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04-03-2017, 07:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 108
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5th wheel hitch....
Wow, weather was good enough for me to practice connecting and disconnecting 5th wheel. I thought a 5th wheel would be much easier and quicker than my old WDH hitch on my pull behind when hooking up. This was my first time and it didn't go very well. Had a problem with my lever on my Reese 16,000 lb receiver not wanting to lay down flat even though green button was out and lever in. Tried moving forward and backwards and nothing. So I felt I was risking it all by moving truck and camper forward a few feet slowly, then the lever dropped down into position. Question, if green button is out, is it safe to pull camper even if lever isn't down flat? When I came back home I was trying to get hitch handle to pull out and no luck. I made sure that I raised camper just enough to see an 1/8 space between hitch and plate. I was really getting frustrated and my wife kept saying calm down! I sure would like some tips from seasoned 5th wheel owners as to what would make things easier. I did notice there was no grease on anything. Seems like dealer would have greased locking jaws and plate seeing how I just purchased a new 5th wheel, hitch and all! maybe grease will help!!!!
__________________
2017 Flagstaff 524RLWS
2015 F150 , 5.0 , 3:55 axle
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04-03-2017, 07:50 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
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Dealer grease it? Hahahaha Nah. No way.
Grease it out the wazoo. Try again. Practice.
It IS SCARY the first few times. After a bit, it's way easy! Keep at it.
__________________
"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard
FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
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04-03-2017, 08:31 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,563
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I never use grease. Use a Teflon kingpin ring. I will put silicon or wd40 on kingpin and jaw mechanism occasionally.
We found the easiest way to hitch is to have the kingpin plate slightly below the hitch plate in the truck (half inch or less). Then let the trailer plate slide up on into the truck plate. Same when unhooking. Don't pick the trailer completely off the truck plate. If you pick it up too far the bottom lip of the kingpin will be caught on the bottom of the jaws.
If you can't pull the lever you can sometimes release the pressure on the kingpin by putting your truck in neutral and releasing the brake to cause slight movement between truck and trailer.
As far as the lever and the green button, I wouldn't trust the green button (it's just a push mechanism), I would trust the handle being in whatever the locked position for your hitch is.
And yup, hitching a fiver is about 10 times faster than a bumper wdh in my opinion
Good luck and enjoy your rig!!!
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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04-03-2017, 09:23 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 3,963
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5er is faster and easier in my opinion. I grease the king pin and spray silicone on the other moving parts. I keep a Teflon pad on the kingpin to ride the hitch.
As stated above ~~ when hooking have the allow the pin to ride up about 1/2" onto the horseshoe. and when unhooking raise the plate about 1/2" above the horseshoe. After hitching get behind and look to see the jaws are tight and there is no space between the plate and horseshoe ~~ high hitching.
Breath easy as once you get a rhythm ~~ nothing to it.
__________________
2022 Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 LB Dually
Edgewater 205 EX 150 Yamaha
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04-04-2017, 07:35 AM
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#5
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,146
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You've received some good advice.
You'll quickly learn the nuances of your hitch combination.
They all react just slightly different.
There are MANY good videos on YouTube on how to hitch a 5th wheel.
A search there will bring up a bunch
Here is one such from Reese.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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04-04-2017, 08:00 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
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I copy NMWildCat almost exactly, and it works perfectly every time. One big trick is to release the pressure on the jaws when unlatching the hitch. Placing the vehicle in neutral or even moving up or down hill a little to relieve the pressure will make the job a whole lot easier.
The video posted by 5picker is one of the best I've seen. It covers everything without getting long and boring.
And lastly; ALWAYS, did I say 'always' do a pull test with the RV's landing gear just off the ground.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
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04-04-2017, 04:21 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 108
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Appreciate all the good info from all on this thread! I will practice again this weekend and hope it goes better. Just have to also remember to put tailgate down also, think i'll make a checklist! Just a matter of learning how everything works, thanks to all!!!
__________________
2017 Flagstaff 524RLWS
2015 F150 , 5.0 , 3:55 axle
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04-04-2017, 04:41 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikdor1
Wow, weather was good enough for me to practice connecting and disconnecting 5th wheel. I thought a 5th wheel would be much easier and quicker than my old WDH hitch on my pull behind when hooking up. This was my first time and it didn't go very well. Had a problem with my lever on my Reese 16,000 lb receiver not wanting to lay down flat even though green button was out and lever in. Tried moving forward and backwards and nothing. So I felt I was risking it all by moving truck and camper forward a few feet slowly, then the lever dropped down into position. Question, if green button is out, is it safe to pull camper even if lever isn't down flat? When I came back home I was trying to get hitch handle to pull out and no luck. I made sure that I raised camper just enough to see an 1/8 space between hitch and plate. I was really getting frustrated and my wife kept saying calm down! I sure would like some tips from seasoned 5th wheel owners as to what would make things easier. I did notice there was no grease on anything. Seems like dealer would have greased locking jaws and plate seeing how I just purchased a new 5th wheel, hitch and all! maybe grease will help!!!!
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You can get your part number from the hitch and Google for videos or manufacturers website for instructions. I read mine about 5 times before attempting and reading all I could here. My fear(not to add to yours) was unlocked jaws and 5er falling. Paint the jaws white/yellow or something so you can see when closed after hitching. Good piece of mind.
__________________
2017 Puma 297RLSS
2005 Ram 2500 4X4 diesel SMOKER!!
I love puns, irony and tasteless jokes...
born in Texas.... live in Arkansas
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04-11-2017, 07:52 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 242
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The only other thing I will add is that if you're parking your 5'er on an incline, then leveling it, getting the hitch plate and pin alignment correct can be tricky. I experienced this when I first got mine, but everything got much easier when I moved it to where my truck and camper were on near the same plane.
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04-11-2017, 08:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 3,963
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LTnTN
The only other thing I will add is that if you're parking your 5'er on an incline, then leveling it, getting the hitch plate and pin alignment correct can be tricky. I experienced this when I first got mine, but everything got much easier when I moved it to where my truck and camper were on near the same plane.
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Site 106 at Savannah Oaks had my truck pointing to the sky. Used 4 chocks before releasing the hitch. No problem.
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04-11-2017, 08:10 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 459
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
I will put silicon or wd40 on kingpin and jaw mechanism occasionally.
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WD40 is a solvent NOT a lubricant.
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04-11-2017, 08:26 PM
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#12
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Now a "Top Member"
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Roman Forest, TX
Posts: 4,352
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Deep breaths, and keep practicing. It will get easier. I have found for my hitch (a Curt Q20), the kingpin needs to be just above the hitch...like barely brushing it. Then a short but "smart" move of the truck to snap the jaws shut. You also have to be mindful of the side to side slant. I am on unlevel crushed rock at home, and my truck and 5th wheel are slightly unlevel at hitching. So it takes the kingpin and hitch to be just right to snap the jaws. You will get it...keep practicing and keep calm. Good luck.
__________________
Ed and Sharon
2010 Wildcat 28RKBS
2019 Ford F-250 XLT - AWESOME Truck!
Retired AF MSgt
I thought I was wrong once, but I was wrong!
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04-11-2017, 08:36 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad
WD40 is a solvent NOT a lubricant.
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yeah it's a degreaser, fluid film works well as a lubricant
__________________
haven a blast
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04-11-2017, 08:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptnJohn
Site 106 at Savannah Oaks had my truck pointing to the sky. Used 4 chocks before releasing the hitch. No problem.
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I was talking about side-to-side, not front-to-back.
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04-11-2017, 10:15 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,563
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad
WD40 is a solvent NOT a lubricant.
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Funny how it says lubricant right on the can Also, have you looked at all the types of WD40 available today? They have every type of LUBRICANT you need. I have at least three different kinds of WD-40. I just love how some folks assume everybody else is an idiot.
Also you might take a gander at this, it's informative and a fun read: https://wd40.com/cool-stuff/myths-legends-fun-facts
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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04-12-2017, 08:56 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,874
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I concur with everything already said. I have a curt q20. there are three lube points in the hitch. spread a bit of grease on the kingpin before hooking up. I also use a Teflon disk. I have 6 items I look for every time I hitch (green indicator on hitch handle, visually verify the jaws, safety latch engaged, safety wire attached, trailer plugged in, and tail gate up). i've had to move the truck forward and back a couple of times to get the jaws fully engaged. then the pull test and turn / brake light test. when unhitching I use the landing gear to raise the trailer just to the point where there is small gap between the hitch and the pin box.
but here is the only new thing a can add. DURING HOOKING AND UNHOOKING TO NOT TALK TO ANYBODY! get the hooking and unhooking done without distractions so you do not forget any step of the process. then when it is completed go back and verify everything again! then breathe and enjoy.
__________________
2015 cardinal model 3825fl
2015 dodge ram 3500 dually
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04-12-2017, 06:46 PM
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#17
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Now a "Top Member"
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Roman Forest, TX
Posts: 4,352
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICKDOE
but here is the only new thing a can add. DURING HOOKING AND UNHOOKING TO NOT TALK TO ANYBODY! get the hooking and unhooking done without distractions so you do not forget any step of the process.
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I'll second this! However, I will have my wife (navigator and commander) do a walk around after I do. She has gotten me a couple of times (for which I am eternally grateful!).
__________________
Ed and Sharon
2010 Wildcat 28RKBS
2019 Ford F-250 XLT - AWESOME Truck!
Retired AF MSgt
I thought I was wrong once, but I was wrong!
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04-12-2017, 07:01 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 108
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Practiced some more this weekend and learned that when I unhitch that I should put some slight forward pressure on hitch, then put emergency brake on before I try to pull out handle to release jaws on hitch. Before I figured it out I kept getting out of truck and tried to pull lever with no luck. Figured out when I took foot off of brake pedal to get out of truck it coasted back against jaws ever so slightly then I couldn't pull handle. As long as i keep learning little things it should get easier!!!!
__________________
2017 Flagstaff 524RLWS
2015 F150 , 5.0 , 3:55 axle
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04-12-2017, 07:22 PM
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#19
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Casey & Carolyn
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Las Vegas Nv
Posts: 171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EdJunior
I'll second this! However, I will have my wife (navigator and commander) do a walk around after I do. She has gotten me a couple of times (for which I am eternally grateful!).
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I do the same. After I am done hitching up the the boss gives it the final inspection and yes she has saved us on more than one occasion.
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04-12-2017, 07:26 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: In a 5th wheel
Posts: 55
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Man after reading this thread I'm glad I got an Andersen. I don't have anything traditional to compare it to but I'm really happy with how easy it is.
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