A Brief Guide to the Receiver Hitch Lock

Worried about someone stealing your trailer while you’re away? A hitch lock secures the trailer hitch and receiver, preventing anyone from unhitching the trailer unless they deal with the lock first. If you usually keep the trailer hitched to your vehicle, you should think about getting a receiver hitch lock to keep it safe.

What’s a Receiver Hitch Lock?

A receiver hitch lock is a pin with one or both ends fitted with a lock. Some examples have two locks instead of the usual single lock, increasing their security by requiring you to open both locks before you can unhitch the trailer from the receiver of the towing vehicle.

In most key-based receiver hitch locks, a dust cover fits on the end with the keyhole. Also called a rubber cap, the dust cover prevents contaminants like dirt, dust, and moisture from entering the keyhole.

Receiver hitch locks with a single lock often have curves or crooked segments on the end that doesn’t have a lock. The curvature interferes with attempts to bypass the locked end by drawing the hitch lock through the end of the hitch.

Using a Receiver Hitch Lock

As its name implies, the job of the receiver hitch lock is to secure the connection between your trailer’s hitch and your vehicle’s trailer hitch receiver. It prevents the separation of the trailer and the towing vehicle unless you insert the correct key or enter the correct number combination.

Do you always leave the trailer hitched to your towing vehicle? If yes, a receiver hitch lock will be useful because it provides greater security.

Using a receiver hitch lock is easy. Just look for the hole in the receiver attached to your towing vehicle. The receiver hitch lock goes crosswise into that opening.

Start by hitching your trailer to the receiver on your towing vehicle. Next, insert the receiver hitch lock in the correct hole in the receiver. The receiver hitch lock pin should slide between the receiver and the trailer tongue. Now remove the dust cover from the end of the receiver hitch lock. Insert the key in the keyhole and turn to engage the lock. Return the dust cover to its position. You remove the receiver hitch lock by reversing the procedure.

It might take several tries to unfasten the receiver hitch lock. Furthermore, the key for each lock might not be unique. A key that fits one receiver hitch lock might work for another lock if they share the same model.

Take care when you lock or unlock the receiver hitch lock. If the key feels flimsy, you might accidentally snap it with an excessively forceful turn.

The dust cover might also be a cause for concern. The vibrations generated by driving might loosen the cover until the component falls off the receiver hitch lock. Fortunately, you can tighten the fit of the dust cover by adding an O-washer to the end of the lock.

Why You Should Use Receiver Hitch Locks

Receiver hitch locks are an anti-theft device. They reduce the risk of someone disconnecting your trailer from your truck or SUV and making off with the unpowered vehicle and its valuable content.

They also help keep your trailer hitched to your towing vehicle as you drive. While they usually can’t maintain the connection alone, they might buy you some time if the trailer hitch or receiver develops an issue.

Other Hitch Lock Types

Receiver hitch locks aren’t always what you need. Perhaps you don’t always hitch your trailer to your vehicle.

Fortunately, receiver hitch locks aren’t the only option available. Check out the other types of hitch locks:

Coupler Hitch Lock

Coupler hitch locks are the other prominent hitch lock type. They somewhat resemble the U-locks that cyclists use to protect their bicycles. The top of these locks features a spherical shape that goes into the trailer hitch’s tongue, the area where your vehicle’s ball unit usually goes. Their U-shaped bar arcs over the coupler, connecting both sides to the lock and the ball-like shape.

Unlike a receiver hitch lock, a coupler hitch lock protects your trailer against theft even when you don’t hook the trailer to your vehicle. Since the spherical part fits in the coupler on the trailer’s tongue, the lock blocks other ball units from doing the same. Anyone who wants to hitch the trailer to their vehicle must find a way to remove the coupler hitch lock first.

Consider getting a coupler hitch lock for your trailer if you’ll put it in storage or leave the unpowered vehicle separate from your SUV or truck.

Hitch Pin Lock

Hitch pin locks slide into the fastener hold. This is the area where the hitch and your vehicle’s frame join together.

Like coupler hitch locks, these accessories prove useful even when your trailer isn’t attached to your vehicle. Hitch pin locks prevent other people from simply hitching the trailer to their vehicle without first opening the lock.

Latch Pin Lock

Latch pin locks work like their hitch pin lock cousins. The main difference is that they go into the trailer hitch latch instead of the fastener hold. Otherwise, they do the same job of stopping thieves from hitching your trailer to another vehicle.

Choosing the Right Receiver Hitch Lock

So, you’ve decided to get a receiver hitch lock. How do you find one that suits your needs? Here are some tips on selecting the right receiver hitch lock:

Estimate Usage Frequency

How many times do you expect to hitch and unhitch your trailer? It takes a while to lock and unlock a receiver hitch lock. Using it once or twice during a long trip is fine for most people, but if you must work on the lock many times, you might want to choose a different type of lock.

Count Your Trailers and Vehicles

Do you own or use more than one trailer? How about your vehicle? The number of trailers and vehicles can influence your choice of locks.

If you have multiple trailers, aim for a receiver hitch lock with a universal fit or adjustable size. You can save money by getting one lock that fits all the trailers.

If you own two or more vehicles of different models, look for a receiver hitch lock with an adapter. Your choice will depend on the size of the receiver for the vehicles.

How Long Will You Leave Your Trailer Alone?

Do you leave your trailer unattended? How often do you do this? And how long do you spend away from it?

If you often leave your trailer alone for extended periods, get a receiver hitch lock. You can further increase security for your trailer with other accessories, such as a wheel chock lock.

Review Driving Conditions

What’s the weather like? How long will you expose the receiver hitch lock?

If you usually keep your trailer in a garage, you can make do with a chrome-plated receiver hitch lock. However, if you often use your trailer and expose it to different weather conditions, always choose stainless steel.

Get a Lock That Fits Your Trailer and Vehicle

The receiver hitch lock must be the right size for the hitch receiver and trailer coupler. Measure the receiver tube opening and the trailer coupler latch. Use these measurements to determine which lock size you need.

It’s important to get the best receiver hitch lock that your budget can afford. You get what you pay for. But before you commit to the purchase, research the part and make sure it also meets your needs.