Another drop

jimwooster wrote:

M GO BLUE wrote:
ALWAYS ALWAYS DO A TEST PULL...NO EXCEPTIONS!

Just an automatic response. Back up and after hitch locks put it in drive and just a tug. After that put it in Neutral to take tension off so you can lock down the hitch. Should just be second nature.

PS Hate to agree with anyone from that "state up north" Go Buckeyes.. LOL

M GO BLUE wrote:
ALWAYS ALWAYS DO A TEST PULL...NO EXCEPTIONS!

Just an automatic response. Back up and after hitch locks put it in drive and just a tug. After that put it in Neutral to take tension off so you can lock down the hitch. Should just be second nature.

I don't think anyone is actually making "hypocritical (or even hypothetical) comments" concerning the victim of this incident, most anyway, are thinking that could have been me, and are learning from another incident using the current situation of another, we all do that to a certain extent. I read all these comments and it came to me in thought, what a dummy, but that dummy can be me too. I use the situation to shock myself into doing a better job or in this came better inspection.

OK

If that folk that lives up the street from you finds this post, I would expect he/they would take offense. :h

Or is it. :R I do not think we are talking about "luck" here.

M GO BLUE wrote:
ALWAYS ALWAYS DO A TEST PULL...NO EXCEPTIONS!

Except when you take your time and walk around behind the tailgate and LOOK and make sure the jaws are closed behind the hitch pin. That has worked great for me for 15 years.

I do the pull test using manual control of trailer breaks (No Chocks). Serves two purposes, 1-tests that I am properly hooked and 2- that my brakes are working.

Last week this happened when operating the slide hitch when getting ready to come home from wherever they were.

Looks like the same truck in another dropped thread some years ago. Some one had vandalized his hitch while in a interstate rest area. As he accelerated away the trailer landed on the bed and on out through the tail gate and onto the on ramp. Had nothing to do with hitching procedures or the owners age.

Regardless of any of the reasons a 5th wheel trailer can land on the trucks bed a Bedsaver or Butch's safety pin is a good investment.

Lots of hypocritical comments being made about the victem when we have no idea of the circumstances.

powderman426 wrote:

M GO BLUE wrote:
ALWAYS ALWAYS DO A TEST PULL...NO EXCEPTIONS!

Better yet buy a flashlight and use it. I never pull until I have looked to be certain the hitch is closed and that its not pinned high.

socoguy wrote:
Painting the jaws white helps with the visual check b-4 your pull test

Just don't understand making the "Pull Test" so hard!

I do mine as soon as the jaws shut on the pin. Wheels fully chocked two quick tugs, if high hitched easier to pull out with minimal amount weight on the pin. Then lock the handle, breakaway cable, look at the jaws (painted white), then raise the landing gear. To those worried about the LG, trailer doesn't move any slight movement is absorbed in the natural play in the LG.

Thats_Ok wrote:

Vulcaneer wrote:

It seems this person needs some discipline. These kinds of things can happen to any of us. And it is unfortunate. But if the same person continues to have such bad luck, there is something he may be continuing to be doing wrong. Selling everything and starting over is not the answer. He needs to re-think what he is doing.

Also gotta wonder about that shortbed towing a fiver. If he makes decisions like that, I wonder about his common sense. Regardless, in this case if he was adjusting his slide hitch when it dropped, he is lucky nobody got hurt.

Not to find fault...But just that he needs some counseling.

Well the owner of this rig is a retired public school principle.
He is closing in on 80 and enjoys trailering very much with the DW who is also retired from the state school system as a teacher.

I think they are on RV #5 currently.
They had a motor home when the wife and I started RVing in 1994.

That explains a lot.

Ouch!! I like the Curt hitch I have, if the jaws aren't locked, you can't put the pin into the flip lock bail on the pull bar to lock it in...