Do you guys use locking pins for your hitch racks?
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I use the bolt on my Sportworks rack and
no one's even loosened it, let alone stolen the rack. They had some goofy cable lock available but figured that anyone who's willing to steal a rack and/or bikes probably has bolt cutters. I garage my vehicle but I've not taken the rack off the vehicle since the day I installed it. I leave it at trailheads a lot; but I've been lucky so far and not even had a break in but once at night in Golden Gate Park in a dark area (and they stole only a backpack with some old winter bike clothes...they left other choice stuff sitting there...gotta wonder sometimes). I do wonder tho if anyone's had one stolen and hopefully they'll share where and how long it was parked and if any bikes went with it...
When I have bikes on the rack and the vehicle is unattended, I do use a cable lock but I guess you could still steal my rack, but that would be pretty hard to handle I think.
no one's even loosened it, let alone stolen the rack. They had some goofy cable lock available but figured that anyone who's willing to steal a rack and/or bikes probably has bolt cutters. I garage my vehicle but I've not taken the rack off the vehicle since the day I installed it. I leave it at trailheads a lot; but I've been lucky so far and not even had a break in but once at night in Golden Gate Park in a dark area (and they stole only a backpack with some old winter bike clothes...they left other choice stuff sitting there...gotta wonder sometimes). I do wonder tho if anyone's had one stolen and hopefully they'll share where and how long it was parked and if any bikes went with it...
When I have bikes on the rack and the vehicle is unattended, I do use a cable lock but I guess you could still steal my rack, but that would be pretty hard to handle I think.
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I bought a locking pin from my LBS for $9 when I bought the rack. I do lock the bikes on the rack if I have to leave them unattended. I too have never taken the rack off since I put it on. Seems to make the most sense to me. $9 for a locking pin or double that for a cable lock?? I'll go with the locking pin. 
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Bolt on
I found the bolt helped the hitch stability. It would take a conscious effort to carry the adequate size wrench to remove the hitch. Never had a problem (knock on wood).RiDE said:...or do you just use the screw on bolts? Just wondering if I should go out and buy a locking pin so i can go ride without worrying about someone taking off with my rack.
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Locking bolt for my Sportworks Mod extension. $13 at Supergo on sale (my dumb luck). actually easier and cleaner to install/remove than the stock bolt with the "keyring" safety that needed to be inserted into a hole at the end of the shank.RiDE said:...or do you just use the screw on bolts? Just wondering if I should go out and buy a locking pin so i can go ride without worrying about someone taking off with my rack.
Used a locking pin previously (non-threaded) on my Hollywood.
Can't say I've ever had a problem with theft, but if the thought has crossed my mind when I see someone else's nice $500+ 4-bike rack setup (it has, please don't think any less of me), then you know some scumbag who would actually act on it is only a turn of a 3/4" wrench away from having your sh_t.
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If that was your question (locking bolt versus locking pin), then yes, you definitely need to stick with a bolt. The only reason I could use a non-threaded locking pin on my Hollywood was because it had an anti-wobble wedge and no threaded hole. I'm sure Sportworks would tell you that your hitch has to be secured with a bolt, locking or not.RiDE said:Thanks guys
I think I'll go spring for the sportworks as all the locking pins i've seen do not keep the hitch stable as much a normal bolt does.
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I've got a Thule hitch mounted bike rack on my rig and did buy the locking pin, but have never used it. For work, I park in a parking garage and have never had a problem. I do lock down my bike though with a long cable lock.
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I use the bolt with the lock, just as Speedub Nate shows. I also leave the cable wound around the rack and locked. No problems so far, but without the lock and cable, someone can remove the bike trays from the hitch even if the hitch is locked.RiDE said:...or do you just use the screw on bolts? Just wondering if I should go out and buy a locking pin so i can go ride without worrying about someone taking off with my rack.
Walt
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That's a very good point -- with my Mod series tray, it just a matter of removing two bolts instead of one. With my Hollywood, it was as simple as removing the main pivot bolt and the whole assembly was there for the taking.Walt Dizzy said:
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Might be a "security bit" with a doohickey in the center, but mine (a Team Rider from '99 or '00, I think) definitely isn't keyed.jci said:
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