5th wheel bed saver

I look at it both ways but chose to not use one. On one hand I at first thought it's a great idea and a safety advantage just in case. Why dont they all have one?

Then as I read all the posts in here about heavy trucks not using them I decided that NO this is very serious and I'm going to learn the proper way to hook up and take my time and learn it. I have painted the latch red, I cant miss seeing that it's closed, I triple check the handle and it's padlocked. I then do a light tug test with the 5er brakes locked and the landing gear is still almost down. If I'm dropping it off the back of there my method is too sloppy. BUT, the best thing to do is what makes you comfortable. If you think it's a good idea, then I think you are smart to use it. This stuff is not one size fits all.

rjxj wrote:
I look at it both ways but chose to not use one. On one hand I at first thought it's a great idea and a safety advantage just in case. Why dont they all have one?

Then as I read all the posts in here about heavy trucks not using them I decided that NO this is very serious and I'm going to learn the proper way to hook up and take my time and learn it. I have painted the latch red, I cant miss seeing that it's closed, I triple check the handle and it's padlocked. I then do a light tug test with the 5er brakes locked and the landing gear is still almost down. If I'm dropping it off the back of there my method is too sloppy. BUT, the best thing to do is what makes you comfortable. If you think it's a good idea, then I think you are smart to use it. This stuff is not one size fits all.

Good Answer, I do have a Blue Ox bedsaver I do not believe they are absolutely necessary,however I consider it cheap insurance.
Drops happen every day. Those that have experienced a drop never thought it could happen to them. But we all know. "It happens!"
Do whatever makes you comfortable.

fj12ryder wrote:

Bob Vaughn wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
B&W makes a nice one:)

I went to their web site and did not see anything....

That's a bit of an inside joke, as B&W owners consider their(our) hitches to be drop proof. And they are.

Sure hope you knocked on wood after that statement! :S

Nothing in this world is fool proof, there is always a fool that will figure out a way to make it fail.

Maybe I could call my Reese fool proof, I towed my 5er over 20 miles with the handle unlatched! :S Due to the design of the jaws they are forced shut the harder you pull the 5er. If a Reese passes the pull test, you are good.

Didn't have to knock on wood because the security of the B&W hitch doesn't depend on luck. :)

If it closes, it's hitched. Pure and simple. I've pulled mine down the road with the hitch handle not pinned, not recommended but no issues.

I had a boat trailer hitch tampered with at a rest area many years ago, so one thing I always eyeball prior to getting in my truck and driving off is my hitch. I do have the lever locked, but bad guys and "pranks" happen every day.

fj12ryder wrote:
Didn't have to knock on wood because the security of the B&W hitch doesn't depend on luck. :)

If it closes, it's hitched. Pure and simple. I've pulled mine down the road with the hitch handle not pinned, not recommended but no issues.

I know never to say never. If it was designed by man it is not 100% foolproof. I'm not suggesting you should rush out and buy a bedsaver but understand anything mechanical can fail.

It seems to me it is a great safety feature too! not only would it save the bed, but it would keep the pin from going all the way back to the gate. and if you have no gate or a V-gate...... right on the ground. bumper pull trailers have safety chains, why shouldn`t a fifth wheel have a similar system?

The price of a bedsaver is much cheaper than bed rail repairs and/or landing gear repair.

As I continue reading....on my supporting side I would add that also look at the difference between who is using this type of towing equipment and how they enter the picture.

Heavy truck side guys: trained/schooling, working with other very experienced truckers, testing.

RV industry: pull up to the dealer and possibly get a fantastic guy who rv's himself OR get a minimum wage guy who doesn't know much and may be being ridden to hurry up and get back to installing that epdm roof that has to go out today.

They are both going to go through the delivery gig and the customer could be a trucker or a guy who has never pulled anything OR his wife who happens to have to drive because her husband broke his right foot 2 days ago and they must pick up the 5er. They can all jump in after the dealer hitches up for them and drive away.

To me, It might actually seem like it would be mandatory.

If dropping the trailer was such a probable occurrence, then you'd see, literally, hundreds of trucks with bent bed rails and damaged tailgates. I don't remember ever seeing any, although I'm sure they're out there. With so many 5th wheel trailers circulating along the roads I'm sure some get dropped, just very few, certainly not enough to make bed savers mandatory.

Pretty much a non-issue IMO.

fj12ryder wrote:
Didn't have to knock on wood because the security of the B&W hitch doesn't depend on luck. :)

If it closes, it's hitched. Pure and simple. I've pulled mine down the road with the hitch handle not pinned, not recommended but no issues.

Done the same thing with my Huskey/Valley hitch.......if it closes it's hitched also regardless if handle is latched/pinned.

IMHO 99% of dropped trailers are due to 'operator' error vs mechanical failure.