locking the jaws on the hitch

[Campinfan]

OK, I am new to towing a fiver so I have a question regarding posts I have seen in the past. People talk about locking the hitch jaws so no one will open them when they are stopped for awhile. My question is, how does someone pull the handle to unlock when the weight of the trailer is on the hitch. I have a Hijacker hitch so maybe it is dependent on what hitch you use but there is no way to pull the handle on mine when the weight of the trailer is on it. Are all hitches this way or is it an urban legend (like the guy who was trying to siphon gas from a MH and siphoned from the black tank--impossible since there is no way to access the black tank from the side of any rig.)

The only way I see to do this is that someone would have to lower the landing gear to take the weight off the hitch, unlatch the hitch and then retract the landing gear again.

[time2roll]

Yea I want a narrow bed dually. Just enough room for a hitch and I am good.
No need to haul 4x8 plywood.

[Cummins12V98]

BillB3857 wrote:
I would have a really hard time reaching a lock on my release lever. The big hips on my dually would require very long arms. Mine won't make it and I'm 6'4".

I just stand on my tire and do all the hitching and unhitching. I have plans to design and build a pull out step just in front of the drivers side rear tire.

[jalichty]

I have a Reese slider and I lock the little "clamp" that goes into the groove on the handle used to open the jaws to release the hitch pin. If I don't have any rearward or forward pressure on the pin, I can open the jaws easily. But, I don't do it if I have not put chalks behind and in front of the wheels of the FW. I usually put the front legs down to the pads and then pull the handle so if something does happen, the trailer will still be sitting about level with the hitch, even it it moves a bit.

[BillB3857]

I would have a really hard time reaching a lock on my release lever. The big hips on my dually would require very long arms. Mine won't make it and I'm 6'4".

[bpounds]

I don't lock the handle. Just take a peek at it as I'm climbing back in the truck if we've been away for a moment.

But some folks are in love with locks and never pass up an opportunity to use one. Not a problem if that's you, but certainly not a necessity either.

[time2roll]

All four of my pins to the frame have small locks not for security but just to prevent a curiosity hazard.
Release lever has a large padlock but again just to discourage someone's curiosity.
Pullright hitch seems to operate better if it rides up a bit and likewise down a bit off the saddle. Yes I take most of the weight off but never all.

[Cummins12V98]

This is what I was referring to...

"I always release my Pullrite with weight on the hitch. Any front to rear tension however will prevent pulling the handle"

I have two locks holding hitch head to base and one on handle with breakaway cable on handle lock.

At least I won't have to say "I wish i used padlocks"

[wilber1]

Seattle Lion wrote:

wilber1 wrote:
If the trailer isn't pushing or pulling on the truck, the handle is easy to pull, hence the number of people who unhook before they lower the landing gear. I padlock my handle and also hook the break away cable to the same padlock.

You may want to reconsider locking the emergency brake cable to the padlock.If the hitch comes off your truck, the padlock goes with it and it is possible that the trailer brakes won't get engaged.

I attach my cable to a cargo tiedown on the bed. That way if the hitch goes with the trailer, the brakes will engage.

A possibility I suppose but a remote one considering how hitch is constructed. I often carry a lot of stuff in the bed including an inflatable boat in a bag behind the hitch. Finding a place for the cable where it won't be interfered with is quite a challenge. I once had the cable get hung up and pulled, luckily it was on a low speed corner in a camp ground.

[rhagfo]

ependydad wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I have not tried to pull my B&W handle with 4,500# sitting on it! IMHO that would be a BAD idea.

I can have weight off the hitch and not be able to pull the handle. When that happens I need to slightly back the truck to release the tension on the jaws.

Really curious why would someone pull the handle with the RV weight on the hitch???????

My question originates from the story of someone pulling the handle to a fifth wheel at a stop as a prank. I've always wondered about that and assumed it to be impossible w/ my B&W (since I can't seem to budge mine when it has weight on it).

The only time I've tried is when we accidentally didn't raise the camper enough.

That's the first that I've read about tension on the jaws. That hasn't happened to me yet.

Wow, I never fully lift the 5er off of the hitch before releasing the jaws!

My Reese will not, release if there is a rewarded pull on the pin, but as long as it is in a neutral fore aft position, I can release it with the full weight of the 5er on the hitch. The PIN apples NO up/down force on the hitch jaws.

The pulling of the handle is a very expensive PRANK, I may be replacing my clip with a small lock.

[Seattle_Lion]

wilber1 wrote:
If the trailer isn't pushing or pulling on the truck, the handle is easy to pull, hence the number of people who unhook before they lower the landing gear. I padlock my handle and also hook the break away cable to the same padlock.

You may want to reconsider locking the emergency brake cable to the padlock.If the hitch comes off your truck, the padlock goes with it and it is possible that the trailer brakes won't get engaged.

I attach my cable to a cargo tiedown on the bed. That way if the hitch goes with the trailer, the brakes will engage.

[2oldman]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
why would someone pull the handle with the RV weight on the hitch???????

Prank.

[wilber1]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I have not tried to pull my B&W handle with 4,500# sitting on it! IMHO that would be a BAD idea.

I can have weight off the hitch and not be able to pull the handle. When that happens I need to slightly back the truck to release the tension on the jaws.

Really curious why would someone pull the handle with the RV weight on the hitch???????

I can't see anyone doing it intentionally but people get distracted or in a rush and stuff happens.

[ependydad]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I have not tried to pull my B&W handle with 4,500# sitting on it! IMHO that would be a BAD idea.

I can have weight off the hitch and not be able to pull the handle. When that happens I need to slightly back the truck to release the tension on the jaws.

Really curious why would someone pull the handle with the RV weight on the hitch???????

My question originates from the story of someone pulling the handle to a fifth wheel at a stop as a prank. I've always wondered about that and assumed it to be impossible w/ my B&W (since I can't seem to budge mine when it has weight on it).

The only time I've tried is when we accidentally didn't raise the camper enough.

That's the first that I've read about tension on the jaws. That hasn't happened to me yet.

[Cummins12V98]

I have not tried to pull my B&W handle with 4,500# sitting on it! IMHO that would be a BAD idea.

I can have weight off the hitch and not be able to pull the handle. When that happens I need to slightly back the truck to release the tension on the jaws.

Really curious why would someone pull the handle with the RV weight on the hitch???????