Un-Hitching a 5th Wheel

Just looked at Amazon and found these - "MaxxHaul 70073 Solid Rubber Heavy Duty Wheel Chock with Eyebolt". Mine look like them. They weigh over 7.5 pounds - each.

These are identical to the ones I bought at Harbor Freight which are a little cheaper. Combine that with the 20-25% off coupon they always have and its a better deal.

Last time I was in the NT Store the #1 best seller was under $5 on sale... I seen them for that price several times.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&ipp=48&Ntt=tire+chock

avvidclif1 wrote:
Chocking the tires should be #1 and in bold red print.

Don't buy the pretty yellow plastic ones. Northern Tool has some hard rubber ones with a handle on sale for <$5.

Absolutely. Chock the wheels FIRST after you get out of the cab.

And the chocks get picked up LAST after you are hitched up.

I have the heavy duty rubber ones with the eyebolt - I threaded some nylon line and tied about a 1 foot loop so they can be easily picked up and wacked against something to shake off the dirt. They are heavy compared to the cute little plastic ones, but the trailer will never move. I use 2 on each side. I carry them in the P/U bed right by the tailgate.

Just looked at Amazon and found these - "MaxxHaul 70073 Solid Rubber Heavy Duty Wheel Chock with Eyebolt". Mine look like them. They weigh over 7.5 pounds - each.

Chocks are the first items set in place, both roto chocks and wheel chocks, and the last items to be stored AFTER hitching back up to truck.

#1, remove tailgate before you hitch up. Leave it at home.

#2, Probably a good practice to lower the legs a bit. I do not really do this unless I have a leveling issue.

#5, I prefer to have some weight on the hitch. But yes remove most of the weight.

#6, I leave the rear stabilizers retracted until all is unhitched, level and done.

#7, chock the tires... this is #1 for me. But make sure you are level side to side first.

#10 & #11, I disconnect these before I pull the release lever.

#13, yea I want one of those. Ignore my leveling comments above.

I always put blocks behind the rear trailer wheels than back up against them. with tension on the rear blocks then put block in front of the same two wheels. Then release the brake on the tow vehicle. I think the trailer feels more stable after unhooking.

Good list and info. I guess I fly a bit more by the seat of my pants. There are obviously some things that must be done before others and I suppose I just have a constant list in my mind. Different sites and situations make me do some things in a different order. Also, I have a bunch of kids and wife always throwing a wrench in my plans.

For example, someone is still using the bathroom so I can't dump and unhook sewer hoses yet. But, if the site is level I can hook to the truck and take the chocks off the wheels. If on a slanted site that's not a good idea with people in the 5th and the slides out.

I was much more regimented when I was starting out. Over the years I've become a lot more flexible. My key is to double, triple, quadruple check things before pulling out. I make several complete walks around before finally pulling out and then another walk around and survey of the site I just left to be sure I didn't leave anything. I could probably be quicker/more efficient with a good list and routine but just feel better going through every thing numerous times.

Step one should be, "have self leveler installed". My fifth wheel days were prior to self levelers and it appears most of the rigs I still see, in campgrounds, are lacking them.

wilber1 wrote:
I just use a single piece of 2X6 under my landing gear feet. I have seen rigs blown off tall blocks in high winds and their gear damaged. The possibility of being shaken off the blocks is also a consideration if you are in quake prone areas.

I agree with above.

I mentioned to the dealer when I picked mine up that I planned on using 6x6 that I used with previous TT. He(owner of dealership) specifically stated to not use them and use something thinner because it's less the fifth wheel could fall if something happened and it fell off them.

I thought this was a good idea but 2x12 I kept breaking with my TT tires so I decides to cut my own out of maple with my chain saw. They are about 2.5" thick and work good. No breaking these.

Maybe it's just me and my particular rig but I always find it easier to "release the hitch " if I put the truck in reverse and take some pressure off.