Another drop

B S alert !!
I've been around GN and 5th wheel hitch trailers most of my 70+ years and will say I've seen a drop with every jaw type made. And thats true on just this website with several sliding bar drops.
I will say the vast majority of drops were from a high pin. Once any jaw type is latched around the pin its not going to just come out. If it does then something has broken and allowed the pin to be released.

mr. ed wrote:

shadows4 wrote:

Bipeflier wrote:
Happened while operating the slide hitch.

SIMPLE: HE PULLED THE WRONG LEVER!

That sucks.

X2

I don't think it's possible to pull the handle that releases the pin until the weight of the trailer is removed by lowering the landing jacks. At least that's the case with my Hijacker hitch. Perhaps other hiches operate differently.

Hijacker, no. Now on my RBW sliding bar hitch, yes you could pull the handle and open it with the fiver attached.

Still, I never have dropped a fiver. Other than this thread, the only other time in over 10 years here I have heard of a dropped fiver with a sliding bar hitch was one where mechanical failure (a retaining spring broke) and the slide worked its way open.

Other than that, dropped fivers and Reese hitches are normally included in the same sentence.

shadows4 wrote:

Bipeflier wrote:
Happened while operating the slide hitch.

SIMPLE: HE PULLED THE WRONG LEVER!

That sucks.

X2

I don't think it's possible to pull the handle that releases the pin until the weight of the trailer is removed by lowering the landing jacks. At least that's the case with my Hijacker hitch. Perhaps other hiches operate differently.

Personally, I don't know how to high hitch my 5er into my hitch. Guess I never tried.

avantidave wrote:
I just installed an Andersen Ultimate hitch. This solves the potential drop problem with a traditional 5th wheel hitch. I am very pleased with my new hitch.

Oooh, I doubt that statement will pass unchallenged. :)

I just installed an Andersen Ultimate hitch. This solves the potential drop problem with a traditional 5th wheel hitch. I am very pleased with my new hitch.

JIMNLIN wrote:

Last week this happened when operating the slide hitch when getting ready to come home from wherever they were.

Looks like the same truck in another dropped thread some years ago. Some one had vandalized his hitch while in a interstate rest area. As he accelerated away the trailer landed on the bed and on out through the tail gate and onto the on ramp. Had nothing to do with hitching procedures or the owners age.

Regardless of any of the reasons a 5th wheel trailer can land on the trucks bed a Bedsaver or Butch's safety pin is a good investment.

Lots of hypocritical comments being made about the victem when we have no idea of the circumstances.

After you paint the jaws white buy a padlock and use it as part of you hitching procedure. Carry an xtra key in the TV

I found that when I do a Pull-Test, that if the elevator feet are an inch off the ground, Once you pull forward the front of the trailer drops a few inches. And the feet will dig in to the ground. So I keep the feet about 2-3" above the ground. So when the front of the trailer drops, the feet won't hit the ground and bend the front legs. Yet if the trailer drops, it only drops a small amount. And will not impact the truck rails.

But with the Pullrite hitch, I have never had it let go, once the jaws are closed. High hitching a Pullrite will not allow the jaws to close.

azjeffh wrote:

Thats_Ok wrote:


In a nutshell:
After backing under the hitch and watching the handle drop or jaw-lock.
Pull or "tug" forward slightly to make sure the truck doesn't come away from the hitch before raising the front landing legs.

Just don't drag the trailer with the feet down.

I believe you should raise the legs until they're just slightly off the ground before attempting to pull it. Wheels chocked is best but electric brake may work ok also.

Azjeffh, I disagree with the raise the legs, once you put all the pin weight on the hitch, if high hitched it will be very difficult to pull the pin over the hitch.
I have wheels chocked back in, with the pin box about an inch low to the hitch. As soon as the jaws shut do two quick tugs forward.
To those the go oh the strain on the LG, chocked wheels, and there is some play in the LG anyway.

Bipeflier wrote:
Happened while operating the slide hitch.

SIMPLE: HE PULLED THE WRONG LEVER!

That sucks.

X2