Community Forums

Bob Brooks · 07-12-2022, 04:39 PM

I have a 2015 Forest River 3600 and a new Chevy 2500HD with a factory 5th wheel install kit and it is a real challenge for an old guy to lift the hitch out of the factory sockets due to weight, approx 250 lbs.
I was thinking about releasing the hitch from the truck tie downs rather than uncoupling the jaws at the kingpin and just use the trailer front lift hydraulic jacks to lift the hitch out and leave it hanging from the kingpin when I need to free up the truck box
Has anyone else done this?
It seems to me that the kingpin is definitely attached securely enough to hold this extra weight.
I appreciate your thoughts

MtCamper · 07-12-2022, 04:52 PM

I've done just that many times. I use a B&W Companion so it's not too bad to take apart and move, but storing when not needed is a problem. Leaving it attached to the trailer is a good solution. Make sure you are high enough when backing under then lower so the drop is only an inch or so. Pull the kingpin release and drop it to the bed. Pull out to clear the camper to make the final adjustments. Be careful aligning the pucks and it should drop right in.

Yosemite77 · 07-12-2022, 06:15 PM

I mounted a hoist on the ceiling of our garage, and just back the truck up underneath it. Once the truck is out of the way, I lower the hitch on a 4 wheel dolly.
B & W makes an attachment that the jaws of the hitch can clamp down on. It makes attaching the hitch very easy.

TRNewsom · 07-13-2022, 08:09 AM

We switched to a Goosebox for this very reason. Bad back required using the tractor to remove and replace. We use our truck bed a lot so we always had to remove it.

rrsutherland · 07-13-2022, 08:31 AM

Love my Anderson Ultimate but I already had a B&W turn over ball. It's quiet and for around 40lbs it's easy in and out. The ease of transport however has me locking it to landing gear with a bicycle lock if leaving camp.

Bill Nourse · 07-13-2022, 08:36 AM

The Andersen Ultimate will solve all your weight problems. You can get one that attaches to a gooseneck ball or one that attaches to standard rails. The weigh about 35#. Rail mount is rated for 20,000 and the goose neck mount is rated for 24,000.

Mr Mustang · 07-13-2022, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yosemite77

I mounted a hoist on the ceiling of our garage, and just back the truck up underneath it. Once the truck is out of the way, I lower the hitch on a 4 wheel dolly.
B & W makes an attachment that the jaws of the hitch can clamp down on. It makes attaching the hitch very easy.

I did the exact same thing. Bought a Harbor Fright electric hitch. Mounted to a truss in the barn works great!

KennyGolub · 07-13-2022, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Nourse

The Andersen Ultimate will solve all your weight problems. You can get one that attaches to a gooseneck ball or one that attaches to standard rails. The weigh about 35#. Rail mount is rated for 20,000 and the goose neck mount is rated for 24,000.

X2

.

CecilD · 07-13-2022, 10:21 AM

OP. Trailer Saver, which manufactures heavy hitches, recommends using the landing gear to lift the hitch out of the truck as you describe. I would lower it onto a sawhorse or something to bear the weight for extended time out of the truck while still on the kingpin.

I use this method when I remove my hitch during the off season. Backing under it in the Spring is a two person job to get it aligned right. I have rails, maybe it would be easier with pucks.

2Yung2 Quit · 07-13-2022, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Brooks

I have a 2015 Forest River 3600 and a new Chevy 2500HD with a factory 5th wheel install kit and it is a real challenge for an old guy to lift the hitch out of the factory sockets due to weight, approx 250 lbs.
I was thinking about releasing the hitch from the truck tie downs rather than uncoupling the jaws at the kingpin and just use the trailer front lift hydraulic jacks to lift the hitch out and leave it hanging from the kingpin when I need to free up the truck box
Has anyone else done this?
It seems to me that the kingpin is definitely attached securely enough to hold this extra weight.
I appreciate your thoughts

I've done that.

JDT · 07-13-2022, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRNewsom

We switched to a Goosebox for this very reason. Bad back required using the tractor to remove and replace. We use our truck bed a lot so we always had to remove it.

This is the method I came up with to remove my hitch for my Goosebox.

To the OP: That will work and will save your back. I had to do the same thing with my prior hitch when my back went south on me. I was able to get the Goosebox installed as part of the deal when we bought our Pinnacle a couple of years ago.

traveldawg · 07-13-2022, 03:18 PM

It sounds like the OP already has a hitch and probably doesn't want to change it.

I think lining up the hitch to the 4 puck holes might prove tedious.

No one has mentioned getting a motor lift yet....

Something like this...

I too have a hoist in the garage. But in about a week when I get my Reese Goosebox on the RV I won't be needing it nearly as often.

0rion · 07-18-2022, 12:50 AM

I've hung my Reese 16k slider from my pinbox for years because I hurt my back multiple times moving it in and out of the truck. I haven't done it yet on the new trailer because I haven't had to remove the hitch yet and I'm not completely sure how the auto level will like it hanging there but I doubt it'd cause an issue.

HiWay-OurWay · 08-10-2022, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveldawg

It sounds like the OP already has a hitch and probably doesn't want to change it.

I think lining up the hitch to the 4 puck holes might prove tedious.

No one has mentioned getting a motor lift yet....

Something like this...

I too have a hoist in the garage. But in about a week when I get my Reese Goosebox on the RV I won't be needing it nearly as often.

I have one of those engine hoists, and I measured to see it I could use it for 5th hitch removal/installation, but it wouldn't reach far enough into the bed to set it into the pucks. I would have to remove the tailgate to get it far enough forward, and that just adds to the job, so I hung a small chain hoist in my 3rd garage bay for hitch installation/removal.