New product: Infinite Rule Locking Hitch Pins

Tow bars, tongues and chain shackles must be load-rated and tested by law in Australia, but what about the pins that hold the towing tongue in its receiver?

In the United States, where many large pick-ups like the RAM and its ilk are rated to haul up to seven tonnes, these potentially ‘weak links’ in the towing chain are certified by a Class rating system, with Class III, IV and V indicating their relative performance under load.

This is important where heavy trailers with earthmoving equipment are involved, as a pin fracture could have disastrous results, but it’s also now relevant in Australia where many large off-road caravans nudge or exceed a Tare weight of 3500kg.

This in turn has spurred the growth of GVM upgrades, such as the ADR-approved ones offered by Lovells for Toyota Land Cruisers and Prados, while also driving increased sales of US-built pickups.

To achieve their GVM upgrades, Lovells have their drop shanks, tongues and tow bars manufactured locally to the specs required under ADRs, but there is no separate rating required for the hitch pin as part of the GVM upgrade package.  Where this system can fall down is if components are mixed and matched with those made by different  manufacturers.

Rated pins

The US-manufactured Infinite Rule Locking Hitch Pins now being imported by Gold Coast-based CR Racing (also distributor of the Gen-Y torsion hitch) comes in two ratings ­Class III and IV with a pin-span of 2 5/8  inches and a pin-diameter of 5/8th inch to suits all usual Australian tow bars and couplings, while there is also a higher-rated Class V version with a similar diameter pin, but a longer 3 1/8th inch span to suit typical American hitches.

Both are made from high-strength steel and have a nickel finish to resist corrosion.

Both have been lab tested independently in the US to withstand peak loads in double shear or side loads of more than 1850kg for the Class III and IV, while the Class V is rated to withstand loads of more than 2900kg  – both far in excess of the typical non-hardened hitch pin you get with most tow bars or can buy at your local automotive accessory or caravan shop.

Locked and loaded

Additionally, the pins come with a key lock that allows the end of the pin to be screwed in tight before being released by rotating the key to a marker.

This is increasingly important these days with the increasing number of off-road caravans being sold, as the latest Cruisemaster DO-35/DO-45 pin and Hitch-Ezy pillar couplings can be worth $500-$600 or more, making them an attractive prize for thieves.

An O-ring keeps water, grime and dirt out of the locking mechanism, while a rubber cap covering the lock barrel means the lock should remain operational, even if immersed during extreme off-road use.

CR Racing is also bringing in shorter locking pins that can be used to lock recovery D-shackles to your tow vehicle or caravan. This is important in the US, where many pick-up truck and RV owners leave their shackles attached permanently to their vehicles for convenience, with many of the larger and more stylish shackles costing hundreds of dollars.

As you might expect, given their high spec, the pins aren’t the cheapest you can buy, with both hitch pins costing $80 RRP and the shackle lock $55. If you buy both, they will come with matching keys.

For further information, visit CR Racing