Hitching mirror on Pin box.

I posted a similar thread but my problem was climbing in and out of the bed. I can't see the hitch because the AUX fuel tank I installed blocks my view. My method was to climb into the bed and stick in a board into the closed hitches jaws (the board is approximately one inch by one inch by a couple feet long. The board sticking up was a perfect target my problem was climbing into and out of the bed multiple times. Someone suggested I install steps that allow me to climb up and have access to the bed without getting into it. I haven't had the steps fabricated yet but I already know that having the board sticking straight up from the jaws makes lining up easy. Sticking a board or broom handle in the jaws may be all you need to help you aim. determining a way to get it in and out with minimum effort is something you will have to experiment with.

PS I do like the soda bottle idea that newk suggested

The crossbed tank blocks the view of the hitch, however with some self stick velcro on the nose of the 5er, and on a fish eye mirror the problem went away.

newk wrote:
Okay, listen up. This is free and idiot-proof.
1. Get a plastic soda bottle (20 oz. should work)
2. Fill it half full of water and recap it. (Gives it some weight for stability)
3. Get a 4' string.
4. Tie one end of string around the bottle neck and the other end to a tiedown in your truck bed that you can easily reach.
5. Back your truck "into position".
6. Place soda bottle on hitch plate, just ahead of slot.
7. Back up more, lining up bottle and pin.
8. When you're within a foot or two, get out and raise or lower the 5er pin to line up with the plate.
9. Back into pin until hitch latches around/behind it. Bottle will fall to front of hitch (where you can retrieve it with the string).


I've heard/read of some people mounting a rod ahead of the plate that swings down upon contact with the pin, which sounds good also. My way will never cost more that a bottle of soda and a string. (The string is optional but will make it easier to retrieve your bottle should it roll out of reach.)

X2 Been using this method for 5 years. Instead of the string I use a pair of grabbers. Just grab the neck of the bottle and place it on the hitch plate.

Okay, listen up. This is free and idiot-proof.
1. Get a plastic soda bottle (20 oz. should work)
2. Fill it half full of water and recap it. (Gives it some weight for stability)
3. Get a 4' string.
4. Tie one end of string around the bottle neck and the other end to a tiedown in your truck bed that you can easily reach.
5. Back your truck "into position".
6. Place soda bottle on hitch plate, just ahead of slot.
7. Back up more, lining up bottle and pin.
8. When you're within a foot or two, get out and raise or lower the 5er pin to line up with the plate.
9. Back into pin until hitch latches around/behind it. Bottle will fall to front of hitch (where you can retrieve it with the string).


I've heard/read of some people mounting a rod ahead of the plate that swings down upon contact with the pin, which sounds good also. My way will never cost more that a bottle of soda and a string. (The string is optional but will make it easier to retrieve your bottle should it roll out of reach.)

I got some reflective orange duck tape and put a strip on the top shock mount of of my trail air pinbox

my 350 has a sliding glass rear window and the safety glass has an etching at the lower center...
took a few tries, but I figure out if I sit normally, use my rearview mirror to line up the orange tape just to the left of the etching, I'm lined up !!!

as far as height --- you GOTTA get one of these if you don't have an automated system --> Hookup memory level

at only about 7 or 8 dollars - worth it's weight in gold !!!!!

just set the bubble when you unhook and then when it's time to rehook, just raise the 5er up to the same place...

it's SO nice I may buy ten and just hand them out to any 5er owner without one !!!

I put a 99¢ spring clamp on the center of the hitch. There is a bolt there that I attach the spring clamp to. This clamp extends/projects the center of the hitch high enough that I can see it above the bed cover.
I then simply align the clamp with the pin as I back up. Problem solved more me.
I do like the mirror idea and may experiment with it.

Pipeman wrote:
I just use my outside mirrors to line up with my 5er, back in, WITH TGATE DOWN, get close to the fifth wheel, get out and make sure I'm lined up and at right height, then back onto fifth wheel slowly. Voila.

+1. I line up the pinbox with the middle of my back window. Keep it even with the truck. used to take me two tries or 3 but now I can hit it first time.

Sitting in the drivers seat, put an equal amount of trailer on each side of the fenders in the side mirrors. This should center you, get close and check for height.

Mine came with a built in mirror. Aux fuel tank prevents me from seeing hitch. Took a little getting use to but the mirror works fine.

I have a Master Lock Backup Camera that I lay the camera on the last fold of my cover aimed @ the hitch...perfect view.