Hitch that hitch

[Blackrock]

Saw a bad messed up truck and 5th wheel trailer yesterday. Poor guy had towed all the way from Tucson, Az to Morenci,Az and heading up the first switchback on hwy 191 he lost the 5er in the turn. Appears he didn't pin the hitch to the rails in the floor of the bed and it all came loose and ripped the tailgate off but it looks like the breakaway actuated and held the trailer brakes on a pretty steep grade. Tow truck was on the way and cops all over but a friend of mine was flagging traffic and told me what was going on.

Kind of a bad thing so please remember to pin everything.

[f5moab]

I know those switchbacks. Glad I was not behind him.

[Twisty]

Wow.
I double check everything twice after double checking.

[thebrakeman]

We don't hear of many trailer actually coming loose (thankfully!), and especially not a 5th wheel. The good part of this story is that the brakeaway system worked as it's supposed to, and it seems nobody got hurt. Awesome!

But yeah, can you imagine being behind that trailer when the brakes locked up, with no brake-lights giving you any warning!!?? Hopefully, being in a bend, everyone could see around the trailer and knew what was happening.

[Mike101]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

Saw a bad messed up truck and 5th wheel trailer yesterday. Poor guy had towed all the way from Tucson, Az to Morenci,Az and heading up the first switchback on hwy 191 he lost the 5er in the turn. Appears he didn't pin the hitch to the rails in the floor of the bed and it all came loose and ripped the tailgate off but it looks like the breakaway actuated and held the trailer brakes on a pretty steep grade. Tow truck was on the way and cops all over but a friend of mine was flagging traffic and told me what was going on.

Kind of a bad thing so please remember to pin everything.

I dont understand. When you say "He didn't pin the hitch to the rails in the floor of the bed", does that mean the 4 pins that hold the actual 5th wheel hitch legs to the rails ? I am only on year 3 of towinf a 5ver so please be patient if I not understand the terminology. Thanks

[PhoneDude 8289]

Originally Posted by Mike101

I dont understand. When you say "He didn't pin the hitch to the rails in the floor of the bed", does that mean the 4 pins that hold the actual 5th wheel hitch legs to the rails ? I am only on year 3 of towinf a 5ver so please be patient if I not understand the terminology. Thanks

That's what it sounds like to me

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Mike101

I dont understand. When you say "He didn't pin the hitch to the rails in the floor of the bed", does that mean the 4 pins that hold the actual 5th wheel hitch legs to the rails ? I am only on year 3 of towinf a 5ver so please be patient if I not understand the terminology. Thanks

I believe that's what he's saying.


This spring when I put my hitch in the bed I couldn't find my clip pins to secure said pins so I just stuck the pins in to pull the Sabre out for the year knowing I had to get clips the next day.
We'll in my 35 mile trek to work all four pins had rattled out.

So I could see what might have happened here.



TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[Blackrock]

Originally Posted by presley01

That's what it sounds like to me

Yup that's what it was and those pins do get a lot of wear on them and should be inspected and changed if needed.

Even bumper pull components need to be checked as well.

[R Whitlow]

I can't see anyone with a 5er not pining the hitch down. If I had to guess I bet someone removed the pins at a stop he made. From a young age I remember dad aways checking the hitch on the boat trailer at stops we made. One time we found the latch was up after the first stop at 2 hours mark.

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[Arefbee]

One other item to note. Always make sure you have a good charged battery so the break away will work. No juice, no brakes and the trailer will go on without you... for a little while.

[Mike101]

I would have never thought someone would mess with that to be evil ! Almost worth getting a small lock to put on each leg/pin.