5th wheel hitch jaws

Alley Fox wrote:
I have never found a reason or need to pin my B&W open, it releases just fine without having to do anything but relieve the pin weight, unlatch and pull out. Why make a simple process complicated???

Agreed, why even have it .

06Fargo wrote:

up2nogood wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
B&W Companion 5th wheel -

I use a B&W Companion attached to the Turnover Ball gooseneck system - jaws are like Big Truck Holland 5th wheels. They seem to work in that industry...

After the first install I use hand tools and say "click".

You pin the handle in the open position to unhook, not when you are hooking up.

The point was it can be locked in the open position , can be left there when hooking up, and just one more potential thing for a dropped fifth wheel . Any fifth wheel hitch I have dealt with they remain open ,but will close when backed into , they cannot be locked open.

Agreed. But if your forget to unpin the handle your pull test would show you are not hooked up. I've never used any other RV 5th wheel so I am not sure how trailers get dropped in the first place. I was taught to always pull test a fifth wheel to confirm a good hook up before retracting landing gear.

Granted if you do a pull test, have your landing gear just off the ground etc etc ect, then you won't drop a fifth wheel. You are missing the point here, is is just one more thing to create a dropped fifth wheel. I have seen guys back into their fifth wheel, get out pull the chocks, raise the landing gear ,and drive off, now can you imagine if that hitch is in the locked open position, and forgotten about . There are many things to create a dropped fifth wheel, locking in the open position could be one of them, how does one high hitch, obviously by not looking, how does one not lock the handle, forgot, the list goes on. Hell there are guys who have pulled the handle to unhook forgot to put the landing gear down ,and drove off dropping it on the bed .

X2 on the pull test. I've seen some some folks back up a few feet first then pull forward. Not sure if that helps or just gives some reassurance.?

I have never found a reason or need to pin my B&W open, it releases just fine without having to do anything but relieve the pin weight, unlatch and pull out. Why make a simple process complicated???

up2nogood wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
B&W Companion 5th wheel -

I use a B&W Companion attached to the Turnover Ball gooseneck system - jaws are like Big Truck Holland 5th wheels. They seem to work in that industry...

After the first install I use hand tools and say "click".

You pin the handle in the open position to unhook, not when you are hooking up.

The point was it can be locked in the open position , can be left there when hooking up, and just one more potential thing for a dropped fifth wheel . Any fifth wheel hitch I have dealt with they remain open ,but will close when backed into , they cannot be locked open.

Agreed. But if your forget to unpin the handle your pull test would show you are not hooked up. I've never used any other RV 5th wheel so I am not sure how trailers get dropped in the first place. I was taught to always pull test a fifth wheel to confirm a good hook up before retracting landing gear.

06Fargo wrote:
B&W Companion 5th wheel -

I use a B&W Companion attached to the Turnover Ball gooseneck system - jaws are like Big Truck Holland 5th wheels. They seem to work in that industry...

After the first install I use hand tools and say "click".

You pin the handle in the open position to unhook, not when you are hooking up.

The point was it can be locked in the open position , can be left there when hooking up, and just one more potential thing for a dropped fifth wheel . Any fifth wheel hitch I have dealt with they remain open ,but will close when backed into , they cannot be locked open.

B&W Companion 5th wheel -

I use a B&W Companion attached to the Turnover Ball gooseneck system - jaws are like Big Truck Holland 5th wheels. They seem to work in that industry...

After the first install I use hand tools and say "click".

You pin the handle in the open position to unhook, not when you are hooking up.

handsome51 wrote:
If you want a good set of jaws. Buy a hitch that has a Binkley Holland head

X2 . clamshell jaws are used for the heaviest loading.

drwwicks wrote:
What is the strongest most reliable type 5th wheel hitch jaw? I currently have a Reese 16K on a slider rails that has the double jaw clamp type. I took the hitch out of a short bed and plan to upgrade to an 18 or 20K hitch with a standard mount. A Reese I looked at, 18K, had a J type hook jaw that was laminate construction. It appeared that once that jaw wrapped around the king pin, it would be very secure. Any opinions or facts on jaw type and preference.

A search of hitch jaws didn't produce any results.

I wanted a very strong hitch for my 5th wheel, so I bought the Reese 20K hitch. I had big problems. The single hitch does not wrap completely arond the pin. Just part way. It was not lined up corectly (factory defect) and gave us a rough ride on our 5th wheel. After MANY hours with the dealer, he finally had Reese people look at the hitch. They said it was a defect, and they gave me a new top part, and the hitch works great now.

New time I will not get a one piece hook as they don't go all the way around the pin. It does not look stable to me. I like the clamsheel type. I think that they are more secure. Next time, I will get the Pulright hitch.

And I will go with another dealer.

If you want a good set of jaws. Buy a hitch that has a Binkley Holland head