5 Best Trailer Hitch Locks | 2019 Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

Anyone who’s had to drive a car or truck with a trailer hitched to it knows that the whole affair is a colossal pain. They’re a menace to steer, especially when backing up or making sharp turns. The vehicle handles bizarre, and is susceptible to wind shears, other drivers on the road somehow don’t understand how to behave around you.

Hitching them is never easy at all, and no matter how hard you work at securing the hitch, it can feel like it’s just not secure enough, and it’s hard to trust someone not to steal the trailer, if it has anything remotely valuable in it. This is why hitch locks are so important. It’s an often-overlooked necessity.

What is the best trailer hitch lock? Make sure that the product is made by a company that can be trusted. Low-quality devices may look reliable and solid but in practice, may be broken easily and the surest way to avoid this is to purchase a brand-name device. The next thing to consider is its type. Generally, ball hitches are the most common in the US, so look for an option that will fit this type. The device should also be easy to install as trailer owners often take hitch locks off and then place them again, unwilling to mess with them. We believe that Master Lock fits these criteria best.

Why have we chosen this model? It is produced by Master Lock, a brand-name American company that was established in 1921 and specializes in manufacturing safety-related products. This item comes with an advanced locking mechanism, securely protecting your trailer from theft. It is resistant to rust and moisture so you can be sure that it will last a long time. The device has a bright red design that is meant to deter thieves from messing with it.

In this guide, you will learn about TOP-5 best trailer hitch locks, their types and the differences.  We are going to consider some solid, easy to use devices, and what to look for in them. If you are short of time but need to pick one for your trailer, take a look at an illustrative comparison chart containing the most popular products on the market. This guide describes how they work and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using them. And finally, you will want to read the author’s story telling the conditions that led him to know the importance of these devices.

TOP-5 Best Trailer Hitch Locks

Below, you will find a list of products at a price ranging from $16 to $270. All models are heavy-duty, rust and weather-resistant, however, some of them are more secure than others. Some models have the advantage of being adjustable for more hitch classes while others allow you to lock the hitch with a vehicle connected to it.

1. Universal Size Trailer Lock Master Lock Review

This is my favorite item of our offerings, due in part to the fact that it’s the model I personally have the most experience with, and because it’s a no-nonsense, very secure device. Master Lock is a reputable company, and you can count on their products to be secure and reliable.

This is your run of the mill ball hitch lock, providing an adjustable clamp grip on the hitch. It’s turn-key, very sturdy, and practically tamper-proof.

Features

• Hitch Type: Ball Hitch.
• Style: Key.
• Adjustable: Yes.
• Construction: Iron and Steel.
• Color: Red.
• Weatherized: Yes.
• Heavy: Yes.

Performance

This is a very reliable mechanism, and while ours wasn’t exactly this model, it was a Master Lock of basically the same design, merely yellow. We never lost a trailer with one of these on it, but I do have to say, the weight was aggravating beyond all description. I’m not one to enjoy needlessly heavy things I have to schlep about, and this is no exception.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable.
• Secure.
• Reputable manufacturer.
• Adjustable.
• Weatherized.

Cons

• Very heavy.
• Key feels a bit flimsy.

Conclusion

If you have a ball hitch, this is my top recommendation, hands down.

2. Universal Coupler Lock | REESE Towpower  Review

Reese is another reputable brand and other mechanical security devices, so you once more know you’re getting something secure and reliable. I’m not as much of a fan of this one given it’s less adjustable, and less solid all around.

Features

• Hitch Type: Ball Hitch.
• Style: Key.
• Adjustable: Yes.
• Construction: Iron and Steel.
• Color: Yellow.
• Weatherized: Yes.
• Heavy: Yes.

Performance

This one has the advantage that should you lose the key or should it get stuck, a locksmith could get it off of the hitch in a somewhat reasonable amount of time. But, this also means it’s somewhat less secure than the previous model. Oh, you’re not going to come in as a cat burglar and discretely remove this device, but if your trailer is somewhere not supervised for prolonged periods of time, someone could probably remove it if they had the time and resources.

Still, it’s solid enough that it will deter most people from taking the time and effort to do so.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable.
• Secure.
• Reputable manufacturer.
• Adjustable.
• Weatherized.

Cons

• Very heavy.
• Not as secure.

Conclusion

If you want a lighter, less jam-risking option, I’m comfortable recommending this one.

3. Nickel Swivel Head Receiver Lock, Class I-V | Connor Review

This is one of the few swivel head locks on the market that’s actually pretty solidly-made, and also actually allows you to lock the hitch with a vehicle connected to it. That in mind, this one is much less of a pain as a result.

Features

• Hitch Type: Swivel head.
• Style: Key.
• Adjustable: Yes.
• Construction: Iron and Steel.
• Color: Black.
• Weatherized: Yes.
• Heavy: Not really.

Performance

I like that this one can be locked with something hitched to it, or lock the hitch when nothing is connected as well. This means you have extra security when traveling with a trailer, and it doesn’t involve hoisting absurdly heavy things every time you hook or unhook a trailer – a problem all ball hitch locks have to some extent.

This one sadly cannot work with most ball hitches, though multi-type hitches can, and with a little cleverness, you could find ways to make ball hitch setups work to some extent with it.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable.
• Secure.
• Reputable manufacturer.
• Adjustable.
• Weatherized.

Cons

• Swivel head only.
• Severe shock could break this.

Conclusion

This is an excellent idea, and I recommend it, though you’ll need a ball adapter if you have a ball hitch.

4. Trailer Hitch Lock, Class III-V | Connor Review

This is practically the same as the previous one, though it’s adjustable enough for more hitch classes, thus making it more compatible. It has the advantage of Connor being a reputable company, of course.

Features

• Hitch Type: Swivel head.
• Style: Key.
• Adjustable: Yes.
• Construction: Iron and Steel.
• Color: Black.
• Weatherized: Yes.
• Heavy: Not really.

Performance

Like the previous one, this is another rare model that works while a vehicle is hitched to the trailer, or without. These bar locks aren’t quite a sturdy overall, but at the same time, they don’t really need to be – the way they fit in, they’re not very accessible for tampering or other ill-intended attacks.

These also don’t get stuck very easily. It’s a shame it requires extra pieces to make one of these work with anything but swivel heads and similar hitches.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable.
• Secure.
• Reputable manufacturer.
• Adjustable.
• Weatherized.

Cons

• Swivel head only.
• Severe shock could break this.
• Kind of flimsy keys (tougher duplicates could be made of course).

Conclusion

If you like the previous one, but have a class III or IV hitch, this option is definitely for you.

5. High-End Trailer Coupler Lock | AMPLOCK Review

This is a little different, but is another way to implement ball hitches. It’s technically more secure than some other ball hitch locks, though the complexity of this thing is a bit of a problem, if you ask me.

Features

• Hitch Type: Swivel head.
• Style: Key.
• Adjustable: Yes.
• Construction: Iron and Steel.
• Color: Black.
• Weatherized: Yes.
• Heavy: Tremendously.

Performance

I like the engineering they put into this one, and I can definitely see a market for this approach to a ball hitch lock. It’s definitely not going to be easily tampered, and it’s definitely not as likely to become stuck as some other takes on the concept.

However, this thing is horribly heavy, very over-complicated and just all around a nuisance to use, so I wouldn’t be too comfortable recommending this one unless you really needed insane security above and beyond the norm.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Secure.
• Reputable manufacturer.
• Adjustable.
• Weatherized.

Cons

• Absurdly heavy.
• A bit overkill.
• Very complicated.

Conclusion

In situations where you need super extra security, this one would definitely be worth a look, but its absurd weight and complexity mean that it’ll be a rare case when it’s not a bit excessive.

How Does a Trailer Hitch Lock Work?

These actually work pretty simply, like most other locking mechanisms. The biggest difference between this and a door lock or dead bolt is almost entirely structural, as something like this obviously has to withstand a lot of weight, a lot of torque and quite a bit of jostling. It also has to stand up against those with calamitous intent who might try to jimmy the lock off, and abscond with your trailer and its contents.

Most of them slide and lock around the hitch mountings and cotter pins, making them inaccessible and impossible to remove. Others might also lock the chains in place, and even provide extensions to a vehicle’s alarm system, though these are rare due to the slightest bit of shift in weight setting them off.

Others lock the hitch entirely, so that it can’t be connected to a vehicle (this is much more common). This makes them pretty much impossible to run away with, unless you’ve the herculean strength to push it onto a bigger trailer.

Standardly, they’re entirely mechanical, using a physical turn key and tumblers to lock or unlock them. They’re often in one piece, acting more like a clamp or “boot” in form factor, unless they’re locks that go with a hitched vehicle.

While no option is entirely tamper-proof, these are profusely hard to pick or otherwise remove, which provides a boost in security, and can even be a boon to insurance and other legal forms of coverage as well.

What Are the Types of Trailer Hitch Locks?

There aren’t really that many differences in these, aside from some design variations based around hitch types. For example, ball hitches require some design considerations that slide lock or other hitches may not.

Along with this, there are a few minor variations in overall form factor, such as some that are bars that prevent the release from being thrown, or ones that hug the lip (mainly in the case of ball hitches). There do exist some electronic and digital variations to these as well, though as we said, those are very rare.

It all comes down to what type of hitch you have, and how much weight you’re willing to put up with when it comes to having to hoist one of the locks. Many of these are punishingly heavy, comparable to dealing with car jacks or other heavy things you only want to lift when you have to. We’ll get a little more into that aspect when we discuss factors to look for in the next section.

It is worthy of note that engineers are presently working on locks that can be just as tough, but work with things like biometrics and smart technologies to make it easier to spot and respond to attempted tampering of this sort of device. Though, those are quite some time into the future, and the practicality of implementing concepts like that do have a lot of pitfalls. For now, you’re pretty limited in choice with how these work.

What to Look for When Buying a Hitch Lock?

In spite of the limitations by way of design and variety with a device like this, there are some things to consider before making a purchase. We feel it’s pretty important to take a close look at these before blindly purchasing a product. Remember, this is security you’re talking about, and you should never, ever gamble with that, especially if this is a commercial concern.

• Hitch Type – This is the biggest one, understandably. You want to make sure the device fits the type of hitch your trailer has. Ball hitches are the most common, at least in North America, so it’s likely that’s what you have, but then again, possibly not.
• Hitch Gender – Like plugs and wires, there is a male and a female end to hitches, and it’s not always aligned the same way. The trailer may have a female hitch, with the male being on the vehicle, or vice versa. It’s usually the female on the trailer, though.
• Weight – We touched briefly on this a moment ago. When you frequently move the trailer, and you’re taking the lock off and replacing it often, the weight of some of these could become a real problem. It doesn’t matter how strong you are, hoisting things like this day in and day out can take a toll on you.
• Motility – Some options work for locking the hitch onto a car or truck, as well as when “bobtailed”. If you want to be able to lock it and drive with it, you’ll need a specific type, and it may or may not work with your hitch type at all.

My Personal Experience with Trailer Hitch Locks

When I ran the arcade, I used to travel all around the world from time to time, to retrieve cabinets and other amusements. This was back when ordering them online was often too risky, so you had to go to the location and see it for yourself. I’m not much of a fan of traveling, mercifully enjoying never really having to in my post-middle-age years.

When it was in the US, Canada or Mexico, I usually drove, and took one of our trailers with me. Even one arcade cabinet, pinball machine or small ticket skill game needs at least a small trailer, they’re bigger and more cumbersome than they might seem. Usually, when I went to such locations, though, I’d wind up taking back more than just the machine I was after – my boss, the owner of the arcade, trusted my eye for such things, and I never disappointed with the extras I brought back.

Anyhow, I tell you that, to tell you the conditions that led me to knowing the importance of trailer hitch locks. See, I had traveled all the way from LA to Cincinnati, to retrieve a very rare Player’s Choice (Nintendo NES Arcade Multi-Cabinet) from a defunct arcade in the famous Forrest Fair Mall (you can see the place on dead mall videos and websites, and it is just as creepy and depressing as it looks in those). This cabinet was rare in the late 1990s, more so now of course. We’re talking about a several thousand dollar machine. On top of this, the trailer was a brand new, climate-controlled enclosed model my boss had just bought.

The hotel he booked for me coming back, outside Milwaukee, did not have trailer parking, but a lot next door offered it for a small price. I had to leave the trailer there overnight, to park at the hotel.

My boss had said a lock wouldn’t be necessary, the trailer lot boasted top-notch security. Evidently not top-notch enough. Someone had run over part of their fence, backed in, and taken off with my trailer, and a couple others. I can’t even begin to tally the total loss of time, travel expenses, the cost of the trailer, the rare arcade cabinet, and an equally-rare Terminator 2 pinball machine I had in it. He was furious (though not at me). After that? You better believe we had locks on all our trailer hitches anywhere, any time they weren’t hitched to a vehicle!

FAQ

What is the best trailer hitch lock?
That depends on too many things for a definitive answer. I like the Master Lock, for ball hitches. It’s what we used after the incident I described, though ours was yellow.

How to fit it?
Again, this varies from one to the next, it’s not a question I can answer directly. It usually just fits like part of a normal hitch, but clamping and obfuscating it.

How to unlock it?
It just takes a key and slides out or off like a regular hitch at that point.

Are trailer hitch locks secure?
Unless it’s a very tiny trailer, like what are used in landscaping (thus moveable by muscle power), yes, they absolutely are.

What do you do when it is stuck?
Good luck. Maybe you can get it unstuck with some lubricant (WD-40 or the like). Otherwise, you’ll need to cut it off, and that’s not going to be an easy feat.

Pros & Cons of Using Trailer Hitch Locks

So, while you absolutely should have a hitch lock unless the trailer is on very, very secure property, there are some ups and downs to these that may make you selective of when you use it (thus unhitching only when it’s needed). Let’s take a look at these.

Pros

• It’s basically impossible to move a big trailer with one of these on, so there’s easy way to steal a locked trailer.
• They’re more conducive to your insurance, as we only got a percentage of our claim when that one was stolen in Milwaukee. It took us months of hosting discount birthday parties to recuperate those losses.

Cons

• They’re very heavy, and it gets exhausting locking and unlocking a hitch.
• If it gets stuck, you’re pretty much screwed.
• If you lose the key, you’re equally screwed.
• Few of them work with the vehicle being hitched to the trailer.
• While most of them claim to be weatherproof, few of them truly are.
• While they’re not expensive generally, their warranties are dubious in many cases.
• They can be complex and difficult at times, depending on the type of hitch you have.
• If you have a proprietary type of hitch, you can have a hard time finding an ideal, effective hitch for it.
• If you drop these on your foot, it can and will break your foot. Oh trust me, that happened to me a few months after we started locking our trailer hitches. It’s a special kind of pain.

Conclusion

Hitch locks are very important. This may be something a little mundane to shop for, and there’s not a lot of variety to be had. However, the ones on this list exemplify the more secure approaches, and we stand by one of these being right for you. Triple check your trailer before committing to a purchase, and remember that the heavier they are, the more secure, but also the more annoying they are to use. Just use your head, and you’ll be fine.