Thanks for pointing me to a Sidewinder!

MainerBob wrote:
Here's something I came up with to make hitching a lot easier. Line up your sidewinder perfectly straight. Then paint on some aiming marks on the arm and turret so you can line them up next time. Then paint small white marks (I used white nail polish) on the top of your hitch plate. Mine has a small notch there. Also put marks on the top of your bed right below the back window, right in the center. Then also mark the top edge of the tailgate, right in the center.

With all these marks you can confidently back right in to your hitch the first time and every time you hook up. Kinda like a bomb sight!

On it... I have some 3/16 steel wire I am going to mount so I can see in my rear view mirror, two on the TV and two on the Sidewinder, get all four in a line and back in.

Thanks again friends, this hitch is going to take the single biggest hassle I had and erase it.

TomHaycraft wrote:

Oh, one other thing, put a torque wrench on the 4 bolts at the top of the turret every few months, mine have had a tendency to loosen. Next time I drop it, I'll add a touch of loctite.

Yes! I checked the manual after 7-8,000 miles of towing and saw that 45 ft/lb spec. Put a torque wrench on the bolts and they were very loose. Glad I caught it before the disaster.

Glad you are happy with your SW..:C

I felt the same way about my PR SG.

(Including the weight, LOL!)

Guess I should have posted a thank-you for the threads I found that pointed *me* in the right direction also.

So (mini-hijack!)- thanks to all the PR SG owners out there who posted their experiences - prior to 2006..:)

It's been flawless - doing what it's supposed to do since '06!..:B

~

I have found that to be true also. Mine also has a green button that is pushed out in the front when it is all the way hitched. Can't really see it in the pic but it is there.

I have the 16 K Reese hitch too. I've heard about all the must be exactly straight, etc. I've found mine usually hooks up with no problem if even close but doesn't like for the trailer to be high at all.

No problems with mine and in my 3rd season with it.

Here's something I came up with to make hitching a lot easier. Line up your sidewinder perfectly straight. Then paint on some aiming marks on the arm and turret so you can line them up next time. Then paint small white marks (I used white nail polish) on the top of your hitch plate. Mine has a small notch there. Also put marks on the top of your bed right below the back window, right in the center. Then also mark the top edge of the tailgate, right in the center.

With all these marks you can confidently back right in to your hitch the first time and every time you hook up. Kinda like a bomb sight!

Had my sidewinder dealer installed on my 2010 KZ, TV 2006 Dodge Megacab. Worked like a charm. Hookup was an issue until the dealer installed a Husky 16W pivoting 5th wheel it made a world of a difference when hooking up.
GPG

if u take it appart and install it makes it alot easier

TomHaycraft wrote:
Yes, it is a bit of a beast. I've had 2 good years of service from mine. Once or twice a year I've dropped the arm/turret to re-grease the collar. I back the truck up, using the tailgate as a platform and place a floor jack under to support the weight and lower it. Doing it in that fashion, I think I could do it alone, but have had my able-bodied son (US Army - Combat Engineer) with me for assistance!

Oh, one other thing, put a torque wrench on the 4 bolts at the top of the turret every few months, mine have had a tendency to loosen. Next time I drop it, I'll add a touch of loctite.

Safe travels.

Great minds think alike! That is how I installed it, got some 'young backs' to put it up on my tailgate, and I took it from there, a full day. I was worried about those 4 bolts, mine came assembled they were way tight. After reading the installation sheet, I removed them, added Loctite and took them to 45lbs.. I will be checking them frequently.