Brain Lapse!

Sorry to hear that. Got any pics? I have been lucky. I quit doing the pull test. I painted the jaws on my Reese white. Just take a quick peek at them after hooking up. So far so good. Good luck, John

I think that after doing something many times with no problems, we all get a little complacent.

Thanks for the reminder to do safety checks. Fortunately you didn't have a lot of damage.

I've owned my fifth wheel for about 6 weeks now and stopped doing the pull test. I do however look at the jaws every time when I go to close up the tailgate, prior to pulling the jacks up.

empty_nest wrote:
I guess it was bound to happen. The minute you take your eye off the ball, you screw up.

After 4 yrs. with the 5'r, the first time I ever failed to do the pull test, I dropped her on the box. Fortunately, it didn't ding it up too bad, but I could kick myself for being so stupid (lazy). I was just going to move it into the driveway to leave for a weekend camping trip.

This is why I do the pull test as soon as I back into the pin. I also do a visual check of the pin and jaws.
Knocking on wood twice!!

Don't have that problem with my B&W Companion. If I can pull the handle closed, it's hitched. I =still= to a pull test, though. :-)

Lyle

Quite a few years ago Dw and I stopped at a mall to get some last minute items on our way out of town. While in the store someone pulled our pin and unhooked the 5th wheel hitch. We hopped in and started to pull away and down she came (no damage, not even a scratch). Two mods came out of that: 1) a small pad lock on the handle that engages and disengages the receiver 2) took a cheap cutting board and cut it into one inch strips. Counter sunk some holes and screwed to the underside of my 5th above the truck bed. Never did happen again but was ready if it did.

I always put a padlock on the hitch if we will be leaving the truck. :)

kayakcrazy wrote:
Quite a few years ago Dw and I stopped at a mall to get some last minute items on our way out of town. While in the store someone pulled our pin and unhooked the 5th wheel hitch. We hopped in and started to pull away and down she came (no damage, not even a scratch). Two mods came out of that: 1) a small pad lock on the handle that engages and disengages the receiver 2) took a cheap cutting board and cut it into one inch strips. Counter sunk some holes and screwed to the underside of my 5th above the truck bed. Never did happen again but was ready if it did.

JCasper wrote:
I've owned my fifth wheel for about 6 weeks now and stopped doing the pull test. I do however look at the jaws every time when I go to close up the tailgate, prior to pulling the jacks up.

YUP, when I was training for my commercial drivers license the trainer said "don't assume anything. Get out and LOOK! Laziness can be expensive."

When I FT'd in my 5ver for about 4 years I always checked to make sure the jaws were closed and locked. I then placed a lock on the jaws. Never had any problems and never did any pull test. Plus if you get out and LOOK it burns calories and keeps me agile. Laziness spreads. First don't check the hitch, then don't walk behind, then don't check other things. Pretty soon it is an accident just waiting to happen. Even when the DW says "come on back" I get out and make a walk around.

I see RVers in RV parks jump in their rigs and just drive off. Very few check their brakes, their lights, turn signals etc.

tvman44 wrote:
I always put a padlock on the hitch if we will be leaving the truck. :)

kayakcrazy wrote:
Quite a few years ago Dw and I stopped at a mall to get some last minute items on our way out of town. While in the store someone pulled our pin and unhooked the 5th wheel hitch. We hopped in and started to pull away and down she came (no damage, not even a scratch). Two mods came out of that: 1) a small pad lock on the handle that engages and disengages the receiver 2) took a cheap cutting board and cut it into one inch strips. Counter sunk some holes and screwed to the underside of my 5th above the truck bed. Never did happen again but was ready if it did.

X2

I always look at the jaws to confirm. I will admit I get complacent with the pull test sometimes. Depends on where I am. The reason to do a pull test is more than just confirming locked jaws. You are testing the brake system too. So I might not do a pull test when I'm leaving my own driveway. I'll know at the first stop sign if the brakes are working or not. I am more careful to do the pull test when leaving a campground and hitting the road, which more often that not is a downhill stretch. I want to feel the brakes.