Can't See to Hitch Up

Everyone has a little trick for some part of the hitching process.

For trailer height when the tip of the nose touches the center of a marker light above the leg switches it is just right.

CarnationSailor wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
OP never even says what kind of hitch he's running...

I have same truck and unless he's 4ft tall or using a GN adapter am not following how he can't see the hitch out the back window. I can see mine plain as day and it's in the lowest position.

Lots of good recommendations here but let's figure out what's REALLY going on.

Where does the arrogance come from with people like this that assume they know better than the OP?

Probably not worthy of a response, but I'll try to provide "what's REALLY going on".

I'm 5' 10' tall and the hitch is a Demco Hijacker Auto Slide mounted in the lowest position. (And no, it is not mounted too far forward.) I had a friend place a tape measure on top of the hitch and the lowest mark I can see is the 5-inch mark. So the hitch would probably have to be 6 inches higher for me to see it when hitching up.

On a more positive note, thanks to all who contributed useful suggestions. I'm sure I can develop my own method from the inputs received.

I think YOU are a little thin skinned if you feel he was being arrogant! I took it as he wanted more info to help with your problem.

The problem lies with people on there that ask questions and don't provide enough info to get a good answer.

Lighten up! There are a lot of people on here that truly want to help.

Shepherd wrote:
Install a cam at the third brake light.

I have one so far not impressed!

Veebyes wrote:
Truckers can't see either. Take references from what is seen in the side mirrors. Get out & look. Get the DW involved. Simple hand signals work.

Agree. :B Can't look thru the sleeper, so backing is done strickly with mirrors. As long as the trailer was not dropped high, simply line up, the 5th wheel is designed to picks up the trailer and align the king pin. As others have said, just be careful not to highside...not doing this comes from experience in knowing where that trailer should ride..

Then again......a tractor is all frame back there, and designed to take some abuse. You truck bed will not take that abuse, so try and use a spotter; Or as someone quoted G.O.A.L.

I have a back flip roll up top and when hitching up I cannot see my hitch. I bought a set of those yellow balls on expanding poles that they sell for hooking up bumper pulls. I put one on the extreme front center edge of the hitch plate. The other at the center edge of the pin. I line up the balls and back up. The ball on the plate falls off and bingo easy as pie. They cost about $20.00.

Goostoff wrote:
Practice makes perfect. I just line up the dually fendes even in both side mirrors. I alway make sure to stop a few inches before contact Ind get out to check just to be certain I have the trailer height correct. Then just back under slowly until it latches. :)

I carry a stick that I use to mark the height of the camper when I unhook, and then use that mark to lower or raise the camper to hook back up. This method gets within a 1/2 inch 90% of the time. The other 10% is due to the TV location being changed. I also use that stick and a small level to pre-level the location with blocks if the site is unlevel.

My fiver has a built in "mirror" strip on the front. Works great.

I use a fish eye mirror on the cap, that attaches with velcro.

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.

CarnationSailor wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
OP never even says what kind of hitch he's running...

I have same truck and unless he's 4ft tall or using a GN adapter am not following how he can't see the hitch out the back window. I can see mine plain as day and it's in the lowest position.

Lots of good recommendations here but let's figure out what's REALLY going on.

Where does the arrogance come from with people like this that assume they know better than the OP?

Probably not worthy of a response, but I'll try to provide "what's REALLY going on".

I'm 5' 10' tall and the hitch is a Demco Hijacker Auto Slide mounted in the lowest position. (And no, it is not mounted too far forward.) I had a friend place a tape measure on top of the hitch and the lowest mark I can see is the 5-inch mark. So the hitch would probably have to be 6 inches higher for me to see it when hitching up.

On a more positive note, thanks to all who contributed useful suggestions. I'm sure I can develop my own method from the inputs received.

Sorry you feel offended, many don't see as an issue.

I will say the quickest least expensive, method I use when hooking up the DD, goose-neck Horse trailers is, a $4.99 Harbor Freight Tools extendable magnetic pickup wand. Yellow tape on the handle placed right in front of the ball!