Lost the Hitch Pin!

[Richard D]

We have many trailers at work, and the hitch pins are always getting lost. I'm talking about these:

5/8" diameter. The clip that retains them as well:


What clever ideas do you guys have to stop my problem? Pictures are always nice!

 

[chris142]

A small chain that is connected to the bumper,pin and clip?

 

[JerryB]

Wire clip through the hole in the top end of the pin, then either small chain or cable attached to the vehicle that the pin is used with. Either require that the retainer pin is replaced in the pin, or put a small chain on it and attach it to wherever it is used.

At a place I previously worked, keeping track of the pins and retainers was a condition of continued employment!

 

[larry_g]

https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/44162?r=~|categoryl1:%22600000%20Fasteners%22|~%20~|categoryl2:%22600108%20Pins%22|~%20~|categoryl3:%22611659%20Hitch%20Pins%22|~%20~|sattr01:^5/8%22$|~

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bwringer]

You could take a cue from the Russian army and find ways to shame the idiots who lose these in some way that might help jog their memories.

The gent on the left forgot his rifle, so was issued a temporary replacement. The guy on the right was caught using his cell phone on duty.

 

[JJThrasher]

I leave them in the ball mount when I remove it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

At a place I previously worked, keeping track of the pins and retainers was a condition of continued employment!

Make the guy that loses them, replace them.

If you can't do that, make the guys sign them out when needed and leave a deposit. End of the day, they get their deposit back with the pin return. No money to get one for the day, you're not needed and go home for the day.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/44162?r=~|categoryl1:%22600000%20Fasteners%22|~%20~|categoryl2:%22600108%20Pins%22|~%20~|categoryl3:%22611659%20Hitch%20Pins%22|~%20~|sattr01:^5/8%22$|~

lg
no neat sig line

Ah yes....the proverbial lynch pin.....

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You could take a cue from the Russian army and find ways to shame the idiots who lose these in some way that might help jog their memories.

The gent on the left forgot his rifle, so was issued a temporary replacement. The guy on the right was caught using his cell phone on duty.

You got that all wrong . Those are ACTUAL Russian Army standard issue items...

Tommy

 

[crazytrain]

Get a multi ball hitch receiver for each truck and a locking hitch pin for each. Put the key on the ring with the ignition key and make each driver responsible for the keys and pin.

 

[txvwnut]

After a few replacement pins have been issued I switch to a bolt, cause the operators never have tools to remove a bolt.

 

[Karl's Garage]

Ah yes....the proverbial lynch pin.....

 

[plout99]

Had the same problem with our ag equipment pins. They were either misplaced or not the right pin for the piece of equipment. I bought SS leader wire used for trolling for very large fish think 500lb tuna ect. The wire is braided ss and has a 900 lb break rating. The pin clip was attached at the end then made a second loop that the hitch pin handle went thru then attached the cable to the piece of equipment. Also you can use brake line cut in pieces for crimps instead of buying pre-made crimps works just as good and is cheaper. I installed pins on 14 different pieces of equipment for about $20.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I guess we were lucky, I can't recall any one ever loosing them.

 

[DCarr2]

I lost my hitch pin YEARS ago

I replaced it with a bolt, i found in a drawer. I tried to remove the hitch this past summer cause I couldnt get the ball off, and well, 3 tow straps later.....

I put the bolt back in and cut the ball off.

 

[Worsedog]

I went to a locking pin at work. The key is permanently attached to the truck keys. We had an instance where someone tried to take the hitch out of the receiver but it was stuck. They didn't put the pin back in and the next person that used the truck nearly lost the airboat when the hitch finally came out.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Honestly, if you have employees they will always set them down everywhere. As mentioned above the only way to get them to stop this is by making them pay for it.

I have problems with my concrete saws getting stolen while we are using them throughout the day on jobs. I tell everybody it is all of our responsibility to keep an eye on the saws. Sometimes a saw gets left around the corner and we come back it's gone. So I told my guys if A saw gets stolen then I will pay for half of it and they will pay for half of it. The saws cost almost $900 so it's a serious problem... knowing they have to shell out money to replace the saw makes them very diligent about keeping an eye on the saw and never leaving the saw where someone can take it...

If they dont have to pay for it then they dont care, its very aggravating. I dont use hitch pins but i do have the little lock pins on my trailer hitch and i ask the guys....why do you put this on the ground when you disconnect the trailer? You know it will get lost, why dont you put it back in the hitch?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RVDan]

You have several trailers at work, but how many tow vehicles are there? Why are the pins always being removed?

We have an RV shop. We have a lot of trailers come and go. We have three vehicles to move trailers with, they all have a ball mount and a pin that never get removed, why would you remove it?

 

[Richard D]

We are a non-profit charity fundraising team, lots of portable BBQ trailers, lots of volunteers who tow them with several of our vehicles, as well as the volunteers vehicles. Can't fire or fine a volunteer! The reason I started this thread is because I have a special need for a pin, that is removed every time we use this particular piece of equipment. It is a crawfish pot 6 feet in diameter. The lid slides back and forth, powered by a garage door opener. The lid must be strapped down when towing. We are constantly loosing or forgetting straps, so I made a stop that pins in front of the roller on the lid. It got lost the first time it went to an event. So I made another and chained it to the trailer. Now the issue is keeping the pin and clip. My helper suggested the heavy duty fishing leader idea as well(thanks plout), I think that will be the solution. I'll snap a picture of this rig, you guys will get a kick out of it.

 

[Richard D]

 

[Richard D]

The pin, when inserted as shown, allows the latch to roll right off; I recon that's how the first one got lost. It has to go in from the bottom, and the clip will keep it from rolling off. There is no way to make sure every volunteer every time will put it in properly, so I want to use a straight pin with a flange like pictured. Gotta idiot proof this stuff as much as possible.

Funny thing, as I am typing this, just got a message saying my new pin has been shipped!