Best hitch (non-slider)

mobilcastle wrote:

BigToe wrote:
Please talk more about being able to see "when the hitch and the king pin plate separate when unhitching".

I'm not so sure I understand what you are saying... how the 1/8" difference enables you to see the B&W jaws release? Or see a slight gap between bearing plates when the landing gear has landed in position to bear the weight of the trailer?

Sounds like you've come up with a solution to something that more people might be interested in, regardless of hitch. My insufficent experience however, blinds me to the benefit, and I need a bit more help to understand and appreciate your tip better. I'm making a mental note nevertheless, but I would like to know more.

If you watch the king pin plate and the hitch plate as you are raising the the front of the 5ver up, you will see the two plates separate from each other slightly-that is the point which makes it easy to disconnect since you have no weight from the 5ver on the hitch. I hope this explains it for you.

Thank you for a better explanation.

Most hitch jaws are much thinner than the B&W so a 1/4" slip plate is no problem.

The Jaws on the B&W are 1" thick so with a 1/4" plate you don't have much clearance when you are trying to see the gap between the plates so you can disconnect from the RV.

The 1/8" slip plate just gives you a bit more room, nice when it's dark!

The 1/8" plate from Hensley is expensive.

I took the slip plate and laid it on a hard surface and hit the inner edge a few times with a hammer so to tighten it so it would not slip off the KingPin.