep it well lubricated! i had one rust inside, had to cut it off. i now squirt a lil marine grease in mine.

the ball is cheap, depending on what size drop, the drop hitches can be around 50bucks... and some people steal things just because they can lol.

i like the lock-tite idea...