Trailer hitch pin

[bigtiller]

I have a 3/4 ton truck to pull a 7000 lb trailer. The factory hitch uses a 5/8" hitch pin that came new with the truck. I want to put the ball assembly into the hitch and leave it their but I am a little leary of the general public's honesty when it sits unattended in a large parking lot. So I am thinking of replacing the hitch pin with a bolt and lock nut.

Will a 5/8" grade 8 bolt be strong enough to pull the trailer?

What grade of material are hitch pins made of?

 

[coolreinfarm]

You might try a locking hitch pin Etrailer has several on their website.

 

[George2615]

There's been some discussion on hitch pins here.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/182179-hitch-pins.html

I have seen bent hitch pins so IMO I suspect they are grade 5. The grade 5 pin will take a lot of horizontal force to break or shear it. I see no problem if you want to use a grade 8 bolt and nut to secure your hitch in the receiver. Or you can buy a 5/8" locking hitch pin at a reasonable price. Even wally world sells them.
I use 3 different hitches on my 3/4T so I remove the hitch and store in the bed since I have a locking tonneau cover.

 

[TMGT]

I use a locking pin, I keep one key in the console of the truck and one in a magnetic key holder under the back of the truck.
I take my hitch off enough that a bolt and nut would be a pain.

Locking pins can be had for under $20

 

[grnspot110]

I used a grade 8 bolt for years pulling closer to 12,000 lbs. Now that I'm back down to a maximum of 7,000, I use a locking pin when in questionable areas.

 

[bigtiller]

I'm not sure how well a locking pin would work this far north.

With the bolts, I was conflicted with grade 5 vs grade 8. Is 5 hard enough or is 8 to hard.

 

[Rustyiron]

I've cut plenty of them off friends trucks, rusted or lost keys. You couldn't give me one.
For your theft concerns, a g5 or g8 bolt will work, so will a proper size roll pin instead of the spring clip in a "normal" 5/8 pin.

 

[newbury]

Etrailer does sell one that you can do a one time key match to a vehicle key. It reads like I could use my Ford key (simple key, nothing fancy) to key the pin lock.

 

[TMGT]

Etrailer does sell one that you can do a one time key match to a vehicle key. It reads like I could use my Ford key (simple key, nothing fancy) to key the pin lock.

I've seen those, were a bit pricy for me but would be nice.
I figure I've had my cheap one for 11 years and on 4 different trucks, it stays on in the winter also. Had to oil it a couple times but I have been amazed at how long it's held up.
I might be down to one key now though, been thinking about buying on other one, there's also stainless ones available for the northern folks.

 

[WM75Guy]

I am using the same locking pin from TSC on our 2017 GMC that I bought in 2003 for a new truck in Missouri. Never had an issue. Ever so often it comes off to change to a different ball mount. A key is with each set of truck keys.