Fifth wheel hitch removal and re install.

[kurtkraly]

Anyone have a solution to the task of taking the fifth wheel hitch in and out of the back of a pickup ? Have a Curt Q-20 that weighs around 140 lbs.

[JohnVtx]

Get an Andersen, 40 lbs

[dwayneb236]

I just manhandle it. Makes it easier to do it in two parts. But my wife helped me with it last time I took it out so I didn't take it apart. She's pretty strong. I'll rent her to ya.

Sorry, she loves Snoopy.

[BandJCarm]

One way is to leave it hooked to the kingpin, and disconnect from truck, then drive away. Reconnecting is more difficult but doable.

[DDC]

Leave it attached to your pin, pull the four rail pins and lift the front of the fifth wheel, drive out. do the reverse when you put it back in.

[Bama Rambler]

Etrailer has a Demco Fifth Wheel Lifting Bracket that works well if you have a winch, engine crane, tractor, etc., that you could use to lift it out.

I will second the Andersen hitch as being the easiest to remove and reinstall.

[NMWildcat]

Leave it in. Then you have an excuse to not haul everyone's crap for them

[Oaklevel]

I just use the tractor / then I have to mow the grass

[Cypressloser]

I feel your pain, literally. As already suggested a tractor or crane would work but the Andersen Ultimate hitch is the way to go.

[modem9]

I bought a hydraulic lift table from Harbor Freight. I release the hitch then slide it to the edge of the back. Pump up the Hydraulic table and slide the hitch onto it. Then I roll the table to where ever I store the hitch and lower it back to ground level. When time to reinstall, I pump up the table to the truck height and slide it back onto the bed and install.

My hydraulic table at max height is about 2 inches lower than I want so I use some 2 x 12 wood pieces to give it that little bit extra. Works great for me.

[Palinduff]

I have a Reese 16K slider and I take the top part off and then remove the lower part. It's about 140lbs together, so it's heavy. I'd like to leave it in but I need my box for work. I saw a unit at my storage lot that left theirs hanging on the king pin. That looked like a good idea, but I worry about theft. I doubt it would cause any damage.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Neighbor rolls up his engine hoist, chains it up, lifts, rolls into his garage, drops on a skid...done.

[papasqms]

I saw a picture on pintrest that showed a table this guy had made. It was on wheels and was the height of his truck bed. Slid the hitch to the edge right onto the table. When he was ready to put it back on reverse the process. you still need to lift it back on to the rails. I can't use it as I would have to the table over gravel, so I only take it out if I really need the space.

[houstonstroker]

This would work if your have an unfinished garage like I do. I use a chain hoist from Harbor Freight. Lift it up, drive out and lower onto furniture mover.

[alanandkim]

I either leave it connected to the King pin for short term. I use a Harbor Freight engine hoist for longer term removal.

I unloaded by hand only once. Never again.

[Electra glide]

I got tired of heavy hitches and switched to Anderson.

[crrod]

I mounted this hoist to the rafters in my garage: https://www.championpowerequipment.c...0880-lb-hoist/
I got it at Menards for about a hundred bucks

[SlowrideHD]

I also have a Q20 Curt in my F350 long bed. Because I have a gooseneck plate that also fits on my rails, I am constantly swapping back and forth. Most of the time I use the front loader on my JD tractor to pick it up and out of the bed but a lot of times my tractor is not here and handy.

At that point, I just pull the two large pins that hold the top section to the base and take it out in two sections. Very doable that way and it gives you a chance to put some fresh grease into the saddles that the top section fits in.

Sometimes, especially if you haven't had it apart in awhile, it is stubborn to release easily. You can just take a small pry bar or crowbar and stick it right under the large diameter rods of the top section and give them a lift up. They'll come right out. Then put some fresh grease in there.

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Neighbor rolls up his engine hoist, chains it up, lifts, rolls into his garage, drops on a skid...done.

X-2, Engine hoist, what do you mean you don't have an engine hoist? All rv er's need an engine hoist. To be fair, I've always worked on race cars so an hoist was mandatory, good luck.

[dwayneb236]

Yeah I have the Q24 in my 350 and when you take apart it's easy. Just like you mentioned, can be a bear to get apart sometimes.