Dropped 5er with Pullrite SuperGlide?

[MNRon]

I recognize that the internet breeds paranoia. I've read several threads over the years about dropped fifth wheels on pickups, but another current thread got me to wondering. I have a Pullrite Superglide that I'm very happy with. The wrap-around jaws make it difficult to believe that they could release if closed properly, and it's hard to understand how they could be closed improperly.

All of that preamble is setting up the question. Has anyone actually dropped a fifth-wheel using a Pullrite Superglide? Not looking for "saw one dropped once" or "heard of one" etc. Just trying to understand if anyone has live experience with this problem when using a Pullrite.

As always, thanks.
Ron

[Cummins12V98]

johndeerefarmer wrote:

up2nogood wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I have only had mine a few months. I always do the pull test but for added insurance have one of these. Lots cheaper than a tailgate and new sides for your truck bed.

http://www.5thwheellatchkit.com/

Look at the bottom pics on the site listed. It is a B&W hitch. If you have their product you would have to get your face right up there to install the bar with this product. So if all you did instead is LOOK at the jaws to see they are wrapped around the kingpin and the hitch and kingpin plates are touching and the hitch handle is closed and locked it can't come un hitched.

Put the bar in place is just another step just like doing a visual.

Same is true with the Reese two jaw hitch.

He fails to realize, that all hitches require these same steps. the two are touching, the jaw is closed ,and the handle is locked. Good grief there is nothing else, unfortunately some do not do all the correct things resulting in a dropped fifth wheel.

Just because the jaws are closed doesn't mean that it's locked. On the Pullrite the jaw can close around the visible part of the pin and it still might not be locked. Furthermore, I can visually see that my added latch kit is in fact latched- no ifs, ands or buts.

I understand your system and I may do the same if I had a SB truck.

I look at the jaws closed around the kingpin and then lock the handle closed. It can't come undone at that point with the hitch I pictured above.

[johndeerefarmer]

up2nogood wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I have only had mine a few months. I always do the pull test but for added insurance have one of these. Lots cheaper than a tailgate and new sides for your truck bed.

http://www.5thwheellatchkit.com/

Look at the bottom pics on the site listed. It is a B&W hitch. If you have their product you would have to get your face right up there to install the bar with this product. So if all you did instead is LOOK at the jaws to see they are wrapped around the kingpin and the hitch and kingpin plates are touching and the hitch handle is closed and locked it can't come un hitched.

Put the bar in place is just another step just like doing a visual.

Same is true with the Reese two jaw hitch.

He fails to realize, that all hitches require these same steps. the two are touching, the jaw is closed ,and the handle is locked. Good grief there is nothing else, unfortunately some do not do all the correct things resulting in a dropped fifth wheel.

Just because the jaws are closed doesn't mean that it's locked. On the Pullrite the jaw can close around the visible part of the pin and it still might not be locked. Furthermore, I can visually see that my added latch kit is in fact latched- no ifs, ands or buts.

[Bird_Freak]

Out of 8 pages I think there are maybe 3 post that really answered the OP's question. Everyone else is pushing their hitches or pull test and everything else. Why can't folks here just answer the question? Is it just a chance to argue yours is better or what?
OP, I have a PR Superglide and have never had a problem of dropping and know of no others.

[Pete_k]

If the jaws are closed around the pin. You look to make sure along with do the pull test. Theres no way its coming out unless you hooked up high and the king pin is on top of the jaws and not down inside the jaws.
I would say 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 % of the people that dropped there trailers, it was there fault. That other person know its there fault but will not tell you it was.

When a king pin is in the jaws bottom flange is below the jaws. Your going to rip the king pin out of the unit. Or the 5th wheel off the truck. Before it fails.
I for one always even when I was running over the road in a Semi. I go to the back and look to make sure its inside the jaws and not up on them. The jaws are closed around the pin. Also that the pull lever is in and locked. Then do the pull test. And in 30+ years have only had one trailer come unhooked.. That one was from a broken hitch. And caught the trailer before it hit anything. AS I was doing the pull test when it happened.
Good luck and be safe.
Pete

[justafordguy]

Always do a pull test.

[MarkTwain]

Doing a "Pull Test" 🙂
You Have everything to gain and nothing to loose:):)

[cummins2014]

Hannibal wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I have only had mine a few months. I always do the pull test but for added insurance have one of these. Lots cheaper than a tailgate and new sides for your truck bed.

http://www.5thwheellatchkit.com/

Look at the bottom pics on the site listed. It is a B&W hitch. If you have their product you would have to get your face right up there to install the bar with this product. So if all you did instead is LOOK at the jaws to see they are wrapped around the kingpin and the hitch and kingpin plates are touching and the hitch handle is closed and locked it can't come un hitched.

Put the bar in place is just another step just like doing a visual.

Same is true with the Reese two jaw hitch.

He fails to realize, that all hitches require these same steps. the two are touching, the jaw is closed ,and the handle is locked. Good grief there is nothing else, unfortunately some do not do all the correct things resulting in a dropped fifth wheel.

[Dave_H_M]

larry barnhart wrote:

Dave H M wrote:
I don't recall doing a pull test ever. I see no reason for it if the jaws have closed and locked.

I do do a brake test though.

why do a brake test they worked the last time you hit the brakes.
I know I m being silly but I would do both it is so easy.

chevman

Larry, if you are following this thread I think it is apples and oranges. hitch is mechanical - brakes are electric and cannot be checked visually like a set of jaws. :h

[Hannibal]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I have only had mine a few months. I always do the pull test but for added insurance have one of these. Lots cheaper than a tailgate and new sides for your truck bed.

http://www.5thwheellatchkit.com/

Look at the bottom pics on the site listed. It is a B&W hitch. If you have their product you would have to get your face right up there to install the bar with this product. So if all you did instead is LOOK at the jaws to see they are wrapped around the kingpin and the hitch and kingpin plates are touching and the hitch handle is closed and locked it can't come un hitched.

Put the bar in place is just another step just like doing a visual.

Same is true with the Reese two jaw hitch.

[Cummins12V98]

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I have only had mine a few months. I always do the pull test but for added insurance have one of these. Lots cheaper than a tailgate and new sides for your truck bed.

http://www.5thwheellatchkit.com/

Look at the bottom pics on the site listed. It is a B&W hitch. If you have their product you would have to get your face right up there to install the bar with this product. So if all you did instead is LOOK at the jaws to see they are wrapped around the kingpin and the hitch and kingpin plates are touching and the hitch handle is closed and locked it can't come un hitched.

Put the bar in place is just another step just like doing a visual.

[johndeerefarmer]

I have only had mine a few months. I always do the pull test but for added insurance have one of these. Lots cheaper than a tailgate and new sides for your truck bed.

http://www.5thwheellatchkit.com/

[milo]

Haven't drop it yet...knock on Pinocc's head. After pulling TT's for over 30 yrs we switched to a 5er. I practiced hitching & unhitching in the driveway maybe 25 times so I had an idea of what I was doing when it came time out in the wild. Well on our 2nd trip while trying to hitch back up after out camping in a FSCG, the truck was on a slight side to side slant and also a front to back slant. Took 3 or 4 tries to hook it up but finally got it. Did pull test... thought all was good. Got home & couldn't get it unhooked. Pulled handle, jaws wouldn't open. Had to do some prying and the little lever under the jaws just fell off. Jaws opened and finally got it unhitched after some work.
When I hitch I bent the lever that pivots under the jaws and it wedged the pin in there with the jaws around the pin. Was lucky we didn't drop it on the way home. Had to call Pullrite & get them to send me a new lever. Also left the jaws open while unhitched, Now each time after unhitching I close the jaws and reopen em before I hitch op again & make sure .... I really make sure everything is totally lined up & the pin is exactly where it is suppose to be on the hitch when backing up to the pin. May take me a few extra minutes but could save me some bucks.

[CJW8]

MNRon wrote:
Has anyone actually dropped a fifth-wheel using a Pullrite Superglide? Not looking for "saw one dropped once" or "heard of one" etc. Just trying to understand if anyone has live experience with this problem when using a Pullrite.

As always, thanks.
Ron

Yes I have dropped mine once in 2007. First time hook up with new SuperGlide and new to me 5th wheel.

I couldn't get it to latch. Tried for an hour in hot sun till past dark. I became frustrated. Tried hitting it a little harder with no latching occurring. Finally I thought I would back it up a bit as I knew I couldn't move forward. I lifted the front jacks some inches and backed up 1-2 feet. Stopped truck but RV kept rolling about another foot. BOOM! I didn't want to look! It dropped but the front legs caught it. It just barely made contact with the truck, no real damage.

I finally unpinned the head from the SG and manually shoved it onto the pin so I could see what was happening. The trip lever was not being moved far enough to trip the latch. I found an appropriate size piece of rubber hose and cut a 1/2' long piece of it and shoved it on the latch roller to make it slightly larger. Walla! It worked. I have had many connections since then. I always make sure the handle is all the way in the lock position and look to make sure the jaw is closed. I also never hook/un-hook without trailer wheels choked. I use a checklist.

To this day I do not know why this adjustment was necessary but I saw no way to adjust the latching trigger mechanism so I always wondered if my pin was slightly undersized.

[wilber1]

If you forget to put the landing gear down before you unhook, it won't matter what kind of hitch you have, Murphy never sleeps.

[CarlT100]

Sorry to hear that. I hate a freaking thief!