Locking Hitch/Bracket and Shackle Options?

[FireEngineer]

Afternoon Peeps,

I want to leave my shackle and bracket in my receiver all the time cuz I think it looks sexy. If you don't agree you can just shut up.

Anyway, I know I can buy a locking hitch pin, but has anyone got any bright ideas about how to lock the shackle onto the car as well? Can you buy some wire that will connect to the pin so one would have to unlock the pin to rotate the shackle bolt?

Thoughts? Did that question make any sense?

Thanks,

-Brandon

 

[TechWrench]

Afternoon Peeps,

I want to leave my shackle and bracket in my receiver all the time cuz I think it looks sexy. If you don't agree you can just shut up.

Anyway, I know I can buy a locking hitch pin, but has anyone got any bright ideas about how to lock the shackle onto the car as well? Can you buy some wire that will connect to the pin so one would have to unlock the pin to rotate the shackle bolt?

Thoughts? Did that question make any sense?

Thanks,

-Brandon

Since you are planning to leave the shackle in the receiver all the time, and it wouldn't be good for mounting a tow ball, why don't you just peen over the end of the shackle bold after the nut is in place. This would make it very difficult to remove the shackle from the receiver bar, which I assume is what you are trying to accomplish, without any extra hardware needed. Basically, one would have to cut the shackle bolt to remove it, making it just about worthless.

 

[Kmvreter]

... This would make it very difficult to remove the shackle from the receiver bar...

Nice idea if it's only for show. How would he get the shackle off to use it (ie. with recovery strap loops?)

 

[FireEngineer]

Nice idea if it's only for show. How would he get the shackle off to use it (ie. with recovery strap loops?)

Good point...

I now have a lockable hitch pin but nothing tying the shackle bolt to it. I may just not worry about it since it would cost as much to buy the cable plus the effort of getting it all attached as it would to replace the shackle...

Thanks for your input! I'll post back here if I end up with some sort of mechanism/cable to keep the shackle bolt in.

 

[offshorebear]

I'd just get a cheap TSC shackle and really crank the pin on. If someone wants it so bad that they undo it, they have have it.

 

[sheik]

I faced the same dilemma with mine. I park indoors at work and at home so I pretty much just had to worry about the other times.

I ended up getting the thickest zip tie I could find and put it through the hole on the pin and around the clevis. This makes it more difficult to remove the clevis as you'd have to cut the zip tie. Then I have a heavy duty hitch pin lock to secure the rest of it. I carry a set of side cutters in my winter kit anyway so I can take it off when I need to.

Another option would be to get a small diameter cable lock (like the kind they have for pistols that threads through the barrel).

But is it really worth securing a ~$10 piece of hardware? I can get a replacement clevis at Northern Tool and Hardware up here for $8.95 and it's rated at 4.75.

 

[12guns]

Is theft really a problem where you are? If so, than rock on. Find a way to secure it. In my area, while hitch inserts are stolen from time to time, I personally don't know anybody that has lost one to theft. I know several people that don't lock them up. I drilled my pin out a long time ago and use pad locks to lock it. I keep a 2" ball on and use chain around the ball if I ever have to tug on anything. Just food for thought.

 

[TechWrench]

Nice idea if it's only for show. How would he get the shackle off to use it (ie. with recovery strap loops?)

A couple of options would be to use a short (12") length of chain and a nut and bolt, or one of those threaded chain links to attach the snatch rope loop to the shackle. As for me, I wouldn't worry so much about someone trying to steal the shackle if I had to leave in in the receiver all the time for show. Most shackle pins have a flattened head which you can use a pair of pliers to tighten in place. It would take someone with a simular tool to remove it. As for myself, I don't like leaving anything in the receiver socket except for a plug. I don't need anything sticking out that I can rap my shin on when I forget it's there.:headslap:

 

[FireEngineer]

A couple of options would be to use a short (12") length of chain and a nut and bolt, or one of those threaded chain links to attach the snatch rope loop to the shackle. As for me, I wouldn't worry so much about someone trying to steal the shackle if I had to leave in in the receiver all the time for show. Most shackle pins have a flattened head which you can use a pair of pliers to tighten in place. It would take someone with a simular tool to remove it. As for myself, I don't like leaving anything in the receiver socket except for a plug. I don't need anything sticking out that I can rap my shin on when I forget it's there.:headslap:

Good suggestions, thanks. I really don't worry too much about nailing my shins on the shackle. Especially since it is really shiny still. Even if I do kick it a bunch, it'll be good incase I get in a fight with a muai thai kickboxer.

 

[e-caban]

just a quick thought, it know it's late but incase anyone else has this problem. what I do is tighten the D ring with a screw driver by sticking it through the hole and twisting, I have alot of problems like that where i live. :/