Forum Discussion

noteven's avatar
noteven
Explorer III
Nov 26, 2013

Accidental uncoupling - dropping a trailer -

I searched.

I see lots of posts about accidentally uncoupling ("dropping") 5th wheel trailers, various equipment designed to "catch" an uncoupled trailer etc.

I have a B&M Companion RV 5th wheel because the truck had the B&M Turnover Ball goose neck hitch on it.

I've looked that 5th wheel over - when you are backed in and the handle is swung into lock position and pinned, I don't see how it can unintentionally uncouple. The jaws look like a heavy duty truck 5th wheel. The handle will not move to the "locked" position if the pin is high or not fully in the jaws...

I've only been exposed to this one RV fifth wheel. Are other RV 5th wheels ("5th wheel hitches") designed differently?
  • wandering1's avatar
    wandering1
    Explorer
    Nov 26, 2013
    If coupled properly it cannot unintentionally uncouple. When a trailer is high hitched then the trailer is unhitched and will fall. A trailer is high hitched when the king pin is sitting on top of the hitch jaws, between the hitch plate and the hitch jaws and not inside the hitch jaws. If coupled properly then the hitch jaws will be wrapped around the king pin. After hitching walk around behind the truck and look at the hitch and make sure the king pin is inside the jaws, real simple, that's all it takes to make sure you are hitched properly. The hitch doesn't fail, the operator fails.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Nov 26, 2013
    Different hitches latch in different ways,some are more foolproof than others. However,when a drop occurs it is seldom caused by the hitch, but is usually due to operator error.
    All hitches are subject to operator error.
    The only way to make things 100% foolproof is to install a Blue Ox bedsaver
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Nov 26, 2013
    The last thing I did was raise my two front struts haha... So far been successful not dropping it when I was using the fifth wheel - Always did the pull test before raising the struts...

    It just sits in the back yard now and when we traded truck I never even put the hitch for this trailer in the truck.

    I'm thinking my second home is going to sit there until one of the kids drags it off..

    Roy Ken
  • TucsonJim's avatar
    TucsonJim
    Explorer II
    Nov 26, 2013
    I wonder how many owners of FWs actually do a pull test each and every time they hitch up?
  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Nov 26, 2013
    I would think that over 90% of accidental uncouplings come from high hitching where the pin box is high enough that the jaws closed under the pin or not fully around it. My DW has a tendency to raise the pin too high so I always double check and remind her that the truck needs to lift the front of the trailer a bit when coupling. But then, I have driven away with the stairs still out. :-(
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Nov 26, 2013
    The problem usually comes frm people that believe everything they read on the internet. Different hitches have different instructions for hitching. Some say set the trailer to hit the middle of the plate so it lifts the trailer as you back under. Others say to have little or no pressure on the plate as you back under. The important thing is to read the manufacturers instructions for YOUR hitch and follow those instructions.
  • Dukecity426's avatar
    Dukecity426
    Explorer
    Nov 26, 2013
    06Fargo, I agree with you also. I have seen a few drop their 5th wheel on top of their truck bed. I always "stretch" the coupling to make sure that I have the pin "locked in" place. I believe that most all 5th wheel hitches are built on the same principle. Just don't get in a hurry and double check everything!

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