New Kind of Bed Saver - Montana Owners Club

nosticks · 12-13-2011, 01:49 AM

Saw this on the IRV2 web site in the 5th wheel forum. This looks like a workable and reasonably priced solution vs. the expensive bed saver.
http://www.butchsservices.com/5601.html

I have nothing to do with the manufacturer, just thought this is a great idea.

nunya · 12-13-2011, 01:55 AM

ditto!

**DQDick** · 12-13-2011, 02:46 AM

Simple and easy to install. Looks like a great idea.

stiles watson · 12-13-2011, 03:05 AM

Looks like both this and the other bed saver will work. Besides the price, the difference I see is that the other one is a passive protector while this one requires setting the bar every time after hooking up. The other one is "on duty" at all times so that if you have a hook up mishap, like the unit sliding back, you would still be protected.

tanner1070 · 12-13-2011, 04:04 AM

I like it. Simplicity...

hunts800 · 12-13-2011, 04:40 AM

My concern would be twofold - first, if the primary latch failed, you might drive off not knowing that this device is the only thing supporting your trailer, and obviously would not last very long while driving ultimately allowing the entire trailer to come loose, and second, I don't like the idea of drilling into the face place of the hitch.

ols1932 · 12-13-2011, 05:23 AM

Very simple idea! Wonder why no one thought of it before. Looks to me like it will beat the pants off the other bedsaver. The price is sure right.

Orv

PSFORD99 · 12-13-2011, 05:51 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by hunts800

My concern would be twofold - first, if the primary latch failed, you might drive off not knowing that this device is the only thing supporting your trailer, and obviously would not last very long while driving ultimately allowing the entire trailer to come loose, and second, I don't like the idea of drilling into the face place of the hitch.

I too had that concern, but there is nothing there thats going to be hurt by drilling the holes. I fabricated my own to copy the blue ox , this new device has to be much much lighter. Looks like I got a new DIY project . As mentioned, if you don't use this device properly it is pretty useless, where the blue ox is not . I guess one could always leave it latched , raise the pin to go over it , and then lower the pin ,and finish backing in, but it would be a hassle.

kdeiss · 12-13-2011, 06:31 AM

I like it

Art-n-Marge · 12-13-2011, 08:51 AM

I believe this is a permanent install with the 4 bolts attaching this device to the slanted part of the hitch plate. It looks like the pin would clear the bar when hitching up as long as the hitch plate were angled high enough so the pin clears it as you back into it. I do hope this bar is low enough to allow hitching but high enough so the pin gets caught if a disconnect occurs.

I like the fact there's less travel at the pin backwards in the event of a disconnect. The other brands tend to be farther back and if a disconnect happens at any significant speed, I'd suspect one would want less travel than more travel. It might be possible to add a switch to indicate when this has occurred (would this work "hunts800"?)

The other curiosity is if all hitch plates have long enough (and strong enough) slants to provide the strength and clearance to use this bar.

At $50 and a lot of drilling to install it, this looks like a great option.

Then maybe a little more for a contact switch, lamp, wiring and labor to add an indicator to the cab for when this happens (we can call this option the "hunts800" option, if he doesn't mind). This option, if designed and installed appropriately can be used for any kind of bedsaver contraption.

bigred715 · 12-13-2011, 09:14 AM

We also have the Blue Ox bed saver and I have to raise the pin extra high to clear the bed saver and then lower to connect. This product is cheaper, lighter and easy to use. You would need to paint it all white or bright orange to help you from forgetting to slide the bar in. The other you can't go wrong.

bw2 · 12-13-2011, 09:56 AM

Art

It looks to me the bar is pulled out while hitching and unhitching. In the second photo, it appears the left side bracket has a slot and the bar has a pin that allows for the bar sliding and locking into place. It does look to be a nice design and a nice price

Art-n-Marge · 12-13-2011, 10:28 AM

Thanks bw2!!! I see what you mean in that it pulls out of the way to hitch or unhitch from the hitch plate. Per Bigred's description, this makes it easier to use than the other versions where you must raise the hitch pin around them.

One must now just hope the bolts drilled into the hitch plate are strong enough to hold the disconnecting trailer against this bar(I'm guessing it's good). I am beginning to like this $50 version more and more. I wonder how much it weighs versus the other styles (only for curiosity sake).

bncinwv · 12-13-2011, 10:48 AM

Daggone it MOC, just about the time I finally catch up and purchase pretty much everything on my MOC-inspired "gotta-have, gotta-get" list, someone has to come along with yet another "gotta-have, gotta-get" device that is simple, and the cost makes it easily justifiable. I like it and it is now at the top of the aforesaid list since everything else on it has been crossed out. Oh, and thanks, nosticks for the post!!
Bingo

CORattler · 12-13-2011, 04:32 PM

Don't forget, it's "Made in the USA" !!

MIMF · 12-14-2011, 12:02 AM

Just showed this to the wife. Since she works for a major heavy highway and bridge construction company and knows the importance of maintenance and equipment uptime, she said,"do it". 50 bucks to avoid $5000 worth of trailer and body damage is cheap! She said, "see what Dan's Service Center might have".

So, Merry Christmas to me!!!

pineranch · 12-14-2011, 12:14 AM

Just wondering which one of you are going to volunteer to do the "drop test" on this device? I see it is installed on a Reece, what about other hitch brands? Just my random thoughts!!

Mike

bw2 · 12-14-2011, 12:28 AM

On the web site, "click" on the photos tab there are additional photos of the system. Just an FYI

WeBeFulltime · 12-14-2011, 02:07 AM

Mine was delivered yesterday to son's house across town. Will try and pick it up tomorrow and give an opinion. Purchased from Butchsservices.com using their ebay link. Think I'll like it.

Trailer Trash 2 · 12-14-2011, 05:51 AM

I also like the idea it's simple the only question I have is, if a disconect happened and the King pin hits the BS bar, does it bend and cause the bar bind making it hard to slide out or is the bar a replacable item after a error of hook-up and then disconect.

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