Unhooking

[Cdrlinda]

Hi
My husband and I are new to this world. We have no trouble hooking up But when we unhook, we have trouble pulling out the bar to unhook. Do you smart people have any suggestions?

[Half Dimes]

Once the rig is adequately chocked, I sometimes have to put the truck in neutral to get the tension off the hitch. Then pulling the release handle is easy. Just be sure to put the truck back in park first.

[nosticks]

The more level you are, the easier it is to pull the lever. Still, it's a pretty good pull, more of a jerk. Reese 16K Slider.

[TXiceman]

Level the trailer side to side and chock the wheels. let the front jacks down and take some of the load off the truck. You may need to back the truck up a bit into the hitch and then get it to release at the hitch.

Then pull forward slowly and let the trailer ride off the hitch plate.

DO NOT UNHITCH UNTIL YOU HAVE THE WHEELS CHOCKED - both forward and backward.

Also, does your hitch have a 4-way tilt? Front to rear as well as side to side? If it is not a 4-wat hitch head, you can have problems on sites that are not level.

Ken

[JohnBoyToo]

Don't feel alone !
We too found there was a 'trick' to it...
as TXI said getting the pressure off the pin is the key...
both front to back AND pin weight...

I found I had to lift the 5er higher than I thought to release mine...
that also limits the "OH NO" when you feel the 5er drop off the hitch when pulling forward as if it were going to drop thru the truck bed

Also, depending on your hitch, there may be a lift or twist or latch to remove / bypass before it will release fully...

[drfife]

Originally Posted by Cdrlinda

Hi
My husband and I are new to this world. We have no trouble hooking up But when we unhook, we have trouble pulling out the bar to unhook. Do you smart people have any suggestions?

What 5th wheel hitch do you have?