Hitch choice

dryfly wrote:

Big1 wrote:

MFL wrote:

bobbyg123 wrote:
Well, we settled on a B&W Patriot 16,000 non-slider.

Good price, good reviews. Having never used a 5th wheel hitch before, I have no idea how good it is, but it seems to have a good reputation. I'll be pulling a 5th wheel with GVWR under 10,500lbs.

Thanks.

Congrats on your new Patriot!! IMO, from actual use, the best rail hitch available for the dollars spent. You will be very happy with that hitch!!

Jerry

Congrats! It's a good hitch for sure this is the one I have.

In this photo I can see the jaws are definitely around the pin, and the pin box is flat on the hitch head. It's very obvious!

Please....I don't want to create controversy, but I'm curious about the term "high hitch". I assume that's when the flange on the bottom of the pin is set down on the top of the jaws of the hitch.

If that's the case, couldn't that situation be detected by a visual inspection of the jaws? I've been pulling a 5th wheel for years and I've never had that occur once. Seems like one would immediately see space between the pin box and the hitch head. And if it's determined that the pin is correctly in the jaws and is locked in place, I would thank that would minimize the need for a pull test.

Again, I've seen the need for a pull test argued many times on this forum, and I'm not trying to incite that. Just trying to find the way(s) that dropping the trailer is possible.

IMO we are a bit hung up on this visual thing. Is there a hitch out there that you can't visually see if the jaws ,bar whatever are closed ??? I can certainly see mine on my Reese hitch.

If you visually see the jaws closed around the pin on the B&W is there also a locking pin or whatever to lock to insure the jaws stay closed ?? My Reese the handle closes, and then there is a pin to insert to lock the handle. I can look at those jaws all day long ,and make sure they are closed, but I am pretty sure if that locking pin is not inserted bad things are going to happen.

My point is we get right back to the pull test. IMO it is "FOOLPROOF" . Apparently its in the B&W manual, that sure has to tell you something. One mentioned something about a Reese Hitch coming undone even after a pull test, thats a new one ,and he did not elaborate , was asked to do so, but like a lot of things on here they just get said without much to back it up .

Probably the only real foolproof way to keep someone from dropping the fifth wheel on their bed was the Blue OX bedsavers they used to sell, but pretty sure they are not available any more. Also there was the Butch device, but you had to make sure that is was closed, or it was useless, those I don't think are for sale anymore.