Brain Lapse!

[empty_nest]

I guess it was bound to happen. The minute you take your eye off the ball, you screw up.

After 4 yrs. with the 5'r, the first time I ever failed to do the pull test, I dropped her on the box. Fortunately, it didn't ding it up too bad, but I could kick myself for being so stupid (lazy). I was just going to move it into the driveway to leave for a weekend camping trip.

[kayakcrazy]

Quite a few years ago Dw and I stopped at a mall to get some last minute items on our way out of town. While in the store someone pulled our pin and unhooked the 5th wheel hitch. We hopped in and started to pull away and down she came (no damage, not even a scratch). Two mods came out of that: 1) a small pad lock on the handle that engages and disengages the receiver 2) took a cheap cutting board and cut it into one inch strips. Counter sunk some holes and screwed to the underside of my 5th above the truck bed. Never did happen again but was ready if it did.

[laknox]

Don't have that problem with my B&W Companion. If I can pull the handle closed, it's hitched. I =still= to a pull test, though. 🙂

Lyle

[rhagfo]

empty_nest wrote:
I guess it was bound to happen. The minute you take your eye off the ball, you screw up.

After 4 yrs. with the 5'r, the first time I ever failed to do the pull test, I dropped her on the box. Fortunately, it didn't ding it up too bad, but I could kick myself for being so stupid (lazy). I was just going to move it into the driveway to leave for a weekend camping trip.

This is why I do the pull test as soon as I back into the pin. I also do a visual check of the pin and jaws.
Knocking on wood twice!!

[JCasper]

I've owned my fifth wheel for about 6 weeks now and stopped doing the pull test. I do however look at the jaws every time when I go to close up the tailgate, prior to pulling the jacks up.

[gbopp]

I think that after doing something many times with no problems, we all get a little complacent.

Thanks for the reminder to do safety checks. Fortunately you didn't have a lot of damage.

[shadows4]

Sorry to hear that. Got any pics? I have been lucky. I quit doing the pull test. I painted the jaws on my Reese white. Just take a quick peek at them after hooking up. So far so good. Good luck, John