Do you remove your 5er hitch often?

[Art-n-Marge]

I do, after each trip. I store it in the garage at the rear of my property. Even though it is in two pieces I hate carrying the parts way back there to stow it.

So I made a dolly for it. I used two pieces of 2x4s and two pieces of 2x6 (I think all 2x4s would have worked) to create a rectangular dolly, with casters under each corner (two static and two that turn). I also drilled out some recesses on the top of the dolly where the rings on the bottom of the hitch nestle in place and then fastened a little box to keep the pins and cotters together on the dolly. I marked the side with the casters that turn and make sure the hitch release bar is on that side. I use the release bar to steer and pull the whole thing wherever it's needed. My back loves it.

Set up takes less time since I now don't have to back my truck up to get it close to the garage just to reinstall the hitch. I can easily roll the hitch wherever I need to. Okay, I do have to take the dolly and put it back into the garage, but it is MUCH lighter.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Every winter my hitch comes out of the TV. I store it on a skid beneath the street side basement. The SuperGlide is a heavy hitch and I usually get a couple friends to help.
I haven't tried it myself but I have seen folks leave the hitch attached to the pin box and use the trailers front jacks to lift it off the TV bed. Pull the TV away and the hitch just hangs there. For me that would create more of a hazard than just the pin box and so it wouldn't my best move.

[Bill-N-Donna]

[center]Each of us must work out our own solution. I like how Art-n-Marge describes the way in which they store theirs. I would like to see some pictures of it though. I don’t have that kind of room for storage so our hitch stays in the truck year round. If the truck is needed and I have to remove the hitch I do as Glenn has described. I hook up to the camper and then I pull the pins and lift it off of the truck. That saves a lot of effort and can easily be done myself. I’m not concerned with any pressure or binding that may be on the hitch, I feel there may be a lot more stress whenever the Monty is being towed.

[ols1932]

I never remove min, but then it's a TrailerSaver hitch and it's too heavy to remove. Besides, we're moving most of the time.

Orv

[NCFischers]

I remove mine with an electric winch mounted in the rafters of my barn. I lift it out and set it on a dolly that I made for it. I lifted the hitch out of the truck manually once, that was enough!

[hookman]

I only remove mine when I need to pack something in the truck. It usually stays in the truck year round.

[RickW]

I keep my hitch in year round. Because I also have a transfer tank in the bed of my truck it is easier to use my 5x8 enclosed utility trailer if I need the extra space.

My father does take his hitch out of the bed when not pulling his trailer. He does not use his trailer as much as we use ours. Just like Art he has a cart he puts it on to wheel it in to the garage.

[Fire5er]

I also only remove my hitch when I need to use the full bed of the truck. However, that's getting to be several times a year.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

quote:Originally posted by Bill-N-Donna

Each of us must work out our own solution. I like how Art-n-Marge describes the way in which they store theirs. I would like to see some pictures of it though. I don’t have that kind of room for storage so our hitch stays in the truck year round. If the truck is needed and I have to remove the hitch I do as Glenn has described. I hook up to the camper and then I pull the pins and lift it off of the truck. That saves a lot of effort and can easily be done myself. I’m not concerned with any pressure or binding that may be on the hitch, I feel there may be a lot more stress whenever the Monty is being towed.

I am glad you mentioned that Bill. I once had one heck of a discussion with an SOB 5er owner. He insisted you would be putting way to much strain on the pin box storing it in such a manor. To this day I still think he believes he's right.

[grampachet]

Well I guess I have a different approach. I simply lift hitch up (using the lever and fulcrum method) and move it forward so the rear pins are now in the front slots and front "pins" are resting on short 2X. This keeps my hitch under the truxedo cover out of weather and sight, always ready to use when needed, didn't have to lift out of tv, and still locked in place with the locks through the pins. Pretty much out of way for anything I may haul.

[richfaa]

Never been out of the truck.Don't use the truck for anything else.

[stiles watson]

Mine comes out when we are at the winter site. The B&W Companion hitch comes apart in 2 pieces, so it is manageable for one person who doesn't have back trouble. I place it on a cheap (Harbor Freight for $10.00) furniture dolly and roll it out of the way under the front skirt. That cheap dolly is rated for 1000#.

[azleflyer]

I remove mine when not in use. I use a two wheel dolly for transport to the back yard for storage.
I like the idea of using the pin box to remove and store the hitch, may give it a try next time.

[8e3k0]

Our hitch is out of the truck now and son is using it. Being a B & W it comes out in two pieces and is relatively easy to remove, I still have the ball for our Goose neck trailer. When we are down south in the winter we will likely leave the hitch in the truck under cover.

[Rescue 1]

Ours usually lives in the truck bed. The Superglide pins can be a real bear to come out so it's easier just to leave it in there. Besides the extra 300+ pounds helps with the ride of an empty 3/4 ton truck...

[Art-n-Marge]

Here's a link to the picture of the hitch dolly I built. Someone mentioned they use a $10 furniture dolly. I have two of these at home but they cost me $20 each but they did not fit my hitch well enough. So for 10 dollars in parts (and my time being worth nothing) I made this one to custom fit my particular Valley 16K hitch.

http://s658.photobucket.com/albums/u...Hitch%20dolly/

I hope the link works.

[TLightning]

I take mine out when at home and not towing. Like others, it comes out in two pieces and is not too heavy.

[rving2us]

I leave it in the truck during the months we are able to use the trailer. In the off months the truck has a cap on it. I think this is going to be the last year of the cap for me. It is getting to be more of a problem to take it off than it is worth. I used to haul a bunch of tools around but age and a "devil may care" attitude has made that redundant.
I was considering a tonneau cover for the bed but reading some posts on the subject has me in a holding pattern. Now if I was retired I would be able to give thought to this problem that it deserves instead of bothering about work related issues. There is another reason to put me chips in.

[Jim Dickey]

Stays in the truck, only removed(2 pieces)when needed.

[Papalr]

Took our superglide hitch assy out after the last trip in the fall by leaving it attached to the pin and lifting it out (superglide's brochure approves of this method). I then found a metal "work-mate" that supports 750 lbs and lowered the hitch softly onto the lfat surface. It worked really good and kept me from running into it!