hooking up a travel trailer

mitch5252 wrote:

fallsrider wrote:
Come back and give us a review of the Hitch Grip. Inquiring minds want to know...

Just used the HitchGrip on my Equalizer hitch head. Still REALLY heavy for me, but much less awkward to move around. I give it Two Thumbs Up and would buy it again.

That's good to hear! Thanks for letting us know.

fallsrider wrote:
Come back and give us a review of the Hitch Grip. Inquiring minds want to know...

Just used the HitchGrip on my Equalizer hitch head. Still REALLY heavy for me, but much less awkward to move around. I give it Two Thumbs Up and would buy it again.

mitch5252 wrote:

djgarcia wrote:
See if this helps clear up your questions. This how I used it---
1. line up your truck to back up to the trailer as usual or as if you didn't have the "hitch liner". Slowly back the truck until you think you are as close to the trailer hitch as you normally would. This should have your truck ball within an 1" or 2" over the the trailer hitch. Get out to recheck your position. Now back up SLOWLY until you feel or hear the trailer touch the "Hitch Alinger". Stop and visually check your positions again. your truck ball should be right under the trailer hitch. Now you just lower the trailer. Using the "Hitch Alingment" device does NOT require that the trailer actually move or slide enough to damage the trailer jack, it just gently pushes or flexes the trailer hitch to line up with the truck ball. I used it for 12 yrs. on a 32' trailer 1200K when loaded and never bent or broke any parts. This device makes loading and unloading trailers 90% easier and I no longer need another person to guide me when hooking up:):)

So, this device, if I'm kinda close to start with, won't try and make the trailer move any great distance, either side to side, or front to back? My Equalizer hitch head actually has quite a bit of movement in it (side to side)

The owner of the EZ company called me yesterday after I sent him the picture of my hitch. He said it will work, and if for ANY reason it does not, or I don't like it, I can send it back for a complete refund, minus shipping, within 60 days. He implied that even that 60 days is not a hard and fast return rule.

He indicated that the only problem for me will be getting the ball off the hitch head. I looked underneath and there is a bolt, maybe 1" or a little more in a very tight space. I will not have the strength to remove that bolt and put it back tightly enough. I guess I'm going to have to make a homemade pizza for a neighbor fella! :)

Hello Mitch,
I would suggest that you consider taking your hitch into a RV shop since they would all the right tools and could also use a torque wrench when putting it back together for safety reasons. It's not a "brain surgery" type job, as long as you have the correct tools i.e.
deep sockets big enough to fit your bolt.
good luck

mitch5252 wrote:
...How's a heavier trailer, with no wheel on the tongue jack, going to "slide" into position within the V guide?

I'm really hoping this thing could work for me because I jump in and out of the truck a LOT each time I hook up... :)

This is why I use the CIPA mirror. I back up the truck to where the ball is positioned under the trailer coupler. This is a very simple technique to me. Those with backup cameras accomplish the same thing.

The trailer never moves. Only your tow vehicle moves.

djgarcia wrote:
See if this helps clear up your questions. This how I used it---
1. line up your truck to back up to the trailer as usual or as if you didn't have the "hitch liner". Slowly back the truck until you think you are as close to the trailer hitch as you normally would. This should have your truck ball within an 1" or 2" over the the trailer hitch. Get out to recheck your position. Now back up SLOWLY until you feel or hear the trailer touch the "Hitch Alinger". Stop and visually check your positions again. your truck ball should be right under the trailer hitch. Now you just lower the trailer. Using the "Hitch Alingment" device does NOT require that the trailer actually move or slide enough to damage the trailer jack, it just gently pushes or flexes the trailer hitch to line up with the truck ball. I used it for 12 yrs. on a 32' trailer 1200K when loaded and never bent or broke any parts. This device makes loading and unloading trailers 90% easier and I no longer need another person to guide me when hooking up:):)

So, this device, if I'm kinda close to start with, won't try and make the trailer move any great distance, either side to side, or front to back? My Equalizer hitch head actually has quite a bit of movement in it (side to side)

The owner of the EZ company called me yesterday after I sent him the picture of my hitch. He said it will work, and if for ANY reason it does not, or I don't like it, I can send it back for a complete refund, minus shipping, within 60 days. He implied that even that 60 days is not a hard and fast return rule.

He indicated that the only problem for me will be getting the ball off the hitch head. I looked underneath and there is a bolt, maybe 1" or a little more in a very tight space. I will not have the strength to remove that bolt and put it back tightly enough. I guess I'm going to have to make a homemade pizza for a neighbor fella! :)

mitch5252 wrote:

djgarcia wrote:

fallsrider wrote:

mitch5252 wrote:
Okay, I'm doing some pondering here...

I have an 18' double axle trailer that does not have a ball on the tongue thing.

How could this work if the trailer won't move?

What do you mean by "does not have a ball on the tongue thing"?

What do you mean by "if the trailer won't move"?

Need clarification.

Thank you for asking the same questions I was wondering about. I just figured that I really didn't understand his comments or what kind of RV hitch he was using:):):)????? I could't figure out, as far as I know there are only 3 ways to hook up a trailer: regular TT with a ball hitch, 5th. wheel or the in bed kind of hitch that ranchers typically use!!! What do I know:):):)

Well, in the videos I've watched (boat trailers), the tongue jack has a wheel on it, and obviously, the whole trailer is lighter. In the video, the trailer rolls on its wheel into the "guide" and slides itself over the ball on the truck hitch.

How's a heavier trailer, with no wheel on the tongue jack, going to "slide" into position within the V guide?

I'm really hoping this thing could work for me because I jump in and out of the truck a LOT each time I hook up... :)

See if this helps clear up your questions. This how I used it---
1. line up your truck to back up to the trailer as usual or as if you didn't have the "hitch liner". Slowly back the truck until you think you are as close to the trailer hitch as you normally would. This should have your truck ball within an 1" or 2" over the the trailer hitch. Get out to recheck your position. Now back up SLOWLY until you feel or hear the trailer touch the "Hitch Alinger". Stop and visually check your positions again. your truck ball should be right under the trailer hitch. Now you just lower the trailer. Using the "Hitch Alingment" device does NOT require that the trailer actually move or slide enough to damage the trailer jack, it just gently pushes or flexes the trailer hitch to line up with the truck ball. I used it for 12 yrs. on a 32' trailer 1200K when loaded and never bent or broke any parts. This device makes loading and unloading trailers 90% easier and I no longer need another person to guide me when hooking up:):)

djgarcia wrote:

fallsrider wrote:

mitch5252 wrote:
Okay, I'm doing some pondering here...

I have an 18' double axle trailer that does not have a ball on the tongue thing.

How could this work if the trailer won't move?

What do you mean by "does not have a ball on the tongue thing"?

What do you mean by "if the trailer won't move"?

Need clarification.

Thank you for asking the same questions I was wondering about. I just figured that I really didn't understand his comments or what kind of RV hitch he was using:):):)????? I could't figure out, as far as I know there are only 3 ways to hook up a trailer: regular TT with a ball hitch, 5th. wheel or the in bed kind of hitch that ranchers typically use!!! What do I know:):):)

Well, in the videos I've watched (boat trailers), the tongue jack has a wheel on it, and obviously, the whole trailer is lighter. In the video, the trailer rolls on its wheel into the "guide" and slides itself over the ball on the truck hitch.

How's a heavier trailer, with no wheel on the tongue jack, going to "slide" into position within the V guide?

I'm really hoping this thing could work for me because I jump in and out of the truck a LOT each time I hook up... :)

fallsrider wrote:

mitch5252 wrote:
Okay, I'm doing some pondering here...

I have an 18' double axle trailer that does not have a ball on the tongue thing.

How could this work if the trailer won't move?

What do you mean by "does not have a ball on the tongue thing"?

What do you mean by "if the trailer won't move"?

Need clarification.

Thank you for asking the same questions I was wondering about. I just figured that I really didn't understand his comments or what kind of RV hitch he was using:):):)????? I could't figure out, as far as I know there are only 3 ways to hook up a trailer: regular TT with a ball hitch, 5th. wheel or the in bed kind of hitch that ranchers typically use!!! What do I know:):):)

mitch5252 wrote:
Okay, I'm doing some pondering here...

I have an 18' double axle trailer that does not have a ball on the tongue thing.

How could this work if the trailer won't move?

What do you mean by "does not have a ball on the tongue thing"?

What do you mean by "if the trailer won't move"?

Need clarification.

Okay, I'm doing some pondering here...

I have an 18' double axle trailer that does not have a ball on the tongue thing.

How could this work if the trailer won't move?