fifth wheel hooking up guides

KeithAS wrote:
Trailer aids (magnetic poles), left over from the TT. One on center top of the pin box, one on center of the 5th wheel mounting bar. Head in the center of the head rest and watch the mirror. Perfect line up every time. When the pole is knocked over, get out and make the final height adjustment with the landing gear. Back in the last foot. Hitched.

I do the same. I get out and check it a few times to make sure I'm at the correct height. Works pretty good!

Years ago I only had to look down one side to hook up the flat bed or the horse trailer. But I was doing it several times a week. Now I am hooking up a few times a year so I prefer to use what guides I have available. The telescopic tennis balls seem to be the easiest and fastest for me and they work for any trailer.

I had a back up camera on my license plate frame for hooking up my TT. Since I have a tool box in the bed, I decided to move the camera to the tool box. I put white tape on hitch and center of king pin box. (This view also shows me if I forgot the tail gate!)

Someone mentioned that their dually fenders are the same width of the trailer and they line those up. So, when you are hooked up and straight with a single wheel truck, look in the side mirrors and have co-pilot add a piece of tape to the trailer in line with bed of truck on both sides. Just a thought.

Fabguy wrote:

Tennessee_Nomad wrote:
I use my rear view mirror. I hit the king pin dead on every time.

This.

I assume you can see both the hitch and pin in the rear view mirror.

Many like my self because of a tool box can not see the hitch in the rear view mirror.

That is why I use the three markers. One on the mirror, one on the rear window and the third on the trailer in my case the pin box.

I glued a magnet to a wooden dowell rod. I stick it on the hitch in line with center. Then I use that to guide me.

Use your side view mirrors. How do you think semi drivers hook up to their trailers? Get close enough to the trailer, get out, look to see whether you have to adjust the height of the king pin and then back slowly into the 5er until you feel/hear the hitch close. You can use your rear view mirror in the truck as you back into the king pin, also. Get out look to make sure you are connected and that you are not high hitched. It's really not that hard.

Tennessee_Nomad wrote:
I use my rear view mirror. I hit the king pin dead on every time.

This.

I find the easiest way to get back to the same height as when I unhooked is to keep a china marker in the bin closest to my landing gear switch and make a mark on the landing gear where it exits the fixed housing prior to pulling out from under the fifth wheel. When I am ready to leave I return the height to this mark and am perfect every time. Just remember to use a little wd40 to clean off the marks once in awhile. It serves as a nice lubricant also. I am sure many others use this method.

I also have a cover that is hard to see over and when it's an issue I have found it much easier to let my wife back the truck in while I direct verses the other way around. She usually hits the spot first time around without any mumbling under my breath from me.

Dave H M wrote:
John, I just cannot bring myself to trust that Hoppy completely. ole doubtful Thomas always has to get out and look.

Never found it wrong though. :S

That's ok Dave. Never hurts to double check. I still do too, but I find I don't get out as many times. I can feel the hitch hit the pin box. Then sometimes I will get out and double check my height. Like you said, "Never found it wrong though. "

Dave H M wrote:
John, I just cannot bring myself to trust that Hoppy completely. ole doubtful Thomas always has to get out and look.

Never found it wrong though. :S

Look twice, crush once?