Help unhitching!

Old-Biscuit wrote:
According to Pullrite

1)Set trailer wheel chocks to prevent forward/aft movment
Back into the blocked trailer slightly and set the parking brake while the truck is still in gear.
This action will relieve pressure on the Lock Jaw Assembly before attempting to pull the Release Handle.
2)Lower the trailer jacks to the point of just touching the ground but do not raise the trailer at this point.
3)Open the Lock Jaw Assembly by first lifting, then pulling the Release Handle towards you.
4)Lower the trailer jacks until the bottom of the King Pin Box is almost free of the top of the 5th Wheel Plate
Make certain that the bottom of the King Pin is not so high that binding on the hitch Lock Jaw Assembly would result

X2, except I find with my set up that after backing into the hitch, I place my tranny in neutral, then set the brake. It seems to let the pin settle in the center so there is no pressure forward on backward!

Obewan wrote:
...I've tried pulling the truck forward and even tried backward, raising more, raising less,...

I fought this at first, until I figured it out. You want to backup your truck, to be certain there is no pressure pulling against the jaws. I know you said you tried backing up, but the problem may be that you backup, maybe set your parking brake, maybe not, but either way when you take your foot off the service brake your truck wants to roll forward. And then you've still got the issue. Worst case is when you backed uphill into your site. Truck wants to roll on you.

Try having your partner in the truck, with the truck in reverse, holding rearward pressure against the chocked trailer, while you pull the release lever. I also find it helps to take the weight off the hitch head, with just a tiny gap between the plates, but it should work either way. If you're by yourself and have to do that, you'll have to chock the trailer, chock the truck too, and leave the transmission in reverse while you pull the lever. Caution! And I don't know what to do if you've got a manual trans.

Similar problem with my Reese Elite. Just take most of the weight off, put the truck in reverse, let it bump softly into the hitch, put in park, handle pulls easily.

cmeade wrote:
I am glad I have a B&W. I unpin the lever take the weight off the fifth wheel and pull forward. Friend has a Curt and he has to be centered and straight in front of 5er and no side to side angle or his won't release either.

I have the B&W but I take the weight off "THEN" open the handle.

I don't have your hitch, but I always have to back up a little to take the pressure off my latch before I can pull the handle.

I've got the Pullrite 18K and have the same challenges. You are doing it the same as me but I now I try to have the TV and 5er straight when I finish parking, then I set my chocks and raise the landing gear until the pin height is centered in the jaw. If it doesn't release I move the TV forward or back a bit as appropriate to relieve any stress and that usually works. It also helps to be mindful of any grade on your new site. If you had to push it uphill to park it then you will probably need to pull forward slightly after the landing gear is down, etc. It's all about finding that sweet spot. Once you find it life gets better.

Also keep up the good cleaning and lubing you have been doing. It does help.

I am glad I have a B&W. I unpin the lever take the weight off the fifth wheel and pull forward. Friend has a Curt and he has to be centered and straight in front of 5er and no side to side angle or his won't release either.

Simple, it happens all the time. Just raise the RV up until the weight is off and maybe a bit more. If you pull the release and it's hard, make sure the RV is chocked, get in the truck and put it in reverse with your foot on the break. You may have to let it move reward just a bit, not the RV, just release the pressure. Then put the TV back in gear and pull the pin.

On my rig after I set the chocks I pull the release handle before I put weight on the landing legs. Try it maybe when you raise rig it is binding.

According to Pullrite

1)Set trailer wheel chocks to prevent forward/aft movment
Back into the blocked trailer slightly and set the parking brake while the truck is still in gear.
This action will relieve pressure on the Lock Jaw Assembly before attempting to pull the Release Handle.
2)Lower the trailer jacks to the point of just touching the ground but do not raise the trailer at this point.
3)Open the Lock Jaw Assembly by first lifting, then pulling the Release Handle towards you.
4)Lower the trailer jacks until the bottom of the King Pin Box is almost free of the top of the 5th Wheel Plate
Make certain that the bottom of the King Pin is not so high that binding on the hitch Lock Jaw Assembly would result