Anyone use "BOLT" hitch lock?

I've seen them around forever they are convenient because they can be keyed to your truck key. When I went to get one on Amazon I found a large number of people saying they randomly came apart while towing and caused the trailer to detach. Does anyone have first hand experience with one of these?

$36 ‎BOLT BREAKTHROUGH ONE-KEY LOCK TECHNOLOGY 7023584 5/8' Receiver Lock for Toyota Keys

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C5T0JCI?_encoding=UTF8

 

No issues with mine. I don't tow though, just have a hitch step secured with one so it doesn't "walk off"

 

I have the hitch pin, two pad locks and a trailer coupler lock. I love all of them and the convenience they offer.

 

I have the receiver lock and a padlock on a cable in the bed. Neither has ever given me any trouble. There's a thread on these locks with a little more information.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/locks-that-work-with-your-toyota-key-bolt.19138/

 

I have them on all of my trucks and have never had a single bad thing to say about any of them.
Obviously really convenient and I just got back from a 6K mile journey towing for half of it and again nothing to report at all which is exactly what I want from all of my towing gear!

 

No issues with mine im sure they did not have it on correctly

 

I've got one, had it for a few years. While I haven't had any problems with it, I'm not 100% confident in it.
I'd like a more positive connection if that makes sense. When it clicks in, it doesn't feel like a standard padlock.
Probably going to toss it soon.

 

I've got the same setup as @ezdog with the B&W Hitch paired with the BOLT Receiver Lock. I've been using it to tow with for about 4 years now with no issues. The only bad thing I will say about it, is the lock mechanism side is pretty large, so it blocks a lot of the safety chain hole making it difficult to get the chains on.

 

This is true but all of the other heavy duty locks that I have tried are about the same,they might not seem as bulky but are just always in the way anyway.

If you look at my B&W you see the Infinite Rule Pin Locks on it,I got the entire set including the Hitch Pin and while it is an amazing machined lock it was just as intrusive on that side as the bolt but a whole lot harder to use too.

All of the others seem like Junk to me though so it will be one of those two for me unless I find something better?

 

This is exactly what I think happened. I have a keyed pin on now and I always pull the pin after locking to make sure it's connected. Maybe 1 out of every 40 times the lock didn't attach and I have to do it again.

 

My last key operated hitch lock (with cover) seized up after months of non-use.

Hauling gravel, rock, dirt, using gravel roads etc....and all the fine dust made it's way into the key hole, mixed with rain and it was like concrete in there. I had to grind it off.

 

Tougher to steal that way!

What do you do now?

I am maniacal about keeping mine sealed if I can.

 

I found out the night before I was going camping and had to grind the pin off.

Right now I'm just using a standard dummy hitch pin, no lock. I generally keep a recovery hitch on it (not my trailer hitch), in case anyone bumps me.

I'll look into the above lock. It just may mean, I have to periodically inspect it and/or lubing the keyhole to make sure it doesn't seize up.

 

i have had one for a few years. They seem to have a better lock that does seize. I just spray it about every 6 months and mine has seen beach salt. It’s a good lock

 

Evidently they are the largest supplier to the OEM Lock Chanel of manufacturers too so they are already all the way deep into AutoLock Stuff and have been for a long time.
It is really a genius idea and seems to be implemented in a fairly robust way to me for the most part too.
They also sell them as OEM for Commercial DCU Topper Doors so that the whole truck ca use the same key at least for the newest tops,again a great idea!

 

I used the BOLT lock on my Jeep and loved it so I decided to get one for the Tundra when I bought it. I decided to put a set of Hammerloks on the safety chain holes because I was worried about the clearance you described. Probably not totally necessary, but it makes hooking up a lot easier.

 

I’ve got a Bolt hitch lock like what @ezdog has. I’ve had times where I locked the hitch pin in and yanked on the lock itself to make sure it was on and fallen backward because it popped off. I couldn’t tell a difference when I locked it on that it wasn’t seated properly. So I just make sure that it isn’t coming off each time by wiggling it. No issues with towing and no issues with the lock function not working. 30 bucks is steep though in my opinion but it’s kept my B&W hitch in my receiver which I like.
Here is my hitch and the other side of the bolt lock (the lock itself is facing away). I pull a car hauler and I ordered a 7” drop for use on multiple trucks.

 

I used something like that once, seized on the truck and I had to cut it off.

And cutting off took just seconds, so they really don't do much for security. If someone wants your hitch, they can get it in under 20 seconds.

 

Maybe,Maybe not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lq6_N5K1L4

 

It all depends on whether you're facing a pro, or an amateur. The pro will come equipped and take what he wants. He'll also go for the easiest first and leave the hard jobs for the amateur.

A friend gave me the ball mount for my Tundra, it's an actual Toyota part, and I use it as simple protection for the truck. He came out of the store one day and found that someone had hit the back of his truck and the weren't able to get off the hitch. He didn't have a lock, so they pulled the pin and drove away with his ball mount and ball. The lock makes that a little harder to do.

 

I mean if you really hate carrying an extra key, just keep it in your glove box haha It's not as if you're really going to be taking it on and off that much.

 

I think you must mean that you are not going to be taking it on or off that much.

 

If using the bolt lock, it's keyed to the truck key. You'll have it on you always if you're in your truck and it's on your truck. That's the appeal to this pin lock.

 

Exactly.

 

YUP, around this town if it isn't locked down, some A hole will try to steal it.

 

It is one of the appeals of the Bolt but they also do seem tougher to snap off and easier to use than others I have used.
Just because you might not take it off a lot you cant assume everyone else doesnt.

 

mine was fine until the little cover it came with to keep the keyhole free of grime disappeared. from then on it was a challenge to get off and i eventually had to abandon it for fear of it seizing in place.

 

I’ve had one several years now. I usually tow about 20k a year. Never had an issue.

 

Had mine for almost two years, never been taken off. Not assuming anything.