backing up to the hitch

[3ares]

My hitch is a automatic Pullrite for shortbed trucks
To help me backup to the 5er hitch:
1) I put alignment marks on the hitch to center it
2) I put a white mark on the center of the hitch that is visible from the truck
3) Put a white mark on the center of the pin box
4) on the back window of the truck I put two red marks 1/2 inch apart dead center
5) align all white marks inside the red marks; your good to go

[gkainz]

You are right in the fact that before yesterday, I was completely ignorant of Superglides ... I now know a little. 🙂

[camperkilgore]

gkainz wrote:
"Lord, I apologize for that right there..."
Larry the Cable guy. 🙂

No criticism about the humor in you post, but I guess I'll go live with the pigmies in New Guinea now. Lol.

Probably everybody enjoyed your post including me. I've always been a fan of LTCG. Should have been some reference to midgets in the post too.

I just don't think a lot of folks are familiar with the Superglide, and it's quirks. I can relate, because I've been aggravated more than a few times with mine. I still rate it highly though. Just have to allow for the little niggles. (Larry might have fun with that statement).

[gkainz]

"Lord, I apologize for that right there..."
Larry the Cable guy. 🙂

[camperkilgore]

Folks, we need to take into consideration that the op is using a Pullrite Superglide hitch which has some peculiarities when hitching up.

I know a lot of you are thinking that it is simple to just back into the pin and just hitch up, because with other hitches if it is pretty close, the pin will still get into the jaws.

With the Pullrite auto sliding type of hitch, if the pin is not centered very well the pin will cause the plate on the hitch to turn and then the latch sometimes will not be triggered. Depending on the quirkiness of the various Superglide hitches, this can be a little aggravating, and it calls for a more precise method to get the pin in the center of the hitch.

So take that into consideration before assuming that these people are "overthinking" the task.

[mowin]

gkainz wrote:
Install laser levels in the bed of the TV, attached to the kingpin on the 5er and also alongside the TV roughly aligned with the 5er kingpin.

GoPro video cameras attached to TV bed with a clear view of the jaws of the hitch, and attached to 5er kingpin, pointing down onto the hitch.

Proximity sensors attached to kingpin and 5er hitch, with a beep frequency that increases as distance decreases, ending in a steady tone with the kingpin contacts the jaws of the 5er hitch.

Activate lasers, ensuring that the laser light paints the hitch and kinpin.

Enable cameras.

Enter TV cab and ensure all cameras are transmitting images to the in-cab laptop.

Exit TV and adjust cameras. Repeat until satisfied.

Begin backing slowly toward 5er, while watching the laser lights, the in-cab laptop and listening to the proximity beep.

Exit TV 4 times to check kingpin height.

Continue backing toward TV.

Exit TV to remove neighbor's cat that you backed over.

Return to TV and continue to back towards 5er.

Neighbor's dog just knocked over the laser levels. Shut down, exit TV, reset all lasers, cameras and start over.


OR .......

just eyeball the darn thing "close enough", back up - get out and eyeball as necessary, and "hitch up!" ... it gets easier with practice!

Now thats funny.....

[bobx2]

gkainz wrote:
Install laser levels in the bed of the TV, attached to the kingpin on the 5er and also alongside the TV roughly aligned with the 5er kingpin.

GoPro video cameras attached to TV bed with a clear view of the jaws of the hitch, and attached to 5er kingpin, pointing down onto the hitch.

Proximity sensors attached to kingpin and 5er hitch, with a beep frequency that increases as distance decreases, ending in a steady tone with the kingpin contacts the jaws of the 5er hitch.

Activate lasers, ensuring that the laser light paints the hitch and kinpin.

Enable cameras.

Enter TV cab and ensure all cameras are transmitting images to the in-cab laptop.

Exit TV and adjust cameras. Repeat until satisfied.

Begin backing slowly toward 5er, while watching the laser lights, the in-cab laptop and listening to the proximity beep.

Exit TV 4 times to check kingpin height.

Continue backing toward TV.

Exit TV to remove neighbor's cat that you backed over.

Return to TV and continue to back towards 5er.

Neighbor's dog just knocked over the laser levels. Shut down, exit TV, reset all lasers, cameras and start over.


OR .......

just eyeball the darn thing "close enough", back up - get out and eyeball as necessary, and "hitch up!" ... it gets easier with practice!

Now that there is funny. I can't believe how much trouble some folks seem to have, and how difficult some make it out to be to simply back in and hitch up. You don't have to be dead centered on the hitch, it's not a ball hitch. There is a reason for the V-notch in the hitch. It's called self centering... Back it in close, get out one time to check/adjust the height, or simply have your wife stand next to the trailer and adjust as necessary. Back in, check connections and GO. We are not trying to land a spaceship on some other planet, we are hitching up a trailer.

[gkainz]

Install laser levels in the bed of the TV, attached to the kingpin on the 5er and also alongside the TV roughly aligned with the 5er kingpin.

GoPro video cameras attached to TV bed with a clear view of the jaws of the hitch, and attached to 5er kingpin, pointing down onto the hitch.

Proximity sensors attached to kingpin and 5er hitch, with a beep frequency that increases as distance decreases, ending in a steady tone with the kingpin contacts the jaws of the 5er hitch.

Activate lasers, ensuring that the laser light paints the hitch and kinpin.

Enable cameras.

Enter TV cab and ensure all cameras are transmitting images to the in-cab laptop.

Exit TV and adjust cameras. Repeat until satisfied.

Begin backing slowly toward 5er, while watching the laser lights, the in-cab laptop and listening to the proximity beep.

Exit TV 4 times to check kingpin height.

Continue backing toward TV.

Exit TV to remove neighbor's cat that you backed over.

Return to TV and continue to back towards 5er.

Neighbor's dog just knocked over the laser levels. Shut down, exit TV, reset all lasers, cameras and start over.


OR .......

just eyeball the darn thing "close enough", back up - get out and eyeball as necessary, and "hitch up!" ... it gets easier with practice!

[silvercorvette]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
If I get lined up good enough to clear my 5vr tailgate then it will hit the mark and hitch up.

Love that 4 way pivot head and "V" shaped tailgate.

I only get out of truck once and that is to verify hitching, hook up cord/brake cable and finish up 5vr. Then it's crank up Willie 'ON THE RAD AGAIN' and hit it.

I could probably only get out of the truck 2 or 4 times but I am super cautious, for me I would rather get in and out 10 times and not do any damage than get out once or twice and scrape something.

[Old-Biscuit]

If I get lined up good enough to clear my 5vr tailgate then it will hit the mark and hitch up.

Love that 4 way pivot head and "V" shaped tailgate.

I only get out of truck once and that is to verify hitching, hook up cord/brake cable and finish up 5vr. Then it's crank up Willie 'ON THE ROAD AGAIN' and hit it.

Edited 'auto spell' correction............:S

[silvercorvette]

rskeans wrote:
When I was using a standard (non Andersen) 5th wheel hitch, I always used the manual trailer brakes to lock the 5ver wheels before I backed into the King Pin. It prevented movement of the 5ver if I hit it too hard.

What about wheel chocks? I have been taught by the members of this forum that the last thing you do is remove the chocks. It is OK to use the electric brakes with the chocks choks but to use the brake alone is risking an accident roll back or roll forward

[rskeans]

When I was using a standard (non Andersen) 5th wheel hitch, I always used the manual trailer brakes to lock the 5ver wheels before I backed into the King Pin. It prevented movement of the 5ver if I hit it too hard.

[Me_Again]

I have a weight set to the right height when hung on the break away cable. Set it until weight is just touching the ground. With my Hijacker hitch it will not close if to high, so I back in basically level. Chris

[mowin]

Had to reply... im new to the 5'er community. Just picked up my first 5'er Friday. Durring the PDI, the tech said he would help me hook up. I told him no thanks, I'll do it myself. But please observe, but don't say anything 'till I'm done hitching up, and then let me know what I did wrong, or rite.

I have to say it was easer than I expected. I checked the hight of the king pin when I was within a few inches from the hitch. Adjusted 5'er hight till it was 1" higher, and slid right in. I will admit, I was a little over-zealous with the throttle while backing in. Scarred the******ouf of me, and the tech, lol. I triple checked everything, and was good to go.

Point is, it was easy. I read thru this forum, and learned what and what not to do. Pay attention and everything will go smoothly......

[3_dog_nights]

I look out the back window as I back up......