luggage wrote:
At the moment the 5th wheel is not hitched to TV. The hitch is in the locked position,that is to say the jaw is closed and not open. When I pull the lever out and back the jaw is open position. I just wondered if fifth wheel hitches require a lot of upper body strength to pull. Maybe need grease. Can you adjust them to reduce the required pulling to open jaws to receive the King pin?
No need to pull handle and OPEN jaw before hitching.
Just pull safety pin out and flip the latch up....then with the king pin plate set just slightly lower then the hitch plate back into hitch.
King pin will push jaw open and the jaw will close around king pin.
Do a visual check that hitch is latched (jaw wrapped around king pin) flip latch down and install safety pin.
When unhitching.....if handle is tough to pull place truck in neutral, take front off brake, let truck settle (slightly move) then put brake back on and truck in park. This will relief any tension on hitch jaw and king pin.
Try it and see if it is easier.