Towing with hitch lock in situ

[CrewOVtwo]

I'm sure last time we towed a caravan we left the hitch lock attached, but watching a couple of videos from Purple Line (who's product we purchased) I noticed that in small print, it said it was illegal to do so.
Is this the case?

 

[RogerL]

It's certainly not illegal - but there are two schools of thought, those who do and those who don't. Alko, the main chassis manufacturer, states on their hitchlock documentation that it's designed for use while towing and on site - so I have mine on while towing but many others don't.

If Purple Line take the "don't use while towing" line maybe it's not designed to do so and therefore you shouldn't in their case.

 

[otherclive]

I'm sure last time we towed a caravan we left the hitch lock attached, but watching a couple of videos from Purple Line (who's product we purchased) I noticed that in small print, it said it was illegal to do so.
Is this the case?

One of the Alko ones is designed to be able to be locked whilst towing. I never did. Why would I?

 

[toad a caravan]

I suppose it could double up as a anti car theft deterrent 😁

 

[Mr Grumpy]

We don't travel with the hitch lock on but do apply it if leaving the outfit hitched up outside a roadside cafe or similar.

 

[Dustydog]

My Bulldog lock will not fit whilst hitched

 

[JTQ]

Realistically is there much risk of the van being stolen whilst towing? It must be way higher if the unit is ever left unattended, but then one is open to other theft risks and is therefore something we never do.

Though not great I would have thought the risks associated with the van locked to the vehicle if ever involved in a towing accident would be greater?
The emergency services will have effective cropping gear to sort it out, but what is the chances of the more immediate passing motorist to be carrying anything of much help in any need to uncouple?

 

[GaryB]

When I had my tow bar fitted a few weeks back I had a chat with the fitter about security while the caravan was attached and he advised to always lock a detachable ball onto the bar (most detachable types have this facility) as he had been shown photos during training of thieves using a tow bar on their vehicle with a clamp that would allow them to unhitch the caravan with the ball arm still attached and then fasten the ball arm from the towing vehicle onto their clamp system!

 

[JTQ]

All it needs is a hefty rope wrapped round the hitch and the ends jammed in the doors of their Transit, other vehicles are available!

 

[Beachball]

Never put the hitch lock on when towing we only put it on if we left the outfit attached to the car at a services stop and get some food .

 

[GaryB]

All it needs is a hefty rope wrapped round the hitch and the ends jammed in the doors of their Transit, other vehicles are available!

I've watched caravan banger-racing a few times and alongside those racing with an agricultural home-made towbar are one or two where the caravan is simply tied to the car with old seat belts!

 

[Buckman]

All it needs is a hefty rope wrapped round the hitch and the ends jammed in the doors of their Transit, other vehicles are available!

How do you propose doing that while caravan is being towed?

 

[JTQ]

How do you propose doing that while caravan is being towed?

Because I had not, an "assumption" doing what assumptions classically so often do.

 

[Gralay]

We don't tow with hitchlock on as the likelihood of getting a caravan stolen whilst towing are minimal, the likelihood of an accident or some other problems eg fire with caravan /tow vehicle slightly more possible, but in my opinion is that when stationary at traffic lights /road junctions a pedestrian crossing between the 2 is much more likely and I'm sure I would notice if they were unhitching the caravan