Hard to pull release handle

[luggage]

I just purchased my first fifth wheel (Mountaineer) and dealer installed a Husky 16K slider hitch (short bed F250 diesel)in TV. I am embarrassed to admit what I am about to say but I am having a heck of a time pulling the handle to open the hitch for the hook-up. Either because I had back surgery last year and am still having some issues. Even though I'm 70 I considered myself fairly fit with exception of the back. I think I will try to stand on a stool to give me more leverage because standing on the ground it's all I can do to pull the lever. Do all fifth wheel hitches require the same amount of pull as the one I have. Can the hitch be safely modified to make it easier to pull without compromising the effectiveness of the hitch? If not I am going to have to figure what muscles are key to the pulling (i.e. shoulder, arms and wrist) because I really can't put any stress on my back and pulling from the ground reaching over the side of the bed maybe part of the problem. May be I am just doing it wrong. Definitely need to talk to my RV dealer. Thanks for listening and any advice will be appreciated.

[wittmeba]

It should not be difficult to release the latch from the kingpin.

Can you identify which locking style you have? A, B, C or D or other if there is one.



The clamshell WILL be forced open by the kingpin when hitching. As you push the kingpin into the jaws the arm will extend. I believe the clamshell style is best as I always knew when the kingpin was fully seated in the hitch as the handle would snap into the return position when fully seated.

It seems to me that the only time there was a need for any force is when the trailer is pulling toward the rear against the locking jaws. If you block the RV wheels at the rear and push the trailer/truck against the blocks, the pressure should be released and the arm should release easily.

I do not know the operation of the other types of latches.

[Pipeman]

I have a dually so I use a 2 step folding stool. I sometimes find that I have to move the truck into reverse to take pressure off of the hitch. The 5er is chocked before I pull the handle. When on the road I put the stool in front of the rear seat on the drivers side. Things disappear from the bed of the truck when going down the road. When the truck and the 5er are in the right position, the handle will release without hardly any muscle power. My 35 cents worth.

[Old-Biscuit]

Been hitching up that way with my 16K Husky every week for the past 7 yrs.
Works like a charm.
King pin pushes against jaw.....handle moves out......king pin slips past jaw.......handle snaps shut/jaw wraps king pin.

AFAIK other than sliding bar type hitches.....should work.

[avvidclif1]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

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.

I also have the Husky 16k. If you don't pull the handle you're not hooking up. It won't force the hitch open AFAIK.

X2 on once trailer is set up and your ready to unhitch put the TV in neutral and let the truck settle. Set the emergency brake and put it in park. That takes the load off the hitch and it's not hard to pull the handle.

[copeland343]

X2 on what Old-Biscuit said.

[Old-Biscuit]

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.

[Slownsy]

Rhagfo try to red on in his follow op next post instead of being
a smart a-
Frank.

[rhagfo]

jimwooster wrote:
I have the Husky 16k and fought with it too. Discovered that once you get set up either to hook or unhook once you lock in the hitch just put the truck in neutral and it takes the pressure off. Works every time.

Great way to see your truck roll down the next slight grade!

[Peg_Leg]

I don't have problems with my handle, but I have back and hip problems and standing on one leg doesn't help. With the higher bed rails on my truck I needed help just reaching the latch lever and retaining pin on my B&K. I carry a folding 2 step stool just inside the bed. The stool has a curved top that put a swim noodle on to keep from scratching the truck.

I claim no originality in this idea, like most of my other idea's I stole it from someone else.

[Grillmeister]

Deleted

[copeland343]

You can use spray lube I lube mine every few months makes a big difference. Leave the hitch in the closed position on a Husky 16k with J jaw when loading just make sure lock is open and pin is out. You only have to open jaw if you have the Husky 16kS with the straight bar. Check this website http://www.huskytow.com/

[luggage]

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?

[jimwooster]

jimwooster wrote:
I have the Husky 16k and fought with it too. Discovered that once you get set up either to hook or unhook once you lock in the hitch just put the truck in neutral and it takes the pressure off. Works every time.

Just a note. Always put the truck back in park. Neutral just takes the pressure off the hitch

[jimwooster]

I have the Husky 16k and fought with it too. Discovered that once you get set up either to hook or unhook once you lock in the hitch just put the truck in neutral and it takes the pressure off. Works every time.

[Kountryguy]

With mine, I chock the wheels, then put truck in reverse slightly-set parking brake, then try to pull the release.