Locking hitch pin question

Evening,

I have a hitch that only has one hole for a pin.. so I have to choose between a standard cotter pin”d hitch pin or a lockable hitch pin.. my question is it is safe to tow with only the lockable hitch pin on ? Or need both hitch pins - the lockable for security and the standard cotter pin for towing weight safety to the reciever

 

The lock pin should be fine. It should also have a warning sticker about it’s limits. One thing about the lock pins - I like the ones where you push the end in to lock, as opposed to having to use the key to lock it.

 

A 5/8" pin is a 5/8" pin. What difference does it make whether it's a cotter pin or a lock on the end. The cotter pin/lock have minimal pressure on them. It's the shank of the pin that's taking the forces while towing. The lock is only there to keep someone from pulling the pin while you're parked somewhere.

 

Always use the lock
While they are far from perfect, you want to slow theirs down. What about if you park somewhere and a thief pulls the normal one and just rolls the trailer backwards until they can hook the whole damn thing up to their truck?

got a regular key?
https://www.boltlock.com/locks/5-8-inch-receiver-lock/5-8-inch-receiver-lock-toyota

 

Thank you all for the helpful info

 

Yes the locking pins are safe for towing. They are meant for towing. They are the same as the one that have the cotton pin but have a lock instead. In all the boats and travel trailers I’ve had I’ve never seen a hitch with 2 holes, one for cotter and one locking.
I wouldn’t tow especially my boat without a locking pins. Lots of boat trailers get stolen when left in the launch ramp parking lot. The locking pins while not absolute are a big deterrent to trailer theft. Use the locking pins.
Also have 2 keys, one on your key chain and one secreted in your truck.
And while we are on the subject be sure to chain and lock your spare trailer tire. I’ve known numerous people who had their unlocked spare stolen. (Including me many many years ago)
Finally when I leave my boat trailer parked for overnight or more while I’m off fishing, camping or what ever, I chain/lock one of the trailer tires as a further theft deterrent. Also have extra keys.
Be safe, lock it up.

 

When the draw-bar with the hitch-ball goes into the receiver when I am ready to tow, it is always secured with the locking pin I have. Draw-bars are an expensive target for thieves, especially if you have one with the different sizes hitch balls and a hook all welded on the bar. The key is on my key-ring, but I rarely remove it: it does a good job protecting the even more expensive bumper back there from %$#!* parallel-parkers in the city. YMMV

 

Paclock makes a hitch pin with both a lock and a cotter pin. Plus, you can created a key code and order any of their locks in the key-able series at any time using your key code so you have 1 key for all locks.

I have 2 trailer locks, padlock and hitch in all keyed the same.


https://paclock.com/product/ucs_80a_250/