If you or someone you know owns a trailer then you will want to invest in a trailer hitch lock in order to protect your investment. It is a wise decision for those who make a point of purchasing expensive trailers and recreational vehicles with trailers, to accompany them with a secure lock in order to protect against theft.

As with trailers, trailer hitch locks come in all sorts of types and configurations. The main advantage to having a lock is to provide adequate protection against theft, but you can also use these locks to prevent the trailer coupler latch from inadvertently popping loose and causing the trailer to accidentally uncouple.

Trailer hitches come in an assortment of styles that require a wide range of connection and weight ratings. These trailer hitches use a variety of principles to connect your cargo to your vehicle and depending on the type and size of trailer will determine exactly what type of trailer hitch lock you will need.

Ball Type Hitch: These are the most commonly used trailer hitches. They have a machined ball that bolts onto a hitch receiver which slides into a tube designed into your vehicles hitch. They can be used for weights of 2,000 to 25,000 pounds. The size of ball that is required will depend on the size of your trailer hitch coupler.

Gooseneck Hitch: These trailer hitches are typically used for hauling 25,000 to 30,000 pounds and are used for heavier trailers such as hauling vehicles or livestock. As opposed to having the trailer hitch at the rear of the vehicle, it is located over the towing vehicle's drive axle to prevent swaying for a more comfortable drive especially over long distances.

5th Wheel Hitch: This trailer hitch is widely recognized and has a King Pin mount that is approximately 3" diameter hardened steel shaft with a recessed notch that circles the center of the 5th wheel plate that is bolted into the truck. This type of connection is the strongest in the industry and is able to carry over 80,000 pounds.

When examining all the needs for a trailer hitch and the extent of cargo that they carry, purchasing trailer hitch locks can be fairly easy. There are a number of locks on the market today, all with their own specifications as well as many choices of retailers. An option that some trailer hitch locks come with is a black powder coating to help prevent rusting. If you are looking for accidental uncoupling features, there are many fast-lock couplers that have heavy-duty locking systems built in.

Dead bolt receiver type locks secure the receiver into your vehicle quickly and effortlessly, while built-in radial pin locks have extra security for locking the trailer to the tow vehicle. You can also purchase trailer hitch radial locks that you are able to set with your own personal combination so you don't need to fool with keys. For the cost of one of these trailer hitch locks, you cannot go wrong considering the vast security benefits that it provides for your trailer as well as your cargo.