hooking up

[Vette Racer]

Tom

When you have problems unhitching it might be because you have pressure on the hitch jaws. Try moving the truck back just a bit to release the pressure on the jaws. Works for me.

By the way, some places (camping world, I don't know about rv upgrades) have a level called a memory level that you set when you unhitch and when you get ready to hitch back up you just raise the trailer till the bubble is level with where you set it and you're good to go. Saves playing with the height when hitching.

[tom41]

thanks Tom, i'll look into that level, will be a nice "after Christmas" gift to me, lol.

[cwsoules]

On occasion my hitch will not allow me to open it. The problem is that the locking bar in my hitch is hard up against the pin and will not move. I get in the truck and back up about an 1/8th inch, which releases the pressure so I can open the hitch. To assist in hook up and unhitching we developed a check off list which we use every time. We have had the trailer for 7 years and put over 60,000 miles on the trailer. When we started using the trailer I would have Karain stand behind the truck and be ready to lift the tailgate if it might hit the trailer. It frightened her to do this, so I added another step to the check off to remove the tailgate and get her out of the hook up proceedure.

[K-Star]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I did have a slight problem "unhitching" lol, the handle didnt want to unlatched, </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Once I get the trailer exactly where I want it and the landing jacks lowered, I have my wife get in the truck, put it in neutral and have her take her foot off the brakes. This take any pressure off the kingpin whether it is the front, or rear of the jaws. Works every time.

[Ryq]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by cwsoules:
On occasion my hitch will not allow me to open it. The problem is that the locking bar in my hitch is hard up against the pin and will not move. I get in the truck and back up about an 1/8th inch, which releases the pressure so I can open the hitch. To assist in hook up and unhitching we developed a check off list which we use every time. We have had the trailer for 7 years and put over 60,000 miles on the trailer. When we started using the trailer I would have Karain stand behind the truck and be ready to lift the tailgate if it might hit the trailer. It frightened her to do this, so I added another step to the check off to remove the tailgate and get her out of the hook up proceedure. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I second the idea of a check list. It has been a very helpful tool to avoid forgetting the small stuff. I also reccomend a tag to place on the TV antenna as a reminder that it is up. I also listen to the better half more closely.

[Ray,IN]

The nylon plate is great for eliminating greasing the 5er and hitch flat surfaces, but remember you still must grease the pin itself. If you like to read, you'll find several checklists and basic RVing books here. One tip I'll pass along is to use a padlock on your hitch while traveling. About 6 years ago we stopped at a rest stop on I70. Just as we were preparing to resume our traveling I heard a loud thud. Seems this guy about 5 spaces from me pulled off and his 5er dropped on the truck bed. He did not have the hitch padlocked, and he assumed someone had pulled the hitch release handle while they were in the rest stop building. This is yet another good reason to do a walk-around before entering the truck-every time you stop. Welcome to irv2.com! There is a great group of folks here. I've just got to attend the 2007 irv2.com national rally. Think of all the ribbing Richard will get. I've gotta see his chokes!

[Dualy Driver]

I made a little gadget to get pinbox height correct. I use a string with a magnet on one end & weight on the other. When I un-hook, after moving the truck but before leveling the trailer, I put the magnet on the pinbox so the weight just touches the ground. Leave the magnet in place and put the weight inside the pinbox out of the way. DON'T MOVE THE MAGNET! When ready to hookup, drop the weight, raise/lower the trailer till the weight just touches the ground and the height will be correct for hooking up.