backing up to the hitch

Use retractable magnetic rods with tennis balls on the ends. Put one on hitch one on 5ver works for me. With roll up cover so I can see over. Available at cw or dealers. Works for TT hook up as well.

Posted: 03/28/15 10:32pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
Do the marks help when you have to hitch at an angle?

Dave & Gean

Yes, if your in angle limits of the hitch.

Or do what I do. Keep backing up and going forward untill your on target, only to find out your either too low or too high. Get out and adjust, get back in and try it again. Repeat if necessary. Not the prettiest but it gets the job done.

Just use the side mirrors and line up with the trailer that way. No reason to try and look back over your shoulder and strain to try to see the hitch. You know what the trailer looks like when you are pulling it down the road, so you know how it should look when you are backing into it.

I use three marks to line up my 5th wheel.

Start with 5th wheel hitched pull forward in a straight line and stop.

Now put a mark dead center on the front of pin box that can be seen with the windshield rear view mirror.

Next a mark in the truck rear window dead center and at same height as the pin box mark.

Last a mark on the rear view mirror when the pin box, rear window and mirror marks are all lined up. This may require moving the marks on the pin box or rear window up or down to get them at the same height.

Now when backing just like aiming a gun when all three marks are lined up the kingpin should be dead center in the hitch.

It has worked every time for me. Even when I have had to approach the trailer at an angle I am close enough the pin will still go into the hitch pocket.

Since I can see the pin, I painted two white stripes on either side of the latch on my capture plate. As I back up I align the pin between the white stripes, easialy done from ten feet away. I have found that if the hitch height is just above the capture plate with the hitch tilted back, the trailer slides easily up the capture plate, while the truck is squating from the increase in weight. I end up with the fith wheel hitched and level, and the reassuring clunk as the release bar slides into the locked position tells me I am "hitched"!

Nothing here. With the crew cab, a fuel/storage box in the bed & often stuff stored inside the truck the 5th wheel is either unseen or poorly seen using the mirror.

I guess I am doing it the way the big trucks do which cannot see the 5th wheel at all. Use marks on the side for proper alignment & height only needing driver side mirror. Side to side is easy seeing just a little of the trailer side. Height is judged by distance from bedrail to overhang bottom.

When in doubt GOAL.

rhagfo wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

3ares wrote:
My hitch is a automatic Pullrite for shortbed trucks
To help me backup to the 5er hitch:
1) I put alignment marks on the hitch to center it
2) I put a white mark on the center of the hitch that is visible from the truck
3) Put a white mark on the center of the pin box
4) on the back window of the truck I put two red marks 1/2 inch apart dead center
5) align all white marks inside the red marks; your good to go

Right on! the only thing would add:
When backing up and the 5th. wheel hitch is about 5 inches from sliding up onto the bed hitch stop, get out and from a side view, make sure the 5th wheel trailer hitch is approx. 3 inches LOWER than the bed hitch/plate, just low enough so the trailer hitch has to slide up onto the truck hitch by pushing the truck hitch down. Just keep backing up real slow until you hear the "clunk" sound. Stop and check that the hitch lock mechanism is secure. Then put a block in front of the rear trailer tire. Make sure the front jacks are extended down about an inch from the ground. Now do the "bump" test buy driving very slowly about 4 inches in order to make sure your truck and 5th. wheel hitch is secure/locked:)

Lower, yes
3" Lower, that's a bit much.

You just need enough to ensure the pin box pushes down a bit, so you don't accidentally high hitch (ie: the pin sits on top of the jaws). You don't really want to try to lift the legs off the ground by backing into it.

I shoot for around 1" low. The truck springs absorb that while the legs stay on the ground.

While 3" may be a bit low as long as you hit the ramp on the hitch head no harm no foul! I would rather hit a tax low than a tad high.
No issue lifting the 5er a couple inches!

I have to disagree. The lower you go, the steeper the angle of the hitch head and the more it's pushing back rather than up. That can generate a lot of force before the pin slides into position. Enough force that if the wheels aren't well blocked, the trailer may roll back then fall off the hitch.

Sure, you can say you block the wheels real well...until the one time they aren't. An inch low is pretty easy and if you don't feel the truck sag a little, it's a good clue to visually verify that the pin is properly seated (which is a good idea regardless).

valhalla360 wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

3ares wrote:
My hitch is a automatic Pullrite for shortbed trucks
To help me backup to the 5er hitch:
1) I put alignment marks on the hitch to center it
2) I put a white mark on the center of the hitch that is visible from the truck
3) Put a white mark on the center of the pin box
4) on the back window of the truck I put two red marks 1/2 inch apart dead center
5) align all white marks inside the red marks; your good to go

Right on! the only thing would add:
When backing up and the 5th. wheel hitch is about 5 inches from sliding up onto the bed hitch stop, get out and from a side view, make sure the 5th wheel trailer hitch is approx. 3 inches LOWER than the bed hitch/plate, just low enough so the trailer hitch has to slide up onto the truck hitch by pushing the truck hitch down. Just keep backing up real slow until you hear the "clunk" sound. Stop and check that the hitch lock mechanism is secure. Then put a block in front of the rear trailer tire. Make sure the front jacks are extended down about an inch from the ground. Now do the "bump" test buy driving very slowly about 4 inches in order to make sure your truck and 5th. wheel hitch is secure/locked:)

Lower, yes
3" Lower, that's a bit much.

You just need enough to ensure the pin box pushes down a bit, so you don't accidentally high hitch (ie: the pin sits on top of the jaws). You don't really want to try to lift the legs off the ground by backing into it.

I shoot for around 1" low. The truck springs absorb that while the legs stay on the ground.

While 3" may be a bit low as long as you hit the ramp on the hitch head no harm no foul! I would rather hit a tax low than a tad high.
No issue lifting the 5er a couple inches!

Sounds good. I put a mark on my utility box so when I use my rear view mirror, line up the mark and head straight for the pin.