Lifting my 5th wheel hitch

Ratchet winch in the garage?

Harbor Freight sells one for under $100.

Clicky

I was originally headed that direction to remove my demco hijacker autoslide. Instead, I got a 1000# chain hoist from HF for about $30, and just threw a 6' 4x4 over a few rafters in my garage and looped a chain around it to lift my hitch in and out. Much easier for me to store the chain hoist than an engine lift.

I just pull the rail pins and let the landing legs on the 5er lift it. I leave it hanging on the 5er pin when not in use. Easy to re-attach when needed and out of the way when not.

Same as NMDriver2, I just let it hang from the hitch pin and it's now just part of the 5th wheel when not in use.

I bought an electric winch from Amazon and attached it to an eye bolt I installed in my garage rafters. I back in, wrap tow straps around the hitch, attach those to the winch and lift it up. Then I pull the truck out, lower the hitch onto a harborfreight wood dolly and roll it to where it's kept. Reverse the procedure to put it back in the truck.

X3 on using 5th wheel

Here is what I did, I built a table out of 2x4 lumber that was the height of the tail gate. Then I can just slide the hitch on and off the truck bed with little problem. They are heavy to pick up but slide fairly easily. Make sure the table is stout with cross braces to hold the weight

Oh yeah this is best a two person operation, one behind the table to keep it next to the tailgate, the other doing the sliding. Unless you build a massive table, I used some plastic deck grating (I had on hand) as the top but you could use a couple of 2x4 across the top, it does not need to be solid, better not to keep the rain off it.

Although I use a hoist attached to my garage rafters, you evidently do not have this choice. Rather than the hoist specified, I would say that the only way to satisfactorily lift the hitch would be with a tractor and front end loader. At least that's the story you can give your wife.

I bought a new B&W Patriot last winter after we got a new truck. This hitch comes in 2 parts so it's not so heavy. Previously had a sliding hitch with our short box, but never used the slide feature so got a stationary hitch this time. No problems and easy to put in and take out by myself (well not exactly easy, but I can move it in & out by myself).