We're both OK, but we were really shaken when our fiver separated from the hitch at 65mph on I-64 near Williamsburg VA Thursday morning. We have more than enough to be thankful and grateful for this year. When we all came to a halt, we were on the shoulder of the interstate, the trailer was completely separated from our TV. Our tailgate was destroyed, dragging behind and connected by only the small cable on one side. The fiver was about twenty-five feet behind us, aligned with us out of the roadway, but completely separated, resting on the retracted legs. The B&W Companion hitch was still locked with handle pin still secured and clipped; jaws fully and tightly closed. Both troopers who stopped by were amazed at the control I maintained (with the help of a strong guardian angel) to get the unit to the side of the road with no injuries (except for some sore muscles from the whiplash when it rammed back at the hitch when I began to slow and make my way to the shoulder. Here's a story we'll not forget from this Thanksgiving holiday.

Wow, that's a pretty hair raising story! Glad you are OK and no one else was involved in what could have been a very bad accident. Hope you were able to get hitched back up and on the road again. Pretty scary stuff there! I think I would call that one a "white knuckle" drive!And it shows a tribute to the skill of the driver! Well done in maintaining control! You get a star!

It sounds like the pin was never in the hitch but, perhaps, sitting on top of the jaws? Glad it wasn't worse.

What happened to the safety chains? Did the emergency brake cable work?

That's a good thought, AZ, but it was hitched with the plate of the fiver solidly against the plate of the hitch. When the legs were retracted, it was hitched plate to plate. We had driven nearly two hundred miles the first night, spent the night at a rest area, and had been on the road for about an hour before the separation occurred. It seems that an unsecure hitch would have shown up much earlier, certainly within the first hour on the road.

MtnMike wrote:That's a good thought, AZ, but it was hitched with the plate of the fiver solidly against the plate of the hitch. When the legs were retracted, it was hitched plate to plate. We had driven nearly two hundred miles the first night, spent the night at a rest area, and had been on the road for about an hour before the separation occurred. It seems that an unsecure hitch would have shown up much earlier, certainly within the first hour on the road.Did you happen to DOUBLE check the handle in the am after your nights stay ? I have heard of troublesome kids pulling the handles that's why some here lock them....Anyway, glad your all ok, how the the trailer fair?

Fiver Pin Separated From Hitch on Interstate | Good Sam Community

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
Wow, that's a pretty hair raising story! Glad you are OK and no one else was involved in what could have been a very bad accident. Hope you were able to get hitched back up and on the road again. Pretty scary stuff there! I think I would call that one a "white knuckle" drive!

And it shows a tribute to the skill of the driver! Well done in maintaining control! You get a star!
azdryheat
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
It sounds like the pin was never in the hitch but, perhaps, sitting on top of the jaws? Glad it wasn't worse.
Nate1979
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
What happened to the safety chains? Did the emergency brake cable work?
MtnMike
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
That's a good thought, AZ, but it was hitched with the plate of the fiver solidly against the plate of the hitch. When the legs were retracted, it was hitched plate to plate. We had driven nearly two hundred miles the first night, spent the night at a rest area, and had been on the road for about an hour before the separation occurred. It seems that an unsecure hitch would have shown up much earlier, certainly within the first hour on the road.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Nov 26, 2016
MtnMike wrote:
That's a good thought, AZ, but it was hitched with the plate of the fiver solidly against the plate of the hitch. When the legs were retracted, it was hitched plate to plate. We had driven nearly two hundred miles the first night, spent the night at a rest area, and had been on the road for about an hour before the separation occurred. It seems that an unsecure hitch would have shown up much earlier, certainly within the first hour on the road.

Did you happen to DOUBLE check the handle in the am after your nights stay ? I have heard of troublesome kids pulling the handles that's why some here lock them....

Anyway, glad your all ok, how the the trailer fair?
MtnMike
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
Thanks, DS. The emergency trailer brakes worked exactly as designed. They braked as straight as anyone could expect then to operate. I felt the swaying behind me, but I think I was able to keep the trailer snagged on the tailgate long enough to keep it aligned and I did not overbrake which could have allowed it to crash forward more than the single time we felt it slam forward.
naturist
Nomad
Nov 26, 2016
Wow, your guardian angel was working overtime! So glad nobody was injured, but I'm sure you needed to change your skivvies immediately afterward. That's a hair-raiser if ever there was one.
JBarca
Nomad II
Nov 26, 2016
Hi Mike,

So glad you and your family are OK. My goodness, your driving skills are top flight to control the rig that well.

If I read your post correctly, you said this
MtnMike wrote:
The B&W Companion hitch was still locked with handle pin still secured and clipped; jaws fully and tightly closed.
.

If the jaws where still closed tight and locked, h'mm this may not be a hitch issue.

How is the actual pin on the 5'er? Did the bottom retaining ring crack off the pin? Do you know yet what actually failed in the connection?

You also said the 5er was 25 feet behind you when you were finally able to stop, did the safety chains break or tear out of the holder?

Trying to learn what went wrong to help prevent something like this in the future. We all learn from these kind of events.

Thanks for sharing.

John
Tiger02
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
This is always my biggest fear when towing. Glad that you are all safe and the systems worked as designed.

JBarca wrote:
Hi Mike,

You also said the 5er was 25 feet behind you when you were finally able to stop, did the safety chains break or tear out of the holder?

John

There are no safety chains on 5th wheels. Just the emergency brakes to stop the 5th wheel during separation from tow vehicle.
wingsfan20
Explorer
Nov 26, 2016
Nate1979 wrote:
What happened to the safety chains? Did the emergency brake cable work?
There are no safety chains on a Fifth Wheel Trailer.