First 5er pull - Gotchas?

[TheDern]

Looks like I found our first Montana 5er (373RD)! Going 4 hours from home on Saturday to pick it up and pull it home. The seller is including a Pullrite 2900 autoslider that I'm told came from a 2020+ GMC 2500 with puck. I think it was made for an older GMC but now has the adapter rack that fits the newer puck system. We have a 2024 3500HD with puck system.

I've pulled many trailers over the years and grew up on a farm driving tractors and pulling balers and wagons. But I've never pulled a 5th wheel trailer. I don't feel like a towing newbie, but I know enough to consider things I may not think of!

Private seller, but we are exchanging at an RV dealer shop so I'm hopeful they will help me get set up safely.

Any first timer tips, tricks that you'd offer to avoid a gotcha that I might not think about? Hooking up? Braking? turning? making a tight turn into my driveway at home? Any tools, etc that I might not think to take with? etc

TIA!

[mhs4771]

Becareful, I thing GM changed the Puck spacing on the '23s & 24s from the previous years. Good friend just sold his hitch from his '22 truck because it won't fit his '23.

[seasure1]

Look at some You Tube videos, there is info on hitching etc


Best of luck with your purchase. Let us know how it goes!

Best

[AZ Traveler]

Darin,

Don't know how many of the trailers you have pulled are over 13 ft tall. If you haven't pulled many tall rigs, remember to look up.

Otherwise the 5th wheel is easier than a bumper pull.

[Foldbak]

I assume it comes with a capture plate? I have an Demco auto and love it, but I have to be dead on straight when connecting. The Pullrite is a bit more forgiving. My buddy has one and loves it. As far as towing or backing, you'll be shocked at how easy it is especially with an auto slide. Much easier then a tow behind.

[Ahdmeyer]

i also have a pulrite slider. make sure that capture plate is secure, the one "bolt" that holds it on came loose on mine and fell offf, it would sure put a hurt on your foot if it hit it. i also find you need to be pretty straight on when hooking up

[twindman]

As for tight turns, my suggestion is to always pull pretty much straight as far as you can and then turn almost as tight as you can. The rigs are WAY behind you and the wheels cut the corner, so tight turns get you thru the intersection and around the corner.
I also have a Superglide Pullrite, but not the new puck system. Supposedly you can hitch up to 15 degrees off center. Also, on my style, you kind of have to block the wheels and often back up an inch or two to relieve the pressure on the latch before disconnecting.
These sliders are great. I got in to a state campground to check it out and it turned out to be a dead end with about a 40 foot circle at the end. I turned to an almost 90 degree corner and was able to just drive out.

[TheDern]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Darin,

Don't know how many of the trailers you have pulled are over 13 ft tall. If you haven't pulled many tall rigs, remember to look up.

Otherwise the 5th wheel is easier than a bumper pull.

Except for a wagon full of hay, none! ;-) I had not thought about remembering the height. Thanks!!

[jimcol]

Once you are hooked up, before retracting the landing legs, do a tug test to insure the 5'er is truly latched to the hitch. Beware of the tail swing on these things. There is a whole lot of trailer behind the wheels on these 5'ers. And I'll reemphasize what Zach said, "Look up". These things are tall.
Enjoy!

[Skw774]

the 23 and 24 gm puck is different then older years

[BB_TX]

First time I hooked up and started pulling out of the dealer lot, I looked in my mirrors and thought, my God that thing is big! What have I done! As mentioned above; height, wide turns, and tailswing.

More than once I almost got in trouble by forgetting the height. Once in a state park with narrow lanes and trees close along side. Stopped just in time to prevent hitting the roof on an overhanging limb over the road. Another time I pulled up to the rear of a Sonic drive in to get something to eat and edged up to the rearmost stall stopping just short of the overhead awning. When I got ready to leave I almost started to pull forward. Thankfully it was "almost".

Wide on the turns, especially right turns, to keep from jumping curbs or scraping something along side the road. And pulling in/out of service stations.

And tail swing. After years of pulling mine in and out of a covered storage facility with no problem, one time I got careless. Tail swing caught a steel column and nearly ripped the rear cap off. About $14,000 damage. Thankfully insurance covered all but $500 deductible.

Otherwise, just enjoy you new toy.

[ScottnSue]

Congratulations on the new camper.
Here's my take on what's critical:
1) make sure the pin of the camper is correctly in the hitch jaws, and jaws locked.
2) Safety brake away cord attached.
3) Tires on the truck and camper are properly inflated.
4) brakes on the camper are working

After that as others have said, know what the height is and watch for low limbs. The camper will cut the corners shorter than a bumper pull so swing that turns wide.

[MandK]

I’ll add when maneuvering in tight spaces, call your partner on the hands free device in your truck and have them outside watching and communicating. Not only looking for things on the ground to keep you informed of, but looking up for low hanging branches etc. Know simple hand signals helps for those areas we all want to be in that have no cell service.
And remember the “if you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you” rule.
Have fun and enjoy that new rig!

[Foldbak]

I'll add one more thing regarding height. Don't rely on what Keystone says. Hook up on flat ground and measure from the ground to the roof. Then measure the front AC height. Add the 2 and there's your actual height. It may be an inch or two higher depending on how your hitch and pin box is installed.

[newowneroldmontana]

Originally Posted by BB_TX

Wide on the turns, especially right turns, to keep from jumping curbs or scraping something along side the road. And pulling in/out of service stations.:

When I was in truck-driving school getting a Class A CDL oh so many years ago, we were taught to do just this--take it wide on the turns! Just think to yourself, "As a matter of fact, I *do* own the road." I still give the same consideration to truckers and RV'ers today--for that turn, they do own the road.

[Daryles]

Watch your height!!!
The brochure says you are supposed to be 13'6".
Measure it yourself, hitched, from the ground to the top of the front AC unit so you KNOW what you actually are.
We were going up US-1 on the way to Fort Belvoir Va.
At Colchester Va we saw this.
I knew we were exactly 13'4" so we proceeded down the middle of the road at walking speed.
We made it.

[TheDern]

Margie is home! 2020 Montana HC 373RD with Pullrite 2900 autoslider hitch.

Thanks Jeff (seller)! Super nice man who took exceptional care of her! She looks absolutely brand new inside and out!

Hook up was a snap and super easy pulling her down the road. I backed her into the driveway on the 2nd try. Keeping her straight back was easy, but with my bumper pull backing experience, I think I was over correcting trying to turn and re-straighten when backing.

Disconnect was simple. Only issue was a failed auto level. My front jacks are downhill and I think they hit the limit before getting level. I'll put the truck back under her, lift them, block them, and try again today.

Thanks everyone for the assist! I think I saved a few scratches from low tree limbs on our country roads with the "look up/height awareness" advice!

[mike18708]

Just make sure you have A/C clearance when encountering overpasses. I drove to Lakeshore RV near Muskegon, Michigan. On my way there, my wife made notes on the clearances of every overpass. Probably unnecessary on the interstate highways, but I was being over cautious. Better safe than sorry.

[77cruiser]

I put 13'6" in the Garmin & hope she doesn't screw me over.

[prndl]

Originally Posted by Skw774

the 23 and 24 gm puck is different then older years

The B&W Companion hitch for GM OEM puck system is the same part number for 2020-2024 GM trucks. No difference.