removing fifth wheel hitch from truck bed

I am able to get the truck close to get the hitch back onto the rails. Within 1/2 inch. Then I pull the lever and drop the hitch onto the rails. It is not hard to maneuver the hitch back into the slot. I did this with my old hitch but have never tried it with my new one.

I have a B&W Companion, comes out in two "lighter" components. I'm 70 and I can pull it out by myself. I take my time, though....

wingsfan20 wrote:
IMHO Trying to rehitch will be next to impossible, trying to get the lock pin stabs back into the slots in the rails in truck bed. I have an electric hoist supported from garage ceiling. Simply remove hitch pins, connect hoist hook to hitch with chain and lock pins; raise hitch with tail gate down; pull truck forward; lower hitch onto furniture mover and move hitch to convenient location. Hoist and furniture mover available from harbor freight for reasonable price.

Wingfan, I do the exact same thing. I tried the old raise it and leave it attached to the FW thing. I could not get the slots to line up at all. Finally, had to set the hitch down on the bed of the truck, pull forward, muscle the hitch back into the slots, pin it, and move back.

I bought an electric hoist from Cabela's for about $125 a few years ago. I mounted it to the ceiling of the garage and follow your procedure. Much, much easier.

IMHO Trying to rehitch will be next to impossible, trying to get the lock pin stabs back into the slots in the rails in truck bed. I have an electric hoist supported from garage ceiling. Simply remove hitch pins, connect hoist hook to hitch with chain and lock pins; raise hitch with tail gate down; pull truck forward; lower hitch onto furniture mover and move hitch to convenient location. Hoist and furniture mover available from harbor freight for reasonable price.

If on a dead level spot, make sure you have enough lift to clear the tail of the truck and it will raise several inches when the weight of the trailer comes off the truck. You'll need at least a couple inches of lift. Clearing the tailgate going both ways takes a bit of planning ahead.

Unhitch the trailer from the truck.
Move the truck out so you can get to the hitch.
Remove the hitch pins from the bed rails and store in a safe place.
Above can be eleminated if you are agile enough to remove the hitch pins from the hitch rails with unhooking.
CAREFULLY rehook the trailer to the hitch.

SLOWLY lift the trailer. As you see the trailer just starting to lift the hitch STOP. Use a large screwdriver or crowbar gently lift on each of the four points where the hitch pins usually live.

Give the trailer a little more UP and continue to monitor the progress of the hitch. Use the screwdriver or crowbar as necessary to assure the hitch comes off the rails evenly. Any hang ups bring the trailer down. A second or two on the up switch at a time should be good. Too much up at a time and the hitch can bind and be a real bear to get back in place.

Once the hitch is clear of the rails and high enough to pass over the rear of the truck and down tailgate, pull forward slowly just to be sure.

Puttin it back in is a bit more difficult unless you can drop the hitch close to where the hitch pins go and use the crowbar or brute strength to set the hitch in the holes.

I raise my trailer to take the weight off the hitch, then remove the pins holding the hitch to the rails, then lift the trailer up until the hitch is free. Drive out from under the trailer and you are done. Of course one has to lower the tail gate first.