A lesson learned - Montana Owners Club

Eagleback · 12-21-2015, 12:02 AM

Hello, All

The other day a camper in our RV park was helping another camper that was not in Florida and back home at the time with his 5th wheel SOB. He was moving it for him so he could get a concrete pad for his camper poured on his spot and needless to say he forgot to inform the other camper that his pin box was set up for the auto adjust hitch. When he hooked up to it, some how the Reese hitch that he had slid right on the king pin. well when he pulled it from the spot and got it moved to the storage area he went to unhook and well there it was a destroyed Reese hitch and a pin box that had the adjusting bars mounted to it were torn from the box. I wrote this to all to say that if you decided to help always look and see if the king pin is clean and clear to accept the hitch and make sure you are the one hitching and not to have 8 people trying to jump in and help. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKE. I ended up helping him in the end and had to separate the hitch from the truck, then use my cutting torch and sledge hammer to remove the head from the king pin. believe it or not the pin box is still usable but only to move the camper back on the spot because the adjuster plates were torn from it, but i had to cut the hitch head in half to remove it. MAKE SURE YOU ARE THE ONE HITCHING THE UNIT NOT A BYSTANDER THAT JUST DECIDED TO JUMP IN. I have ****** a few people off in my day telling them that i hook and unhook the unit and do not need some one to spot for that and also had a few drive a ways from owners that would not let me run the show when they had me move there units. When hooking you should not need to have anyone spot you for that, get out of your truck and make sure YOU are satisfied with the hook. sorry for the small book.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

dieselguy · 12-21-2015, 01:41 AM

I don't doubt your story and have seen first hand what good intentions manifest into ... what is or can you link us to an "auto adjust hitch and pinbox as you reference"?

Eagleback · 12-21-2015, 01:55 AM

Its a style of hitch that will roll back towards the tail gate when you turn to keep you from hitting on the cab of the truck when you have a short box.

1retired06 · 12-21-2015, 02:16 AM

Unfortunate. Experienced RVers leave folks alone when hitching/unhitching/backing in/setting up. We all have our own ways of doing those things. Interrupt and focus suffers. Only when somebody asks for help or I see an impending disaster about to happen (TV antenna up, low hanging branch, etc) do I ever get involved and offer assistance.

DarMar · 12-21-2015, 02:47 AM

Offering assistance to anyone that needs it is a wonderful thing but one has to be extremely careful and consider all the ramifications of each move.

Glad to see you helping him out of a very bad situation.

dieselguy · 12-21-2015, 03:28 AM

Oh I get it ... a "slider" hitch. I was thinking way too hard on this one. Ha!

Eagleback · 12-21-2015, 03:34 AM

Sorry i really was not sure what they called that type of hitch. I have always had a long box.

DuneBuggyBuilder · 12-21-2015, 10:35 AM

The problem is not a "slider hitch" but a Pullrite setup. The Pullrite slider uses a "capture plate" attached to the pin box with a heavy duty wedge of steel which activates the slider when you turn. Using that capture plate on a standard 5th wheel hitch will ruin your day (and the equipment).

**DQDick** · 12-21-2015, 03:03 PM

I think that's something few people know who aren't familiar with Pullrite's special needs.

Artemus Gordon · 12-21-2015, 05:40 PM

I feel for you. I have written on subject many times. One thing I tell everyone is not to get distracted. My DW and I have our routine and it involves checking and double checking seperatly. It involves pull tests and full walk arounds by us both. Had fellow RV owners comment on our rituals. Tell them, mistakes caused us to slow down and concentrate. My pilot friends remind me they actually read from the books, even though they could do the procedures in their sleep. Good advice.

Eagleback · 12-21-2015, 11:42 PM

The difference in the two setups and the bad consequences if you get it wrong are disastrous. Maybe this topic could be a sticky in the forum?. Your thoughts.

JandC · 12-23-2015, 12:54 AM

When I purchased my first used Montana it had the Pullrite set up for the seller's hitch. Having never owned a fiver before I just took one look at his king pin and knew it would not fit into a regular fifth wheel hitch! I mean, it seemed pretty obvious that a triangle wasn't going to fit into a round hole! I'm not sure there needs to be a sticky on this specific topic, unless it is a reminder to get out of the truck and look at what you are about to slam your hitch back into on a strangers fiver.

Hiller · 12-29-2015, 03:47 PM

Its pretty easy to take the capture plate off the pin box its only held on by a single Allen screw. So not sure what the big deal was with the guy surely he saw the plate with the chunk of steel welded on it.

Eagleback · 12-30-2015, 04:52 AM

That is where the problem happened he didn't get out of his truck and look at the pin box and someone jumped in that should not have and said OK hook up and guided him in. I was looking at the whole issue that caused this as i was cutting his hitch off the pin box as saying you don't need a spotter to hook and unhook. Get out of your truck and "look before you hook"

Happy New Year Everybody.

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