Easiest 5th hitch to connect for 1 smaller woman?

[Mamacast]

I am wondering if there is a difference in difficulty for connecting your FW depending on the hitch you have? We are getting our first FW and will be purchasing the hitch at the dealer. They sell Pullrite but I am wondering how the TrailerSaver Air-Rides compare in terms of ease of connecting? Thanks for any replies. If it matters it is an 8 ft bed.

[Me_Again]

The latch handle on the B&W head is almost a zero force item. It swings easy to unlock. To hitch you swing it forward, and when you back in to snaps back the position to be pinned or locked for travel.

I got mine last fall after 18 years with a Hijacker sliding bar that I loved. Hijacker and B&W may be the only standard fifth wheel hitches now that are not made in china.

Many love their Andersen hitches, however the requirement of safety chains in many states, the extra lifting and the aignment issues keep many with a standard traditional 5th wheel hitch. Chris

[Traveler_II]

There is a learning curve for any hitch. In the past we've had a Reese, moved up to a B&W and three years ago bought our Trailer Saver air hitch. Each was better but we really like the Trailer Saver for the way we RV. We have two sticks with a magnets, we put one on the hitch and one on the pin and it make it easy to like up, works with any hitch, and I can do it by myself. We always do a pull test, put the brakes on the trailer and let the truck pull forward a bit to make sure the hitch is hooked up properly; you do this with any hitch. We had motor homes before the fiver and I find it is easier to hook up the trailer than hooking up the tow car to the MH.

[MFL]

The B&W hitches are all easy to hook/unhook! They all operate in a similar manner, like the one pictured above. My B&W hitch is easy to use, at any angle, whether the truck is crooked, one side of truck higher, just doesn't matter.

For the OPs use, I would recommend the 16K B&W Patriot. IMO, this is the best standard FW hitch available for the money spent. You just won't be unhappy with this hitch, and yes, one woman can hook/unhook by herself! A short person will need a step stool to reach the safety pin. I am 5' 10" and need a little step stool to reach the safety pin. The jaw opening arm is easily reached without a step.

Good luck with your upcoming FW experience!

Jerry

[SkiSmuggs]

A couple of mentions of pulling the fiver lever to disconnect reminded me of the problems I had sometimes with tension preventing that and having to jockey the truck back and forth to get the stars to align and allow the lever to pull. I haven't had any problem like that since going with the Andersen Ultimate at the start of this season. I would say that it has been the easiest to connect and disconnect by far.

[Cummins12V98]

Solid simple to operate with NO question if you are hitched or not.

Compare to any other hitch side by side.

B&W RVK3600 in pic.

Close and lock handle look to see 1" thick jaws are closed around kingpin, it's LOCKED no question.

[BB_TX]

csamayfield55 wrote:
....................You have to pull the lever toward you to unlatch the jaws and is almost impossible for her. I think almost any of the hitches that opperate like this would be difficult......
........
Chris

Typically due to pressure on the jaws. By bumping the truck back into the hitch the release is easy. My previous Pullrite Super 5th and my current Reese Elite both release with a light pull that way.

[transamz9]

csamayfield55 wrote:
My Mom is 68 YO. She has a 5er she lives in and is very independant. She wants to do it all herself. What SHE has found out is that the hardest thing to hitching and unhitching with her setup is pulling the lever to unlock the jaws of the hitch. Her hitch I believe is a Reese 16K slider. You have to pull the lever toward you to unlatch the jaws and is almost impossible for her. I think almost any of the hitches that opperate like this would be difficult.

The Andersen does not work like this. It has a remote pin actuation handle the it VERY easy to operate. It is located under the 5th wheel overhang and is positioned for ease of use. Pull the lever and you are free. The new adapters have a funnel to guide the ball into the socket so you have more flexibility in being off center and the thing is amazingly light to remove if you need to.

If and when she needs to replace that POS Reese this is what I am going to get her into.

Chris

Other than being heavy to put in and out of the truck I don't think you will find a normal 5th wheel hitch easier to operate than the B&W.

[csamayfield55x]

My Mom is 68 YO. She has a 5er she lives in and is very independant. She wants to do it all herself. What SHE has found out is that the hardest thing to hitching and unhitching with her setup is pulling the lever to unlock the jaws of the hitch. Her hitch I believe is a Reese 16K slider. You have to pull the lever toward you to unlatch the jaws and is almost impossible for her. I think almost any of the hitches that opperate like this would be difficult.

The Andersen does not work like this. It has a remote pin actuation handle the it VERY easy to operate. It is located under the 5th wheel overhang and is positioned for ease of use. Pull the lever and you are free. The new adapters have a funnel to guide the ball into the socket so you have more flexibility in being off center and the thing is amazingly light to remove if you need to.

If and when she needs to replace that POS Reese this is what I am going to get her into.

Chris

[Mamacast]

ljr wrote:

Mamacast wrote:
Thanks all, I was more concerned with the actual attaching of the trailer to the hitch, our TT is quite rigorous with the stabilizers and wanted to see if one was easier than another. While the Anderson sounds like the ticket to get the hitch out of the truck I won't be tackling that, it was mainly to be able to attach and detach at the campsite. The suggestion for the wheel step is a great reminder. Thanks all!

Hitching a TT with a weight distributing hitch is much more work than a fifth wheel.

So that begs the question, can you hook up without a second person? My husband and I had to be a team to line up the TT ball hitch....

[hone_eagle]

You mention trailersaver but not the model ,mine has a binkley head and is not forgiving when hitching.
The jaws protrude into the 'V' and it is necessary to be almost as precise as a ball hitch.
My old reese was a snap.

[ljr]

Mamacast wrote:
Thanks all, I was more concerned with the actual attaching of the trailer to the hitch, our TT is quite rigorous with the stabilizers and wanted to see if one was easier than another. While the Anderson sounds like the ticket to get the hitch out of the truck I won't be tackling that, it was mainly to be able to attach and detach at the campsite. The suggestion for the wheel step is a great reminder. Thanks all!

Hitching a TT with a weight distributing hitch is much more work than a fifth wheel.

[Mamacast]

Thanks all, I was more concerned with the actual attaching of the trailer to the hitch, our TT is quite rigorous with the stabilizers and wanted to see if one was easier than another. While the Anderson sounds like the ticket to get the hitch out of the truck I won't be tackling that, it was mainly to be able to attach and detach at the campsite. The suggestion for the wheel step is a great reminder. Thanks all!

[ljr]

If things are setup and aligned correctly, hitching/unhitching is not all that physical.

Leveling could take a little muscle if you have manual jacks. Installing/removing the hitch could too.

I've owned 2 Trailersavers but I don't really think that would make much difference in your case.

[RustyJC]

If you're going to be operating the hitch, you might consider dropping by Tractor Supply and picking up a tire step. It only takes a few seconds to fit it over your truck's rear tire, and this model is very sturdy (rated for 300 lbs). I fold mine up and keep it in the rear of the truck bed for hitching and unhitching.

Rusty

[WTP-GC]

I was kinda wondering the same thing:
Easiest to install/remove or easiest to hitch up.
If you're talking about easiest to install/remove, then the Andersen wins hands-down.
If you're talking about easiest to hitch up, then I'd say there's nothing in particular that one hitch offers over the other to determine a clear winner.