Hitchgrip? Alternative?

[beemerphile1]

To make handling the Equal-i-zer hitch head a little easier I am considering the Hitchgrip or an alternative. I can't find any alternatives, the Hitchgrip seems to be alone in its field.

What have you used? Are their any similar devices?

[roadrat2]

We store our hitch in the garage and find the hitchgrip to be a real back saver. It makes picking the hitch up off the floor much easier. It allows me to push it into the receiver all but about 3/8" in before the handle hits the bumper...just far enough that I can get a drift pin into the hole to align the pin.
It's not for everyone, but it works for us.

[LarryJM]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Don't know about alternatives, but I'll give you my experience with the "Hitch Grip." If I could do it all over again, I'd never spent my money on one. Here's why.

When the holes of the shaft of my hitch head is in line with the receiver holes on the truck, the handle of the hitch grip is too long. In other words, I can barely get the edge of the shaft in the receiver when I have to remove the Hitch Grip and shove it in the receiver the rest of the way as I've always done. Although nice and balanced for carrying, it's horribly awkward when trying to position it anywhere.

Next, I keep my hitch head inside my pass through on my TT. Well, my pass through door is simply not tall enough for me to place the hitch head with the Hitch Grip into that hole. I have to put it on the ground, remove the grip, and then lift the hitch head and put it in the hole, like I've always done.

Now, if I stored the hitch head inside the garage, on the floor, or something like that, then it might be easier to use the grip. But this works only when there's nothing obstructing lifting.

I usually have the rear of the truck only about 5 feet from my trailer pass through. Using the grip is a bigger pain in the arse moving it just a couple feet than simply picking it direct with your hands.

I keep my grip inside my trailer pass through. And when I need to carry the hitch head a distance, it's nice to carry it like a suit case. But those times are so very rare, as my hitch is either on the truck or in the pass through and no where else, it just doesn't help me a bit using one.

I can see if someone stored their hitches differently, using different hitches on different vehicles and had multiple hitches, moving them around all the time, this would be a nice item to have. But for the novice user like me, that moves his hitch head only 5 feet, it doesn't work.

IMO devices like the Hitch Grip isn't designed as a cureall for every situation. I find it extremely handy especially when installing and removing the hitch assembly from the receiver. However, again it might not work on 100% of vehicle configurations and if the handle were too long I would cut off enough so it would work on my particular setup since this use alone is worth the price of the device again IMO.

Larry

[ScottG]

Good info Dutch! I bet I would have had most of the same issues.

[Iraqvet05]

I have a Hitchgrip and like it but haven't seen an alternative. My E2 hitch with the 2.5" drop shank weighs 60 lbs. The Hitchgrip takes a little effort to get into place but once it's locked on, it makes moving the unbalanced E2 much easier. I have to agree with Dutchmen that it is useless if you store your hitch in a storage compartment with a small door because the handle sticks up too high.

[DutchmenSport]

Don't know about alternatives, but I'll give you my experience with the "Hitch Grip." If I could do it all over again, I'd never spent my money on one. Here's why.

When the holes of the shaft of my hitch head is in line with the receiver holes on the truck, the handle of the hitch grip is too long. In other words, I can barely get the edge of the shaft in the receiver when I have to remove the Hitch Grip and shove it in the receiver the rest of the way as I've always done. Although nice and balanced for carrying, it's horribly awkward when trying to position it anywhere.

Next, I keep my hitch head inside my pass through on my TT. Well, my pass through door is simply not tall enough for me to place the hitch head with the Hitch Grip into that hole. I have to put it on the ground, remove the grip, and then lift the hitch head and put it in the hole, like I've always done.

Now, if I stored the hitch head inside the garage, on the floor, or something like that, then it might be easier to use the grip. But this works only when there's nothing obstructing lifting.

I usually have the rear of the truck only about 5 feet from my trailer pass through. Using the grip is a bigger pain in the arse moving it just a couple feet than simply picking it direct with your hands.

I keep my grip inside my trailer pass through. And when I need to carry the hitch head a distance, it's nice to carry it like a suit case. But those times are so very rare, as my hitch is either on the truck or in the pass through and no where else, it just doesn't help me a bit using one.

I can see if someone stored their hitches differently, using different hitches on different vehicles and had multiple hitches, moving them around all the time, this would be a nice item to have. But for the novice user like me, that moves his hitch head only 5 feet, it doesn't work.