I did it myself!

[patbarton]

Yesterday I grabbed my owners pamphlet and set about to remove my Reese 18K hitch from my truck.

And I did it all by myself! Still have all my fingernails, too. It was so easy I'm amazed that the darned thing holds tight enough to pull my trailer.

Putting it back in may be a different story; I've always subscribed to the philosophy that it's a helluva lot easier to take something apart then put it back together. But we'll see.

Some time ago, a MOC-er told me that it wasn't so hard to get the hitch out, but I can't remember who. Anyway, thanks for the encouragement!

[HOOK]

I assume that required a cool one?

[patbarton]

Heck, no; it went so quickly that I didn't have time for one "during" although I did celebrate with an "after" cool one.

[Art-n-Marge]

Well, if you had indulged in a cool one "during" the process it definitely would have slowed you down enough so that you needed a cool one during the process.

When I remove my hitch, I take out the big fat pin at the hitch head and the hitch base, then lift the hitch head off the base. Then I remove 4 clip pins at the bottom of each leg of the hitch base and lift the hitch base off the bed rails. Lots of stuff to do and while it's not "cool one" worthy if I do this in over 100 degree weather in a black sprayon coated truck bed, there is definitely one or two cold ones on standby.

I like that you don't have bed rails when you're done. That deserves a cold one! I hate bed rails so I'll drink two cold ones about that.

[Tom S.]

I believe it was I who told you about taking it out. I remove mine every year in the late fall, and put it back in in the spring. I used to do it by hand, completely assembled, but old age (and my son moving to North Carolina) has forced me start using my engine hoist - which is slow but so much easier!


Good job - you go girl!

[patbarton]

Yup,Tom, now that I see the big fog lights in your sig, I remember! It was you!

THANKS!

[Flymutt]

I use a block n' tackle in the garage (drinks beforehand...hoping the ceiling doesn't come down), but that's another subject. Why did you take it out? getting ready to haul 2X4s or a big remodel project?

[patbarton]

I'm hauling a bedload of moving boxes to a friend who's moving to Alabama. Tough to load a truck bed with a hitch in the middle of it. When I get home, I'm putting the hitch right back in for a weekend trip. Then it's coming back out until the fall. I have a whole lot of drywall to put up in some attic spaces, and hauling drywall in the truck will be easier and neater than using my neighbor's van. Easier on the van, too!

Now that I know I can take care of this myself, I'll probably keep doing it until I drop the fool thing on my foot or something.

Actually, for as few trips as I take a year, I might as well leave it out until I need it. I've just been timid about taking it out until now.

[Ishler]

Pat I purchased one of these and use a hook above my garage door. Makes the job easy. Found a refurbed unit online
http://www.warn.com/utility/pullzall/corded.shtml

[TLightning]

Went through Rising Fawn last Sunday on I 59. Saw the sign, but must have blinked...'cause it was gone!

[RJI47]

Mike, that winch looks interesting. Did you get the AC or the DC version? Who had the best price on it?

[kab449]

Pat:
You have to same hitch as I do including the under bed rails. The top part is not to heavy but the bottom has some serious weight to it. You must be one strong umbre to be able to wrestle that out of the truck. Hats off to you.

[Ishler]

Rick
I got mine from Warn, they had a bunch of refurbs for about $180 this was 2 years ago.

[patbarton]

Tlightning,

I warned you not to blink!

Keith,

Actually I slid it off the gate onto a wheeled table; you are right, that puppy IS heavy. Like I said, getting it back on the truck is probably going to require a helper and an extra cold one...

[Champ_49]

If anyone is interested you can get a 12V winch at Harbor frieght for around $100.00 maybe even less. Make a heavy job very easy.

Dave

[Ozz]

You go girl! Good job. I had to remove mine also.
I have to swap tool boxes as well.
Like Dave said, the winch from Harbor Freight is a good bargain, the route I went.
I reinforced the rafters in my shop/garage, just back under the winch, hook up raise the object and drive out.
http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n...20and%20hitch/

[Tom S.]

Since A). My garage is cluttered and B). The truck won't fit anyway (height), this is what I use:



It's not as fast as my winch would be, but being retired, time isn't an issue.

I really do like the way the Reese Signature hitch leaves the truck bed completly empty when removed.

[lasater]

I went a little different route. I got this from Harbor Freight.



I mounted the base on a 2" piece of stock and use my receiver hitch and the mounting point. It lifts high enough to clear the sides of the bed and gently lowers the hitch to a furniture dolly.