Forum Discussion

Too_Young_to_Re's avatar
Sep 14, 2012

Emergency in Mesquite, NV

I'm hoping there is someone in the area that can help us out. Your help will be generously rewarded. It's a long story, so please bear with me. We left San Diego yesterday on our way to Park City, UT for a much needed vacation. About 10 miles outside of Mesquite I noticed smoke billowing out behind us. So I pulled into a truck pull off area. After we stopped safely off the road, I looked under the truck and diesel fuel was just pouring onto the ground. The truck only has 6k miles on it, so that was covered under warranty for towing. The trailer tow would be out of pocket. After waiting for three hours for the tow truck to arrive, we discovered that a Pullrite cannot hook up to a conventional 5'er hitch. So we made the decision to pull the trailer into Mesquite while spewing diesel. Then the tow truck took the PU into the Dealer in St. George. The Dealer looked at the truck this morning and says that it looks like it might be the injector pump. It's going to take 6 hours to get to it and determine if that is indeed what the problem is. And, if that is what it is, they probably won't be able to get the part until Monday. So for right now it looks like we are spending our vacation, along with our three dogs, in an "RV Park" (parking lot) behind a Mesquite casino. With the luck we're having, we're staying out of the casino. So please don't suggest that. What we would like to do is find someone in the area with either a Pullrite hitch, or possibly a gooseneck adapter if that will work, that can tow us to St. George so that we can be closer to the truck, and maybe have some activities to pass the time. There's not much to do in Mesquite when you're on foot. This forum looks like our best hope to salvage some of our much needed vacation. If you are in the area, and can help us out, please PM me. We do expect to pay for the help. And will gladly do so.
Update: I removed the Pullrite capture plate. Fortunately it was bolted and not welded. We got pulled into St. George, where it looks like that will be our vacation. The truck problem is the fuel injector pump. Because the part wasn't ordered until Friday afternoon,, it won't be here until Monday. GM paid for a rental vehicle, so we are able to explore the area around St. George. Zion is beautiful and it's actually cooler here than San Diego right now. We're making lemonade from lemons and having a good time. Thanks for all the responses. Without your help I'd still be stuck in Mesquite.

49 Replies

  • Too Young to Retire wrote:
    five'er wrote:
    You could take the plate off and then have it towed. It would increase your odds of getting it somewhere. Mine was held on with some screws, shouldn't be hard.

    If I take the plate off, there is no pin. Can I remove the Pullrite plate and replace it with a conventional plate and pin?


    HAve a look here at page 7. You may be mistaken? click

    Mine the pin slipped through a hole in the plate as I think most others I've ever seen
  • Whoa, I think I've got it. The plate is added on to the pin box. It looks like if I remove the plate I will have a conventional pin. I'm breaking out the tools.
  • five'er wrote:
    You could take the plate off and then have it towed. It would increase your odds of getting it somewhere. Mine was held on with some screws, shouldn't be hard.

    If I take the plate off, there is no pin. Can I remove the Pullrite plate and replace it with a conventional plate and pin?
  • agesilaus wrote:
    Do you mean your 5ver has a Pullrite pin box? I haven't seen one of those before.

    Yes, it's a Pullrite pinbox. There is a square tab behind the pin that locks into the hitch and causes the hitch to swivel. But on a conventional hitch it won't let the you turn. If you can even get it hooked up, you would only be able to go straight. Which wouldn't work out so well going through the Virgin River Gorge :). So this could also serve as a warning to those considering a Pullrite. If you have a problem, it will severely limit your options for assistance. I was not aware of this until last night.
  • You could take the plate off and then have it towed. It would increase your odds of getting it somewhere. Mine was held on with some screws, shouldn't be hard.
  • You should beable to remove the Pullrite wedge plate from your pin box
    (unless it's welded on) Then almost anybody with a 5th wheel hitch can pull your unit.

    C.B.
  • Do you mean your 5ver has a Pullrite pin box? I haven't seen one of those before.
  • I would but it would take me a day to get there. Good luck, my money says someone here will come to your aid. There is a nice RV park in Mesquite and maybe the GM dealer will come through with a loaner.
    Rick