Depends on the hitch you have. However, there's a serious doubt about the advisability of towing while locked to the trailer. In the event of an accident it could be vital to unhitch quickly, for safety reasons, and it could be a member of the emergency services that needs to do it. A hitchlock would then get in the way.
Having said that, there's no law against it (AFAIK) ... but why would you want to?
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It is advised by the ALKO hitchlock not to leave it on whilst towing in case of emergencies. The ALKO one only takes 2 minutes to fit when you stop.
I always keep ours in the rear footwell so when we stop I put it on the hitch and all should be secure.
Some people advise not to leave the AlKo hitchlock on whilst towing, but AlKo specifically state it IS suitable to be left on while towing. However, given the ammount of debates on the subject on various internet forums and the number of similar discussions I have had with wardens on sites, I leave it off for fear of having the same conversation at the side of the road with the boys in blue or in court with a magistrate. The law does not mention that a hitchlock connot be used whilst towing, but I don't particularly want to be the one that sets the trend in court.
Both Al-ko and Winterhoff provide hitchlocks that can be kept on whilst towing. I think the argument either for or against is academic as, in the event of the unthinkable accident, there are so many variables associated with an RTC that locked or unlocked can either add safety or make it worse. Similar to the argument where absence of a seat belt has been claimed to have saved a life, and use of one to have contributed to a fatality.
In a situation where the towcar itself is involved in a collision, or goes out of control, I don't think locked or unlocked makes any difference. If the caravan goes awry (e.g., tyre blowout), a rolling van might break away more easily without the hitch being locked, thus possibly avoiding the towcar also rolling over. Accelerating away and snapping the breakaway cable is the next obvious choice, and out-pacing the renegade van.
Despite all the modern safety gadgetry, on cars and/or caravans, in the event of a sudden loss of control of an outfit, there are so many forces at work in milliseconds of time that the average driver will still end up relying on fate and frictional resistance to bring everything to a stop; making the locked or unlocked question insignificant.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 17/4/2010
I think they make them so they will fit when towing only so that they can be fitted when you stop, say at a motorway services
I am certain that I have seen owners fitting the Al-ko hitchlock before moving off site, but the data by Al-ko does seem to indicate that it should be removed whilst actually on the move. It wouldn't surprise me if those with Robostop locks do the same.
Practical Caravan.com have an article on the Robostop WS3000 (Winterhoff hitchlock). It says that it can be fitted hitched and unhitched, and this may be where a misunderstanding can occur. It does not say that it can be fitted whilst the outfit is on the move; even though it is physically possible.
After looking again at the situation, I am inclined to change my opinion, and say that I think neither are intended to stay on whilst actually towing. For me, the lynch pin of the argument is a comment on some advertising literature, that "the lock can be easily fitted in the hitched position whilst unattended at a service station". This comment would be unnecessary if the lock was already in place.
I have a Winterhoff and, although I do not use a Robostop, I have always thought it to be suitable for use whilst towing. Perhaps the way in which these hitchlocks are described needs better clarification. It should not be necessary for the intended usage to require interpretation.
"always keep ours in the rear footwell so when we stop I put it on the hitch and all should be secure."
Having had a blow-out & rolled our car at 60mph last year trust me you dont want anything resembling a hitch-lock inside the car with you if that happens.
"always keep ours in the rear footwell so when we stop I put it on the hitch and all should be secure."
<!-- Message body -->Having had a blow-out & rolled our car at 60mph last year trust me you dont want anything resembling a hitch-lock inside the car with you if that happens.
Pop it in the boot.
sobering thought there, we keep the drill in the rear footwell, better move that too.....
Sometimes you have to leave the caravan unattended - for example if you are towing alone and have small children who need the toilet. But it takes just seconds to pop the hitch lock on when you stop.
I always fit my Alko lock when towing, the manual says it is suitable and I would hate to forget to fit it when the kids are in full blown "need a wee.....now" mode, and run the risk of coming back to no caravan and an insurance company who say "tut, tut....no hitchlock, no payout"
If the caravan is on fire then I'm not standing next to the LPG locker to unhitch the car anyway...I'm unstrapping the brats and running away. And if your van goes over, then I can't see the lock standing up to the forces that are produced either.
My inlaws have a van with a Winterhoff and their lock is suitable too.
If you just have a standard non stabilizer hitch, you can get a tiny lock that goes in hole in hitch handle. The lock perevents the handle being lifted to unhitch caravan.
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Topic: hitch locks
