Hitching a fifth wheel - in pictures

ependydad wrote:

SandSOrrell wrote:
Thanks for a great tutorial ependydad! About the only thing I can think of to add is to check that the breakaway switch plug is firmly in its receptacle. I used to never do that. But one day I drug my trailer about half way out of the camp ground with the trailer brakes locked. Left some pretty good ruts in the gravel drives. Not being much of a mechanically minded guy, I thought there was something wrong with the truck. I went into the office to call someone and the lady owner asked if my breakaway had pulled out. She said it had just happened to someone a few days before. I said "DUH" and went out to look. Sure enough! Plugged it back in and all was well. I thanked her profusely and we hit the road.

To this day, I don't know how it came out. The fit is tight and I did not make any tight turns. I HAVE heard some folks think it is funny to walk by and yank it out as a prank. I'd love to catch me one! I didn't think it very funny. Anyway, now I check it nearly every day I'm parked in a camp ground and definitely before finishing my hitching process.

Thanks for the idea. I think most of our processes come from mistakes we or someone else made (or want to avoid!). I'll see about adding a mention.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Full-Fledged, I love it!

What stinking pull test!

LOL, I thought you were firmly in the "do a pull test"-crowd? (j/k!)

Yea I think most who have read my posts know I don't do a "pull test". I do a "VISUAL" pull test.

Me thinks when the kingpin plate is touching the hitch plate and the handle is closed and "locked" then I use my two eyes and take note to see the 1" thick jaws are fully closed around the kingpin.

When I had a RBW hitch I did do pull test. I would do a pill test if I had a Reese with the high handle or others like that for sure!