My worst nighmare

[OldCoot]

Project complete with the exception of re-installing in truck. Total time approx. 2 hrs to cut, bead blast, drill holes, chamfer holes & ends of tubing, weld, grind, paint, cut bar, drill & chamfer, install handle grip and paint hitchplate. Cheap insurance for an old man with a major case of CRS. Total cost $10.86 and have enough tubing left for at least 10 more hitches or some other project.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

... However it is NOT foolproof. It can by "high hitched" if you don't check every time. Just because you heard the positive slam as the gate closes around the pin does not mean the pin was in the right place.

A poor attack angle (the Pullrite is limited to 15 degrees) and a overly high pin height during hitching; can trip the latch lever with the pin "head" and potentially the latch can close with the pin "head" above the gate.

This has not happened to me "yet" but it could, I suppose. On a cold rainy day, I might be tempted at a "cursory" glance; seeing what I wanted to see and not what I needed to see.

That 50 dollar piece of insurance will give me some peace of mind.

Every hitch regardless of who or where it is made can be "High Hitched" and unless the driver is paying attention, a disaster can & will happen. These "Hitch catchers" are devices to prevent an "OOPS" from turning into a costly disaster.

[Herms1960]

Looks great. Since I do not have the tools or know-how, I will let Butch services make mine. In the end, hopefully none of us will ever have to see how well our insurance devices work!!! But we will be prepared.

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Every hitch regardless of who or where it is made can be "High Hitched" and unless the driver is paying attention, a disaster can & will happen. These "Hitch catchers" are devices to prevent an "OOPS" from turning into a costly disaster.

Do you have to remove the tube for hitching and unhitching?

[OldCoot]

Don't really know yet, haven't even had it on the hitch base. Will try it tomorrow. The chrome shaft with the grip on it is removable and will no doubt have to be removed to hitch.

[J_KHawthorne]

dunnnc: you, sir, are both a genius and an artist to boot!
Hats off! Beautiful job!

[OldCoot]

J KHawthorne, thanks, but it sure wasn't my idea, I just cobbled together my version and besides, I am a cheapskate! Saved $38.14.

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

J KHawthorne, thanks, but it sure wasn't my idea, I just cobbled together my version and besides, I am a cheapskate! Saved $38.14.

You saved move than that...add in the $17.00 for shipping.....Nice job!! My brother-inlaw is a tool maker. I e-mail him your pics.....He said he has the steel and can turn the parts.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by crocus

"Maybe its a load of (you know) but I was told that the sliding bar type hitches were for good for the short travellers (hour or so to the lake) and the jaw type are better for long distance towing. The reason for this is that the bar becomes notched from wear, so lots of slop and apparently after some wear its a pain to release because of the wear notch?"
==============================================
We have had ours for almost 20 years, on three different fifth wheels, and there is no wear on the locking bar.
So I guess whoever told you that was full of "you know".

Only two pins hold the hitch head in place.

[Crusader]

Just a thought, the hitch head pivots, as the trailer slides off. As the pin slides out of the jaws. Will the pin slide over the safety bar, because of the pivot/weight at the rear of the head?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Project complete with the exception of re-installing in truck. Total time approx. 2 hrs to cut, bead blast, drill holes, chamfer holes & ends of tubing, weld, grind, paint, cut bar, drill & chamfer, install handle grip and paint hitchplate. Cheap insurance for an old man with a major case of CRS. Total cost $10.86 and have enough tubing left for at least 10 more hitches or some other project.

Wow, nice job...

[OldCoot]

Crusader, have no idea, will unlatch it tomorrow and see if it catches the pin. If it doesn't, looks like I will have call in the rework crew (me ). Will try to get some pictures of the whole process tomorrow. Think I will use a pc of 1/2" pipe during the trial, just in case, it is easier to cut should it get bent.

[OldCoot]

Well, I re-installed the hitch plate with the catcher installed and hooked up to see if I had wasted my time. Looks like it will work great in making sure I don't have a "senior moment" and drop the 5ver on my truck rails. HOWEVER, I don't think it would keep the 5ver attached to the truck in case the latch for some reason or other became disengaged while towing due to the tilting of the hitch plate when the pin is unlatched and the ramp material being too thin to resist bending due to the violent jerking. This is due to the fact that the wedge and the wedge attaching bolts protude down from the pinbox front surface approx. 1-3/4". If the tubes are raised, the safety bar would catch the bolt head first and the trailer would ride up over the shaft until it caught the second bolt head and then ride up over that bolt and catch the pin. Due to the safety rod/shaft only catching about 7/8"-1" of the pin, I think it would ride over the rod/shaft and drop. If the latch becomes disengaged, I think there will be a major disaster regardless of the configuration of these devices. The hitch ramp material is just not thick enough to resist bending in an unhooked jerking situation. Just my opinion. Anyway, I am glad I spent the time as I like my old broken down truck and sure can't afford a new one.
Pictures:Forest River Forums - dunnnc's Album: Hitch Catcher

[J_KHawthorne]

dunnnc: You did a great job! Thanks for the pics.

Also like your hitching mirror setup! Can you elaborate on that as well??? Looks interesting...

[OldCoot]

Thanks for the compliment, just tried to copy a good idea someone else came up with.
As for the mirror, here is a previous thread:http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...lks-22043.html

[J_KHawthorne]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Thanks for the compliment, just tried to copy a good idea someone else came up with.
As for the mirror, here is a previous thread:http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...lks-22043.html

Great! Thanks again!
I will try to create a similar mirror ("Divorce-Preventer"?) with a magnetic base, as my parking spot here means I have to hitch at a sharp angle...

[OldCoot]

If you have a Northern Tool store, they have magnets pretty reasonable.
Master Magnetics Round Base Magnet — 95-Lb. Capacity, Model# 07223 | Magnets | Northern Tool + Equipment

[OldCoot]

Did Herk get his Hitch Saver installed? How did it go and we need pics!

[Herk7769]

Neil, give me a break!
If it is not door pistons it is hitch pin catchers...

It has been raining since it came in!
The weekend is spoken for.
Maybe next week!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Neil, give me a break!
If it is not door pistons it is hitch pin catchers...

It has been raining since it came in!
The weekend is spoken for.
Maybe next week!

My mom use to say "No rest for the wicked"
Truck in garage out of the rain. 1 hr later, hitch catcher installed. Ready to go camping or whatever this weekend.