how not to hook up your 5th wheel

[racerjoe]

This is how you learn to hitch up your trailer.

The first time out with our last 5th wheel,I un-chocked the wheels BEFORE hooking up... Guess what happened? slid off the hitch and onto the box of truck!!! Only thing that kept it on the truck was that I had already shut the tailgate and it stopped there..Taught me a VALUBLE lesson.... I used to lock open the handle of the hitch instead of letting open itself and shut, Best part is,I backed under the hitch,got out of the truck,THEN I watched my trailer SLOWLY back off the hitch. OH WHAT A THRILL !!!

I don't know what was more exciting,this or the apple tree thru the side.

[brenkco]

Racerjoe...
Take heart...it's like launching your boat without the bilge plug...I think we have all done something of the sort. After our 1st trip, 2 weeks ago and making our share of mistakes, I took the owners manual from the hitch company and made 2 cards, one hitch and one unhitch. I ask DW for help and she reads step by step. I know it sounds like a pain, but until it becomes routine, it really helps.
Today, we are making our check list for securing everything inside. Enough of ripping the trim off the slides!! Good luck.
Ken

[garyka]

I did the same thing last year,now I use chocks between the wheels plus the ground ones plus I sprayed the hitch locking pins white,and I don't use high wood blocks under the front landing gear legs and I only raise the front landing gear legs a small amount off the ground when checking the hookup.

[bsmeaton]

Racerjoe - you might be addressing the wrong problem.

In storage our rig is not chocked, and I never add them to hook up. I don't think wheel chocks were your problem. The problem started when you retracted the landing gear before verification your hitch was locked. Had you left the landing gear extended, the trailer could not have fallen, even if it rolled.

I always retract my gear about 1/2 off the ground, get in the truck and try to pull away while holding the trailer brakes. This verifies my hitch is locked. If it's not, it only drops 1/2 inch and won't hurt the truck. If everything holds on, only then do I fully retract the gear.

[Fire5er]

I do the same as bsmeaton each time I hithc up. Too many stories of guys dropping the 5er on the bed rails.

[DHenry]

The way bsmeaton is the way I also do it and his way also lets you know that your trailer brakes are working.

[racerjoe]

I guess that is how we have all learned something the hard way.Over time I have changed my procedure to much like you have,legs down,wheel chocked,let the hitch snap in position. I learned my lessons on the last two 5th wheels, think I have a system now. I can laugh about it now,wasen't too funny when it happened.

[boylanag]

We spray the hitch jaws white, like garyka, and it is now easy to see when they are in place. After use, they need respraying a time or two a year.

[Waynem]

Thanks Racerjoe. I will try not to mimic your old method.
I leave the chocks in place and they are the first things to go down before I unhitch, I think - Hmm! Need to revisit my procedure.

[bsmeaton]

Of course, don't focus too much on one procedure - continously being aware and analyzing your next move is the key.

I do very well hitching up, now if I can just quit hitting the storage building with the tail of that long 3400 when I leave

[sreigle]

I also sprayed the jaws on our hitch. Silver was the color I happened to have. As Boylanag said, that's one more check just to make sure.

[tom41]

Brad , I do just like you, my nephew who is a trucker told me thats the only safe way and most all truckers do the same (a test pull)

[nghelwer]

I also, after reading many horror stories, do it the same as bsmeaton.

I also purchased a blue Ox bedsaver just in case the old brain has one of those moments.

[Old GI]

Joe, I installed a BlueOx Bed Saver, the day after I installed it the rig slid off the hitch much like yours but it slid into the bed saver and caused no damage. All I had to do was put the gear down enough to let me back up on the hitch. That bed saver is worth it's weight in gold.

[richfaa]

Our last 4 campers were not 5th wheels. We learned how to hitch and un hitch from this forum before we ever picked up the 3400. We follow all of the safety procedures listed above and more.We both check for a "good hitch" independently. I do not see how, considering how careful we are, that we could ever drop the camper on the truck..Did I mention that we had the bedsaver installed when the hitch was installed and before we ever picked up the 3400..

[tom41]

Hey Steve, Jim, when get old age you have to spray those jaws to see them huh? LOL , couldnt resist!!HAHAHA

[Delaine and Lindy]

I agree with most info provided. I just installed a B&W turnover ball with the Companion 5th wheel hitch. Unless the 5th wheel hitches properly you can't secure the locking pin, so there is no way you can hook up without the safety pin being installed. However I strongly recomend using Roto Chocks and alway have them installed, its just a safety matter. Roto Chocks are the first item installed and the last removed. Sorry about you droping the 5er it happens all the time, we have seen many Trucks with rail damage, and more damage to the 5er. GBY.....

[Illini Trekker]

I also us spray paint (white) and then with a black marker made a vertical line that makes it plan to see the jaws are centered around the pin. To push and then pull against the trailer is with the truck is now not necessary.

[Trailer Trash 2]

It happened to me too. rushing and not thinking straight. bent my front legs and had to replace, luckly only one side. now those are the last thing I touch when hooking up, and the first thing I put on when un hooking from the truck.

[5ER]

I did a similar thing only we were arriving at a campsite trying to unhitch. I forgot to put the pin in one of the front legs so when I pulled away the trailer was only on one leg. I was lucky because the hitch pin fell on the superglide rail and trailer just fell short of hitting the bed rail. You have to be careful hitching and unhitching.