Hitches

[Cat320]

There have been several threads concerning hitches, however none have addressed how easy they are to get in/out of the truck. It is my understanding that DrawTite (which means Reese and Hidden since they are made by the same co) come apart so they are easily removed.

What about the others...Pullrite/Super 5th, Hijacker, Valley/Husky, and the rest?

[Ozz]

Cat320,
I know my Husky air bag roller, is heavy as a wedge! Even apart, it's heavy. the air bag insert is difficult to take out alone. I bought one of those Harbor Freight hoists and mounted it in the garage, with it, it's a snap., lower it on a $19.00 Lowe's furniture dolly, and away you go.
Ozz

'07 3400RL 2nd RTU
2 Golf Cart batteries 3,000 watt inverter, automatic transfer switch
Honda 2000 Generator, Maytag's with 220 Dryer
Stationary domed Sat. dish, LCD 12 Volt Amp gauge, LCD Tank Monitor
3 added 120 volt outlets, On Board Air; 12 Volt Viair 450C compressor
2006 Ford PSD 4x4 Off Road Lariat, Hadley Air Horns, Truck inverter with 110 volts: laptop, Color Backup camera, Firestone air bags,Husky air ride roller hitch, Awning lock

[Carl n Susan]

I have the Husky (aka Valley) hitch which also has two pieces. The first thing I do after a trip is remove the hitch. It comes out (and goes back in) easily and doesn't weigh too much (even Susan can remove it).

Carl (& Susan) Youngren

[Cat320]

Carl n Susan...glad to hear that, been leaning toward a Valley. One of the best installers around, along with the best price.

[labouttejr]

I have a kintec hitch that has 2 parts, but I do the same as OZZ, I mounted a pull-e on the celling of the garage and bouoght a skate board from a garage sale for $1 and have no problems.

[sreigle]

Cat320, my Reese has a removable head, the part with saddle that swivels. Pull the keeper pin out of the big swivel pin, then pull the swivel pin and the top section lifts off. That big pin is a bit of a pain and may need some help, like tapping with a hammer. Then pull the pins holding the remainder to the rails in the bed. The rails are not removable without a lot of work. I haven't removed ours in a long time but it wasn't all that bad to just pull the bed pins and lift the whole thing out. And ours includes the Kwik Slide which adds considerable weight. It's heavy but I was able to manage it and I'm not a particularly big guy.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

[kwbosch]

quote:Originally posted by Cat320

There have been several threads concerning hitches, however none have addressed how easy they are to get in/out of the truck.

What about the others...Pullrite/Super 5th, Hijacker, Valley/Husky, and the rest?

I can take the hitch head off my Pullrite. With the head off, the main slide frame is easily removable.

Ken




Ken & Tina in Riverside, Ca.
MOC-3237
'04 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie SWB 2WD
5.9 Cummins 600 Turbo Diesel & Auto Trans 3.73 Diff.
--Pulling--
'05 Montana 3400RL w/ PullRite SuperGlide & Prodigy Brake Control
LA Marathon Runner,'03, '04 & '05, Training for LA Marathon 2007!

[drhowell]

Same with the Little Rocker. Comes apart in two pieces. Not bad to handle that way. I have switched hitches (brands) several times but they all fit my rails without moving them.

Farmer Don [MOC 3628]
Barbara & Fuzzy (the Bichon)
2001 3280RL
2004 Ford F250

[Lije Baley]

We've got a sliding Hijacker. The head is secured by a 2" quick release pin. The two halves can be removed by one strong, in-shape guy , but the rails remain. We only remove it when we need the space for cargo. It doesn't seem worth the trouble of taking it in and out of the bed. I think the truck handles better with the extra weight on the drive wheels.

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Bill and Mariana McCamy
'05 F-250 Lariat 6L PSD
'05 2955RL
Woodland, CA

[Jerzy54]

Cat320,
I have the reese signature series hitch with slide rails. It is built from two main components.
First is the head where king pin is attached to and another is head retaining assembly that is
connected to the rails and have to be remove together. All that gizmo attaches to the special pods
in the bed of the truck. Pods on the other hand are attached to the frame of the truck underneath
the truck's bed with special rails. To remove the hitch first I have to take the head out by removing
connecting pins it is OK to handle. After that I have to unlock other assembly and pull this out of the
pods this part is a little bit heavier, but can be done by one person. After everything is removed you have
a completely flat bed. It works for me.

Jerzy&Tricia05 Montana 3500RL05 Ford F250 Lariat 6.0L PSD SB CC FX4 4X4Reese Signature Series5TH Airborne King Pin

[Pete Hanson]

We use a Pullrite 16K which, as stated earlier in this post, comes apart into two pieces. I don't have a hoist system yet so I use a 2-wheeler and ramps to easily move the hitch out of the truck bed. Its fairly heavy even with the head removed but I can manage it this way by myself.

[txkrumm]

I use a B&W turn over ball, pull the pin, flip the ball, Release the pin. Nice smooth, flat bed. I use a goose neck adapter from colibert, love it. Pulls great, just have to watch my turns. Steve K.

Steve and Tara Krumm
2004 GMC 4X4 Duramax Allison
2003 Montana 3655 FL

[Roman4]

We also have the Husky, which splits into two parts by pulling the large pin. In two pieces, it is manageable, although I tend to get my hands pretty greasy in re-assembling it. We have the Bedsaver attached to the top section, which adds significant weight.

I have constructed a cabinet, mounted on large casters, which is the same height as my tailgate. By using a piece of plywood to protect the pickup bed, it is relatively easy to slide the hitch onto the cabinet, or back onto the truck bed, without too much lifting.

Harmon & Ruth
Roman 4
2005 Montana 3475RL
2005 Ford F-350 PowerStroke Turbo Diesel

[LonnieB]

Steve, when you bought your trailer did you have to sign a waiver to use the gooseneck ball? They told me in Amarillo I couldn't use mine unless I signed the waiver because Keystone wouldn't warranty the frame. Maybe it's a new thing. Evidently there have been a couple cracked frames due to the added leverage on the hitch.

Lonnie
2006 Montana 3000RK, Reciever Hitch for Boat and Toy Trailer
2003 F250 CC PSD, LB, 6 Speed Manual Trans., 4X4, Air Suspension, Husky 15K Hitch

[txkrumm]

We bought our MONTANA used and it is an 03 model, At this point I think the warranty is over. I never quite understood why there would be that much more leverage pulling on the frame. Seems like any harm would come to the pin box. I'm not too worried about it. Lots of people in the west swap it over, because we also use horse trailers and gooseneck equipment trailers, less JUNK in the bed. Steve K.

Steve and Tara Krumm
2004 GMC 4X4 Duramax Allison
2003 Montana 3655 FL

[LonnieB]

Same here , thats why I wanted to use the gooseneck. I agree that most of the stress should be on the pin box, but there was no arguing with them and I did get the hitch and installation for nothing so I suppose I shouldn't complain. Thanks, I was just wondering how you got yours done.

Lonnie
2006 Montana 3000RK, Reciever Hitch for Boat and Toy Trailer
2003 F250 CC PSD, LB, 6 Speed Manual Trans., 4X4, Air Suspension, Husky 15K Hitch

[txkrumm]

I did all the installation myself, hitch took about 2 hours to install and the dealer installed the conversion before I picked up the camper. My orignal plan was to buy the companion that goes with the "turn over ball", but after pulling with the conversion. I figured the extra 600 bucks could be spent somewhere else. The B&W is a really sweet set up though. Steve K.

Steve and Tara Krumm
2004 GMC 4X4 Duramax Allison
2003 Montana 3655 FL