Looking for any tricks for getting the upper coupler plate the right height for hitching up. Currently doing it by myself I eyeball it after dropping the tailgate, back in some then get out of the truck when I think I'm close and readjust. Not rocket science, but any way I can save getting out and rechecking would be appreciated.

You could measure the height of fifth wheel plate in truck bed from ground and then raise trailer kingpin plate to that height to get closer then backup close, get out and fine tune height. My level up system will remember the last unhitching height but I still get out to make sure!

Add a short length of small chain to the end of the break away cable so it just clears the ground at the disconnect hitch height. Quick and easy. Works like a charm.

This idea works for others:Acquire a 70" piece of heavy string, and a bolt or washer for weight, and a bread wrapper wire tie.Tie bolt or washer to one end of string.After unhooking from your RV and BEFORE making any leveling adjustments to RV, place bolt/washer on ground under RV hitch pin.Lift other end of string up to the bottom of hitch pin being careful NOT to lift bolt/washer off the ground. While keeping string taunt, wrap wire tie on to the string at the bottom edge of RV hitch pin. This is the exact height your hitch pin needs to be at prior to hooking up your tow vehicle (TV).Go camping and have fun.Prior to backing TV under hitch pin, use string, bolt/washer and wire tie to reposition the RV to the exact height as when you unhooked from TV.A simple and very inexpensive aid to assist you with proper hitch pin height for hooking your TV to your RV.Hope this helps?Lakeside

You don't need to have the pin level with the hitch to connect, in fact trying to do that can lead to "High Hitching"! You want the pin plate about 1"'lower than the hitch plate, even up to 2" works just fine! You really want the pin plate ride up the hitch plate a bit the will prevent high hitching.

All the tricks are just overthinking it, in my opinion. Just to avoid getting out of the truck?In most cases you just need to remember where it was when you unhitched, and go back there. You can get levels that will remember for you. I don't bother with all that stuff. Just back up until the pin and the hitch are close. Get out and look, and if I miss remembered where I unhooked, make a small adjustment.All the tricks to avoid getting out and looking, are just asking for trouble with high hitching. Can't go wrong if you GOAL.

Proper kingpin height for hitching | Good Sam Community

AZ_T_T
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
shadows4 wrote:
I use the Level + by Hoppy. You adjust the smaller level to level before you unhitch. Then when you go to hitch back up just raise or lower the 5th wheel till the level reads level again. Super simple. Here is a pic of one.

I use something similar to this but I like this better!!
rhagfo
Explorer III
Aug 11, 2015
Wow!!!! :S

Four pages of correct height for pin box to Hitch, this thread likely has all the TT folks Rolling on the Floor laughing:B

I never knew hooking up my 5er was so difficult!!! It isn't Rocket Science and based on some replies several of you are flirting with High Hitching!
lowfly
Explorer
Aug 11, 2015
Lakeside!!! great cheap idea. You are toooo clever. Thanks.
robwhite61
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
avvidclif1 wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
You don't need to have the pin level with the hitch to connect, in fact trying to do that can lead to "High Hitching"! You want the pin plate about 1"'lower than the hitch plate, even up to 2" works just fine! You really want the pin plate ride up the hitch plate a bit the will prevent high hitching.

Unless you have a Curt Hitch. Then it doesn't work.

I have a Curt and it works for me. When I am hooking up from camping I always set the trailer a little lower so it will ride up the hitch. When I am parking for storage I leave the trailer at the height I unhitched and simply back in.
WeBeFulltimers
Explorer
Aug 04, 2015
fj12ryder wrote:
It would take me longer to try some of these suggestions than just getting out of the truck and walking back to see how far I need to lower/raise the trailer. :) I back up until I'm within a couple of inches of the pin, get out and raise/lower to where I want it, then get back in and back into the hitch. No muss, no fuss.

Get off your lazy can and do it this way! :R
Padlin
Explorer
Aug 04, 2015
thanks folks.
TGPILOT
Explorer
Aug 03, 2015
I use the CHEAP old fashioned way to do it. I have my wife raise/lower the rig after I back up close to it then, after she has it at the right height I back under until she locks.....Works ever time without fail....LOL.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2015
On flat ground my nose centers on a trailer marker light just above the leg switches when the pin is just the right height for the 5th wheel.

Right height is about when the pin plate touches the 5th wheel hitch plate about halfway up the slot.

Nothing beats familiarity with doing it many times. You learn your own ques.
tntcrock
Explorer
Aug 03, 2015
Just get your wife to adjust when you back up to it; are I get out and adjust once I get close against pin.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Aug 03, 2015
It would take me longer to try some of these suggestions than just getting out of the truck and walking back to see how far I need to lower/raise the trailer. :) I back up until I'm within a couple of inches of the pin, get out and raise/lower to where I want it, then get back in and back into the hitch. No muss, no fuss.

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Proper kingpin height for hitching

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