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11-05-2004, 02:36 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Old Town
Posts: 173
M.O.C. #2230
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Cover for 5th wheel hitch
I don't plan to remove my 5th wheel hitch from the bed of my truck for storage. I was wondering if there is a source/s for a cover that would provide some protection from the elements. Also, is it possible to replace the regular hitch pull pins with a pull pin that can be used with a pad lock. If so where whould I find them.
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11-05-2004, 03:09 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Full Timer
Posts: 918
M.O.C. #331
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Camping World (and probably most other large RV supply stores) sells a cover for ?? (less than $20, as I recall). Mine only covers the top section of the hitch, not the entire hitch structure or the top of the truck bed. No idea re the lockable hitch pins
If the storage period will be a month or more, depending on your type of hitch, it is probably almost as reasonable to just take the hitch out of the truck, piece by piece, and store it with the rig. Mine breaks down into three pieces with six pins and clips. I can easily do it myself in ten minutes or less, or it is very easy for two folks to do in about five - ten minutes. You might get a little bit of grease on your hands, but no big deal. Good opportunity to get it cleaned and re-lubed.
Best,
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11-05-2004, 03:12 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Haldimand County
Posts: 2,413
M.O.C. #122
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Camping World or any well stocked RV dealer should be able to supply all the you need. Locking pins are available, but I found that with my hitch, there was not enough clearance to use them.
My own preference is to use a tonneau cover on the truck. My tonneau can be latched, and the tailgate locked (with an after-market lock if your truck didn't come with a lock). This does not provide a high level of security but it does keep the hitch both out of sight, and out of the weather. I also ran a bicycle cable lock through the mounting bars and around the frame of the hitch.
Hope that helps. I'm sure you will get a lot of other ideas as well.
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11-05-2004, 04:45 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Flemington
Posts: 1,373
M.O.C. #242
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Get the smaller class 2 (I think)1/2" locking pins from and parts store or WalMart. Just replace 1 pin with the lock. $10, no problems. I also got a long shank Master Lock to replace the clevis pin on my Reese pivot pin.
John
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11-05-2004, 05:59 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Old Town
Posts: 173
M.O.C. #2230
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After a little more thinking and reading comments here, I wonder if just leaving the hitch connected to the king pin would hurt anything. I could build a portable platform/table for the hitch to sit on under the pin. There would not be any weight of the hitch on the king pin then. This would make it be easy to lube and inspect as some have suggested.
Thanks again for your responses.
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11-05-2004, 07:26 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
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I have observed just leaving it connected to the King Pin. I am sure their would be no problem
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11-05-2004, 07:35 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 1,804
M.O.C. #57
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dI use the regular hitch pins & took one & drilled it to bigger size to fit a small lock & just lock one pin.
Gene
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11-05-2004, 08:19 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Flemington
Posts: 1,373
M.O.C. #242
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I wouldn't worry about a platform for it to rest on if connected. I think it can handle the weight of the hitch hanging there if not there's a real problem.
John
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11-05-2004, 08:33 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Old Town
Posts: 173
M.O.C. #2230
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You are right John, I guess I thought I might need a platform to move it around for lubing and checking, but probably not...Thanks
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11-05-2004, 08:51 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Down the Road
Posts: 5,627
M.O.C. #889
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For those of you who have the Superglide 16k hitch there is now a cover available made by Pull-rite. I got a letter in the mail about it last week, intro offer was something like $79.99 regular price I think was $139.99 Since I keep mine in the garage when not towing I decided against it... Thought I would pass the info along.
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11-06-2004, 10:43 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: St. John
Posts: 591
M.O.C. #800
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I bought a tonneau cover for the truck. Keeps leaves and other debris out and covers the 5th wheel. I can unsnap it real quick if I need to. And the little extra weight helps. I only need to turn the latch handle over and it doesn't touch the cover. I took the cotter pin out of the handle and replaced it with a clip type pin. Easy out, easy in.
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11-06-2004, 01:05 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 1,206
M.O.C. #70
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I keep my hitch covered. A friend made it for me out of vinyl with fabric backing. I secure it with four ball bungee cords in the corners of my rail. She put grommets all around the bottom of the cover. I have yet to find the best way to lock my hitch in the bed of my truck, but the cover protects it from the weather. I bought and returned the Camping World cover because it did not cover the entire hitch.
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11-06-2004, 01:25 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 10,917
M.O.C. #420
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Next week we will be moving into a park for the winter.
I plan on leaving the Superglide connected to the trailer. I'll just pull the pins and use the front trailer jacks to raise it off the bed. See no reason it can't hang there for a few months.
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11-06-2004, 02:02 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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I've seen people leave the hitch on the pin a number of times and never heard of any problems with doing that. Haven't tried it myself. I just always left the hitch in the truck bed. Never covered it although that's probably a good idea to do so.
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11-06-2004, 02:45 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Mount Shasta
Posts: 1,488
M.O.C. #1685
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I've seen Bar-B-Que grill covers in various sizes that might work as a hitch cover with minor modifications.
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