Positive: Butch's 5th Wheel Latch Kit

[Herk7769]

http://www.butchsservices.com/5601.html

This is an awesome product and was a sweet install. The review will be in several instalments because there are a lot of pictures.

In addition to all the hardware needed to install the pin catcher, Butch included a correct size 3/8 inch diameter center punch (that now lives in my tool box); a Titanium 3/16 inch pilot drill; and a hardened steel 3/8 inch bit drill bit.

It also included complete instructions with photos of every step, 4 grade 5 bolts, lock washers, and nuts.

Since it was for my Pullrite Superglide hitch, the first step was removing the hitch head and flipping it over onto my bench. The directions stated that the hinge receivers must overlap the steel throat of the hitch. To do this some (very little) weld needed to be filed down to allow the plate to snug up against the steel. I painted the ground spots with black lacquer to prevent rust.

Next I clamped the two hinge plates in their correct spots and left the bar latched throughout the install.

I used the center punch included with the kit because it made PERFECTLY centered strikes in the steel plate of the hitch head.

See part 2

[Herk7769]

The Titanium bit went through the plate like cheese when using my 1/2 inch 18 Volt battery power DeWalt drill. You can see the curls of metal in these photos.

I torqued the bolts to 40 Foot pounds and discovered my first glitch.
I did not have a good large handled Allen wrench that I could hold on to while torquing the nuts to 40 foot pounds. I jammed the Allen wrench against my work bench and held onto the hitch head while I got the "clicks" I needed from the torque wrench. Gonna suggest to Butch to throw a long handled Allen Wrench in the box while he is at it.

Walked out to the truck and threw it in and it was done. Start to finish about 45 minutes including paint drying time.

Over all an AWESOME product.

See Post 3 for more.

[Herk7769]

Here are the photos of the final install.

Right off the bat I had a problem. As mentioned previously, I use every square inch of my bed with milk crates and while the OEM hitch release clears everything, the hitch latch handle hangs DOWN.

Not a show stopper, since it only swings an arc on the handle side of the hitch through 90 degrees pointing towards the tailgate.

This resulted in a reorganization of my truck bed gear and cutting my wood "tire lift" board crate down to 8 inches high so the latch kit handle will clear it in a hard turn.

Gonna also tell Butch that a short "T" might make a better handle for this hitch type. Like this ]--------

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

...included a correct size 3/8 inch diameter center punch (that now lives in my tool box

Find it hard to believe with all your tools etc you don't have one of these. Northern Tool or Harbor Freight have cheap ones for us "shade tree" mechanics. Mine are over 30 yrs old and are still in fair condition. The 1/4,3/8 & 1/2 are going to have to be sharpened one of these days.

BTW, as usual you have done a fantastic job with pictures/instructions. Thanks from all of us.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Find it hard to believe with all your tools etc you don't have one of these. Northern Tool or Harbor Freight have cheap ones for us "shade tree" mechanics. Mine are over 30 yrs old and are still in fair condition. The 1/4,3/8 & 1/2 are going to have to be sharpened one of these days.

BTW, as usual you have done a fantastic job with pictures/instructions. Thanks from all of us.

Grrrrr. And you call ME "Tim the Toolman"

It was actually fun. I will let you folks know what "Butch" has to say about my suggestions.

[Warrior]

This is the first time I've seen this product. I was considering the Blue Ox Bed Saver but this is a simpler design and a lot cheaper.
I went to the website to order one but he's out of stock until the 7th.

[OldCoot]

Yea, somebody from PA bought his last one and just installed it with excellent pictures & instructions. Don't know who it was but his initials are Herk7769.

[OldCoot]

Herk, did you try it out by unlatching and see if it would catch the pin?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Herk, did you try it out by unlatching and see if it would catch the pin?

Not yet, but I will when I next hook up (2 weeks). I will take a bunch of pictures of the "approach" and the "disconnect/catch."

From looking at the bolt heads there will never be an issue with the pin plate hitting them. If the Capture plate and pin is that low, you will be too low to have any hope of hitching.

[OldCoot]

The main concern is when the hitch plate pivots down in back, will the bar catch the pin. Mine only catches about 7/8"-1". It will work great as a safety while hitching, but I have my doubts as to whether it will "contain" the pin if towing like the safety chains on a tongue trailer. Still good insurance for a "clutz" like me with CRS.

In your installation, if it is too low, you can just bolt on the top side of the ramp.

[Herk7769]

Check the third photo in the third post.
That hitch pin will capture every time.
Once the pin clears the trunnions, the camper will drop and the pin will be retained by the bar.

Remember it is a bed saver, not safety chains. If your camper becomes disconnected while you are towing no bed saver ever made is going to prevent the ugliness about to happen.

Oh, someone once asked about the pin retention on the Pullrite. Here are OPEN and CLOSED photos as well as one of what you see from the rear when the gate is completely closed.

[OldCoot]

I understand, but is the pin itself long enough to catch the Butch Bar when the hitch plate is tilted down in back should the hitch not latch for some reason. Maybe I am just being dense (usually am). Gotta go to Masonic Lodge meeting, back in a while.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

I understand, but is the pin itself long enough to catch the Butch Bar when the hitch plate is tilted down in back should the hitch not latch for some reason. Maybe I am just being dense (usually am). Gotta go to Masonic Lodge meeting, back in a while.

I got it. I will check and photo next week. Just eyeballing it; it should work just as advertised.

[Herms1960]

Herk7769, Thanks for the pictures and a few pointers. My latch came for my 16K Reese yesterday. Hope to get a few minutes this weekend to do the install.

[fivecodys]

Hi Lou.
Thanks for sharing the install pics.
A picture really is worth a thousand words.
I do have a question.
Will the exposed screw heads drag on the capture plate when hitching and unhitching?
When you do your tests I would be interested to see your results.
Once again, thanks for sharing.

Bill

[Herk7769]

When the capture plate approaches the hitch head it is sloped down (towards the rear). The camper's skid hits the hitch head above the trunnions; pushing it down until it is horizontal and the pin slides into the pocket. The screw heads should never come close to the capture plate.

All the pictures I have of the hitch, not one is a good one from the side.
I will get some when I hook up.

[OldCoot]

This shows what I was concerned about with the Butch Bar and the pivot. Mine catches 7/8"-1" of the pin which is fine for the purpose. Was just wondering if yours is lower with the plates on the bottom of the ramp. I welded the tubes on mine with the tube centerline about 1/4" above the top surface of the ramp.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

This shows what I was concerned about with the Butch Bar and the pivot. Mine catches 7/8"-1" of the pin which is fine for the purpose. Was just wondering if yours is lower with the plates on the bottom of the ramp. I welded the tubes on mine with the tube centerline about 1/4" above the top surface of the ramp.

I will keep it in mind when I check it out.

[Herk7769]

OK, ran into some problems with this application and have been working with Butch to resolve it. He has issued an alert pending tests we are doing with my install.

During a "slow" pull away from an unlatched hitch; the plate drops so fast that as installed, the pin can bounce off the latch bar and miss.

If you pull away "quicker" the plate does not have time to drop as far and the pin catches the keeper bar and snags the catch.

Obviously this is... bad.

So, I mounted the bar sockets above the hitch plate using the same holes. This involved removing some weld metal to keep the catch pin straight in the bores. See photos.

This raised the catch bar about 7/8th of an inch and now blocks the rear of the anti-rotation plug on the capture plate. Now when the catch bar is closed it is impossible for the capture plate to move back far enough for it to over center the hitch plate and "fall off" the hitch.

Butch is working on a permanent solution that may involve another piece that will bolt to the side of the hitch using an existing hole in the plate that will limit the plate drop to less than the 10 degrees needed for the unreliable capture.

Hard to tell from the last photo, but the mount and bolt heads DO clear the capture plate and do not touch them at all.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by herk7769

OK, ran into some problems with this application and have been working with Butch to resolve it. He has issued an alert pending tests we are doing with my install... ...During a "slow" pull away from an unlatched hitch; the plate drops so fast that as installed, the pin can bounce off the latch bar and miss.

That's what I was refering to before because when I first started to test mine, I was worried that I was going to have to cut them off and weld them higher, but I guess I was just lucky. Glad you caught the problem and that Butch is working on a fix. It is a very good design, just needs a little "tweaking". I'm sure between you and Butch, everything will be fine.