Mark Miller Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Is theft of 5th wheels a common thing? Do RVers typically feel the need to use a locking mechanism on their kingpin to prevent someone from driving it off into the sunset? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 I don't recall ever hearing of a 5th wheel stolen. We always used a king pin lock just as a precaution. It would at least slow them down. I would not use a an X-chock that goes between the 2 wheels. My thoughts(no experience) on those is it would be to easy to release some air from the tires and then pull out the chock. Or possibly even pull out the chock without release air. IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Camper Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Check your insurance as using a locking device might give you a break on the rate. We have a TT and use a lock on the coupler when we aren't towing and our insurance gives us a break on the rate. The lower rate paid for the lock the first year and the rest is gravy. If they try and damage the coupler the insurance covers 100% of the repair. One final thing to remember is that locks only keep honest people honest. If someone is bound and determined to steal your RV they will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_12078 Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 My post retirement "second life" included a stint in the truck repair/towing/recovery business until my son-in-law completed our buyout agreement. During that time, we retrieved several stolen TT's, including one 5'ver, for various police agencies. In all but one case, they were stolen from storage yards, and in every case they had some sort of hitch lock in place that was still in place when we went to get them. We learned that a common way to steal bumper pull TT's was to just back a truck up them, hook up the safety chains short and drive off. The 5'ver was taken by hooking a winch cable to the pin box from what appeared to be a homemade truck boom, and driving off with it. In and out in about 3 minutes according the security video. The police got a break on that one when one of the officers recognized the passenger in the truck that hooked up the cable. They had closely followed a legitimate space renter through the key card gate before it closed. Dutch 2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A F-53 Chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Theft of any type of RV isn't common but it does happen. An RV would be much more difficult for the thief to convert into money when compared to motor vehicles. I doubt that there are chop shops for RVs and there is only a small market for used RV parts. On the other hand, there is also no type of RV that has never been reported as stolen on the RV forums over the years that I have been active on them. It isn't very common but it does happen. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 We don't even consider it a problem. Most of the time my truck is backed up to the hitch. Would have to move Truck 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Greg Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Theft is a non issue if you full time. If you store the fifth wheel you might be a LITTLE concerned. Greg Greg & Judy Bahnmiller Class of 2007 2014 F350 2007 HitchHiker Champagne Both sold 2/19, settled in Foley, AL after 12 years on the road http://bahnmilleradventure.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangerben Posted February 28, 2018 Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 When I was a Leo in my home county we would recover one or two stolen trailers each deer season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Yokum Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Theft of "anything" is always possible. IMO - I would worry more about the theft of the tow vehicle than the theft of the RV being towed. First RV in 1970. Tents, etc. before that. I've never had anything stolen - except tires and rims in a storage yard - in all those years. "Never" means the RV itself, camp equipment, bikes, etc. Of course, there's always a first time. Nothing wrong with security -especially for things that could easily "walk away"! "Deer season" - reminds me of an interesting (good) "non-theft", honest folks story I'll post later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 Never been in an RV park that I was concerned about it. Different folks here. And some will talk trash about construction workers in park but someone better not try to steal from them. Lol 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missourijan Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 As others have said, theft is more common with pull trailers than 5th wheels but it does happen. A couple of years ago a brand new Drv 5th wheel was stolen off the lot at Wheels RV in Springdale, AR. As far as I know it was never recovered. It's probably back in the hills of AR or OK. A king pin lock is always a good idea, you never know . . . . Jan & Thomas 2012 Drv Mobile Suite 5'r 2012 Ford F350 Super Duty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big5er Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 A real "good" chain and lock, discreetly (ground level, tucked in the grass and not real visible) connecting the wheels will create enough havoc that it may cause the thieves to abandon their catch and leave. Pulling a trailer down the road with two wheels dragging instead of rolling is a bit obvious, something crooks are not real comfortable with. Any deterrent that crooks understand and are aware of beforehand can be defeated. The surprise and the "oh shit" factor will work a lot in your favor. The crooks are just as likely to abandon it rather that take the time to determine the problem and "correct" it. Insurance will fix the relatively minor damage caused by your chain a lot faster than they will pay off the claim for the entire trailer. MY PEOPLE SKILLS ARE JUST FINE.~It's my tolerance to idiots that needs work.~ 2005 Volvo 780 VED12 465hp / Freedomline transmission singled mid position / Bed by Larry Herrin2018 customed Mobile Suites 40KSSB3 2014 smart Fortwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richfaa Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 We see reports of Rv being taken on facebook, and RV forums perhaps several times a year.It appears to be more common at Rv storage areas.It is a low priority worry on our part. Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker56 Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 Stolen 5th wheels. Case A Case B iRV2.com Case C Open Roads Case D 3 stolen the same night Above doesn't even include the TT stolen. So it does happen. Maybe not to you but the other person. Full Time since Oct. 199999 Discovery 34Q DP | ISBDatastorm | VMSpc | Co-Pilot Live | Pressure Pro2014 MKS Twin Turbo V6 365 HP Toad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_12078 Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 I note that all of the cases listed were stolen from dealer or storage lots, except Case C that's not clear if it was a storage lot or private lot. Dutch 2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A F-53 Chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Yokum Posted March 2, 2018 Report Share Posted March 2, 2018 On 2/27/2018 at 7:10 PM, rangerben said: When I was a Leo in my home county we would recover one or two stolen trailers each deer season. Theft and deer hunters - Bishop, California (4K ft elevation). Friend heads off (late Sept.?) into back country, using fire roads. Parks his VW bug, hikes back into the hills (w/ hunting rifle) to look for deer. No luck - starts to snow. He decides, snow is not going to stop - time to head back to his vehicle. Hikes to were he left the VW - - Yikes! - - GONE! Starts walking out - another hunter gives him a lift into town. Reports theft. Has. the DW drive about 200 miles to get him. Fast forward to Spring (April/May). Gets call from Rangers. Would you please come and get your VW bug - or it will be towed & impounded....it's blocking a fire road!! DW drives him back to Bishop, and out the Fire Road. VW is right where he left it (snow made the topography -hills- all look the same). VW is just as he left it (unlocked) - with his *HANDGUN* still on the passenger seat in plain sight. Yeah - he did take a lot of flack for that one! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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