Just about dropped it!

moe f wrote:
What's going on??? Sixteen responses and haven't seen "BedSaver" mentioned. :B

OK, I'll confess. I have a Bedsaver and it has saved my bed twice.

on my b&w hitch i have to pin open to back into trailer, when it was new i did not have to do that, now that i have many miles on it i have to pin open , wish i didn't have to pin it open . i'm keeping this hitch ..

"I wasn’t aware you could have the handle pinned open while backing under and THEN remove the pin and close the handle?"

You can but there is no reason to do so. The option to pin open is to pull away if needed.

The jaws will just hit the king pin, but not close around, with the handle locked open. I do have to lock handle open on occasion to release, but not often. As soon as I pull forward, stop, get out, I immediately release/close handle. Like mentioned, same routine, every time, gives best results.

Jerry

jaycocamprs wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
It's all about routine no matter what you are doing!

Because I usually have pressure against the trailer. I always pin it open, so I always have to move the pin back. Back under, remove pin, swing handle shut and reinstall pin.

I wasn’t aware you could have the handle pinned open while backing under and THEN remove the pin and close the handle?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
It's all about routine no matter what you are doing!

Because I usually have pressure against the trailer. I always pin it open, so I always have to move the pin back. Back under, remove pin, swing handle shut and reinstall pin.

4x4ord wrote:
^^^ That's the problem... you have to do something for it to lock around the kingpin if you've locked the jaws open. A better design would unlock when you pull the lever and lock when you back into the kingpin. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate my B&W Companion, but, it could be improved.

This is what the TrailerSaver does.

My wife is a second set of eyes also! It's all about routine no matter what you are doing!

YEP distractions can cause lot's of issues just ask me! B-S-ing with family started to pull out of camp site and lots of noise......yep cord was still plugged in and pulled power pedestal over and had water spraying everywhere.

Lesson learned, wife is my bull dog as she tells people to stay away til we are done.

GMH wrote:
I contacted B&W and it is normal to have to pin it open to unhitch. That said, I think a small spring loaded ball and detent setup under the handle to lightly hold it open would be an improvement. The force of the kingpin hitting the jaws would close it.

I think that would be a reasonable request to B&W. As said by others there is a lot of visual to look at, and I am no different. I check my hitch regardless of which one I am using the Reese slider or the Andersen at least two or three times before pulling out .

What usually happens is someone gets distracted, the secret is not too, but thats sometimes easier said then done. Had a friend awhile back had his wife come out ,and started talking to him while he was unhitching, well he got distracted , drove out from under the fifth wheel ,and forgot to unplug the wiring to the truck, well I got to help him wire in a new one to the fifth wheel ,and it messed up the plug in the truck ,that too had to be replaced .

dieseltruckdriver wrote:

I wanted to keep my two posts separate, but I am really glad you caught that before you did anything serious! :)

Yeah, Me too!