Any good ideas on how to easily pull the hitch out of the truck bed so I can use truck for other activity?I need to temporarily remove my Reese 16K tube slider. I know to release it from the rails I only need to pull the 4 cross rail pins, but any ideas on how to get it easily out? (If that's possible). I'am thinking using a pulley to the beam in garage ceiling, then lower the hitch assembly to dolly on floor after truck is pulled away.(Would have to find a pulley system)I was advised the hitch weighs about 180 lbs??? I'm good- but not that good!I have also read that some simply hook it to the king pin on the trailer, then pull the pins and drive off leaving it hanging from the trailer king pin. I worry that would put some significant downward strain on the pin and then I would have to find some way to lower it to a dolly or ground level.Mamma has assured me she will contribute no effort to this exercise other than to laugh at me during the process- shes good at that --and my Geritol tonic says on the label I should never strain myself! So I got to figure this one out. Help!I suppose there is no way to train a hitch to simply step out of the bed on to the garage floor huh?

Get a folding engine hoist ( cherry picker) with an extension for the boom.

Mine is hanging on the king pin. Surely the few pounds it weighs compared to the 1800 pin weight will not damage the fifth wheel. :hI use the landing gear to raise it out of the bed rails.

I lift mine out. It's two pieces. I take off the "head" and then remove the "base".

I have a Husky that has a head that can be removed. Take the head off, and then the slide assembly. Not light but doable.Doug

You might find this topic interesting......http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27650921.cfm

Removing 5th wheel Hitch from pick up bed | Good Sam Community

ohiopicker
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
You can get a neat little electric hoist at Harbor Freight that will lift your hitch right out at the push of a button. Not only that, it's handy for other stuff too, like lifting the front of your lawn tractor up for changing a belt, etc. This is the one I have:

http://www.harborfreight.com/440-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-60346-9096.html
bobx2
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I might try attaching a snatch block to the garage rafters and use my winch on my ATV.
americanrascal
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
Well I did the deed yesterday. Was careful to do it when Momma wasn't around to laugh at me. Opted to use the block and tackle method in the garage beam.

EASY PEASY! Knocked it out by myself in about 5 minutes, could raise it with one hand with the tackle,tied it off, pulled the truck out from under it and lowered it onto a dolly. Didn't need the Geritol at all!

Learned this---- I need to strap it more evenly for raising and lowering and attach the block hook evenly to the strap. I had simply hooked the hook onto my closed Butch's Latch on the hitch and lifted it out. While it was stable and safe it wasn't quite level and even enough to manage properly. I will strap it and balance it evenly when re-installing.

For kicks I think I'll try the hang it on the king pin method next time.

Thanks for all the input here folks!
Campinghoss
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2014
I lift mine out with the landing gear as well. I built a small but sturdy table that sits under the hitch and I let it down until all the weight is off the king pin. Not that I am worried about the weight I do it so there is no chance of someone pulling the handle and dropping it on them.
It is also simple to put it back in. I just lift it up, back under it and lower it back to the rails. Never have to lift it.
oldbeek
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I have an RBW. I unbolt the rails from the bed. Then I just slide the whole thing off the back of the truck. I leave it standing up and walk it to the wall where it is stored vertical. To reload half the weight is on the truck bed when I tip it into the bed. Slide it into place and rebolt it.
jcullipher
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I am one of those that pulls the pins, raise it up and let er hang on the kingpin.
americanrascal
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Thanks all- a lot of good stuff here to chew on. Am going to give it a shot today. Because of all the vehicle shuffling I eventually have to do in this drill, I think initially I am going to opt on the first try to pull the large pin on the upper part of the hitch and lift it off rather than leaving on the king pin (might do that on a later project). Then after a swig of Geritol I am going to pull the 4 lower rail pins and try to impress Momma and lift it off(while she rolls on the floor laughing at me).

If this all fails I will await the arrival of the block and tackle I ordered from Amazon- which should easily attach to the garage ceiling beam and joist anchors I have in place.

If you all hear a bunch of wailing, screaming and hollerin you will know I messed up.

Thanks all for the good input and helping build my confidence in completing this drill!
bluefinger1
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
I know it is limited to 16,000 GVWR, but I have and love the Reese Goose Box. It has reduced the chucking issues I had, I've hurt my back way less, and I've used the bed of my truck more this year than when I had the B&W Companion.

http://www.lippertcomponents.com/goose-box
oilslick
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
A lot of replies with people hoisting the hitch out, but no one mentions if the are doing it with a king pin attach point or if they are hooking a chain on somewhere else on the hitch, just wondering how other people are doing it.
stetwood
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
I have a 14ft ceiling in my shed and just use a double pulley system. This cuts the weight in half, but takes 2x as long to lift. Sometime in the future I may have to go to a 3 pulley system so the DW can lift the hitch.