What happens when you are distracted

Cummins12V98 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
But if you'll notice: it looks like the hitch arm is pinned open. Doing that almost guarantees that you'll drop the 5th wheel at some point.

This is the second B&W I have ever heard of have a trailer drop. The other had the arm pinned open also.

Note to self NEVER PIN THE ARM OPEN !!!!!!!!!

the reason for a pull test ya think!!!!

chevman

But if you'll notice: it looks like the hitch arm is pinned open. Doing that almost guarantees that you'll drop the 5th wheel at some point.

I have the same hitch. Checking to see that the arm is back in the locked position, breakaway cable and the pin is in the slot is item 15 on our departure check list. I also put strips of bright orange tape on the jaws so I can see at a glance they are in the locked position....oh item 18 on the list is a pull test.

TomHaycraft wrote:
That could have so easily been me last weekend!

New (to me!) truck with a long bed. I pinned the Reese Sidewinder required for my prior SWB truck (and removed the wedge) and tried to use a lube plate. Seemed to hitch fine, jaws closed, button on front of Reese R16 hitch pushed out, maybe not quite as far as before, hitch handle swung (mostly) into the lock position. Two red flags I didn't fully investigate.

Pull test was fine. I got it out from under the covered parking and on to level ground. Stopping to check level and give it another look-over. This time I saw that the arm of this hitch wasn't all the way into the locked position. Feeling under the hitch head, I found how little was caught and up in the correct position.

The thickness of the lube plate caused the king pin to ride a bit high. I unhitched, remomved lube plate, got out my grease, hitched back up.

I was lucky.

There is something about your type of hitch that has so many dropped RV's.

NO I AM NOT BASHING!!!!!!!

fj12ryder wrote:
But if you'll notice: it looks like the hitch arm is pinned open. Doing that almost guarantees that you'll drop the 5th wheel at some point.

This is the second B&W I have ever heard of have a trailer drop. The other had the arm pinned open also.

Note to self NEVER PIN THE ARM OPEN !!!!!!!!!

Jumbo, was that a Solitude that was dropped?

Boy !! I could hear all you B&W cheerleaders holding your breath, but no worries all is well in the world of the fan club. :B

jjj wrote:
That is why I bought a bed saver for my curt hitch. Not because of possible failure , not because of getting older and forgetting, is because one distraction can cause a whole lot of damage. I glad I spent 200.00 for my peace of mind. It happened to me many years ago but is not going to happen to me again.

I also have a Blue Ox bedsaver. I consider it cheap insurance.
Just like insurance. you hope you never need to use it. But when stuff happens you are glad you have it.
No one plans to drop their 5'er or have a need to use insurance but as we know stuff happens.

That is why I bought a bed saver for my curt hitch. Not because of possible failure , not because of getting older and forgetting, is because one distraction can cause a whole lot of damage. I glad I spent 200.00 for my peace of mind. It happened to me many years ago but is not going to happen to me again.

fj12ryder wrote:
Rusty, AFAIC if you have the handle locked open every time, at some point you'll will forget to remove the pin and the above will happen when hitching up. KISS. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this.

I only lock the handle open to unhitch, never to hitch. When hitching, I watch for the handle to move to the closed position to ensure that the kingpin is fully engaged with the jaws and then pin it closed and hook up the breakaway cable when I get out of the truck.

Rusty

Yep, I simply hadn't considered that it was an unhitching problem. And one that I have done before. No damage was done but it sure ticked me off. Distracted hitching or unhitching is a real recipe for disaster, or at least disgust. :)

Rusty, AFAIC if you have the handle locked open every time, at some point you'll will forget to remove the pin and the above will happen when hitching up. KISS. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this.