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07-03-2016, 07:19 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 466
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Where to hook the 5th wheel safety cable?
Recently bought a new tow vehicle - Ford F-350 with the "factory" Reese 25K hitch.
I haven't found a good spot to connect the safety cable. There aren't any holes or anything on the hitch (at least not that I've found) to connect it. I've used a D-ring and connected it to the pin that goes through the hitch release.
This works EXCEPT that there's a gap at the bottom of the hitch, where it attaches to the truck bed, and the cable gets into that gap. THEN, when turning sharply, like when backing the trailer into a space, the cable gets snagged, and pulls the pin so the trailer brakes engage.
I certainly don't want to make the cable shorter, but I don't see a good spot to attach it where it can't get snagged and is easy to get on and off.
What have others with these hitches done?
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07-03-2016, 07:22 AM
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#2
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 44
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I used to put the loop over the handle.
__________________
16 Newmar MountainAire 4565
16 Ford F-150 Supercrew
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07-03-2016, 07:34 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Spicewood Texas (West of Austin)
Posts: 4,514
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MY cable on my previous 5th wheel was long enough to attach to one of the rear tie downs, in the corner of the bed.
__________________
Scotty and Kristen, Airedales Dagny and Wyatt
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 4528, 450 HP ISM, Allison 4000, 8 Lifeline AGM's
2019 F250 King Ranch 4x4 Powerstroke - SOLD
2022 F350 DRW King Ranch 4 x 4
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07-03-2016, 07:46 AM
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#4
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Member
Florida Cooters Club Coastal Campers
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St. Augustine, Florida
Posts: 35
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I loop mine over the handle also.
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___________________________
2016 Silverado 3500HD
2019 Jayco North Point 377RLBH
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07-03-2016, 09:06 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,597
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There is a dedicated hole in my hitch for that.
__________________
2003 Teton Grand Freedom. 2006 Freightliner Century 120 with Detroit 14L and Ultrashift.2016 Smartcar carry on deck. Full time going from job to job. Building and maintaining plants across the USA. Sold 2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
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07-04-2016, 05:44 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Currently; SW Cali. Sunny & warm!
Posts: 1,323
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That definitely could be annoying.
I clip mine on the bail pin also but it drapes in a way that doesn't snag anything.
Happy motoring.
__________________
J & J, DRV Suites ES-38RSSA #9679 GM Denali, 3500HD-Max, 4x CC, 8' DRW,
EZGo-TXT, Clubcar Precedent
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07-04-2016, 06:05 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 47
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My 25k Reese had a 3/8 hole in the rear side of the center main body which I attached a 4" i bolt and used a 2" carabiner to quick connect the cable. Seems to work well if you don't keep a lot of stuff behind the hitch.
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07-05-2016, 06:48 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,722
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Another vote for the handle.
__________________
Dave W
2011 Ford F250 6.7 Lariat CCLB, Gone but not forgotten
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (sold it!)
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07-05-2016, 09:56 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,597
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I would contact the manufacturer of your hitch and ask about drilling a hole for this. Though it may not cause a problem hooking anything to hitch handle worries me.
__________________
2003 Teton Grand Freedom. 2006 Freightliner Century 120 with Detroit 14L and Ultrashift.2016 Smartcar carry on deck. Full time going from job to job. Building and maintaining plants across the USA. Sold 2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
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07-05-2016, 10:55 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,722
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glennwest
I would contact the manufacturer of your hitch and ask about drilling a hole for this. Though it may not cause a problem hooking anything to hitch handle worries me.
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Why?
They are locked and are operatable in reverse of forward motion.
I would be more worried about drilling a hole in the hitch and potential warranty implications.
__________________
Dave W
2011 Ford F250 6.7 Lariat CCLB, Gone but not forgotten
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (sold it!)
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07-05-2016, 11:02 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,597
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IC2
Why?
They are locked and are operatable in reverse of forward motion.
I would be more worried about drilling a hole in the hitch and potential warranty implications.
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That is why I stated call the manufacturer. Builder installed a hole for this from factory for my hitch.
__________________
2003 Teton Grand Freedom. 2006 Freightliner Century 120 with Detroit 14L and Ultrashift.2016 Smartcar carry on deck. Full time going from job to job. Building and maintaining plants across the USA. Sold 2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3
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07-11-2016, 07:46 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 466
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Thanks for the replies...
I'm currently attaching the cable to the handle, but the problem is that the cable is long enough that it hangs down far enough to go UNDER the corner of the hitch where it connects to the truck bed. Then, if we turn sharply enough, it yanks the pin out of the safety unit and activates the brakes.
The first time it happened, we didn't realize what it was. I was backing the trailer into the driveway to park, and suddenly it seemed like the truck was working harder than before. I even got out and looked to see if we'd had a trailer jack come loose or something. I didn't notice the cable pulled out.
My wife could HEAR the brakes engage(d), but didn't realize what the whining was so she didn't mention it. Fortunately, I realized what had happened, and plugged it back in...
BUT, it's a problem, and I've currently put a bungee cord on the cable to hold it up and keep it from getting under the hitch corner but I'd like to find a better way...
I checked my hitch and it doesn't have any holes anywhere - I thought there would be one and I'd attach a carabiner to it, but there aren't any holes. I LIKE the idea of attaching it to one of the bed corner tiedowns. That would be easy to get to, and may keep the cable from from getting yanked out. I've also thought about a hole somewhere, but it's not easy to get to the hitch in the bed so...
Anyhow, I'll fiddle with it 'cause it's REALLY unpleasant when that cable gets yanked out of the switch and turns on the trailer brakes!
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07-12-2016, 09:11 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 31
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I had the same problem with the cable being to long, orderd a coil cable, problem solved! 
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07-13-2016, 02:03 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 466
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Now THAT'S COOL!!!!
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