Dropped the 5th wheel - Sierra

[bigdaddy51200]

I just had my RV cover installed Friday 1-11-13 and need to move the trailer Saturday afternoon to do some prep work under the new cover . I backed the truck under the trailer as I always do, latched the Butch services bed saver , done a pull test and Boom , it came unhitched and the king pin caught on the bed saver as advertised . This was totally my fault for not checking and making sure the latch on the hitch was in place , I was in a hurry. This was a totally human error on my part because the latch never closed and I didn't check it . Thanks so much for this product !!!

No 5th wheel hitch should be without one !!! Best money I have ever spent !!!

get yours here :
http://butchsservices.com/5601.html

[BarryD0706]

So why had you retracted the landing gear so far before doing the pull test? Seems like it shouldn't have had far to drop were it not for that.

[bigdaddy51200]

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

So why had you retracted the landing gear so far before doing the pull test? Seems like it shouldn't have had far to drop were it not for that.

I had the front gear about a foot off of the ground , because it was on blocks of wood.

[NevadaM]

There are those who have and those who will,,,, I have.

I like the concept here and will look into this. If it will fit on my hitch, think I'll get one.

Nev

[bigdaddy51200]

Originally Posted by NevadaM

There are those who have and those who will,,,, I have.

I like the concept here and will look into this. If it will fit on my hitch, think I'll get one.

Nev

I spent 60.00 shipped for mine over a year ago, they include everything you need to install, took me about 30 minutes. I think they are for sale for 39.99 , very cheap insurance .

I posted this info , because I have hitch and unhitch over a 1000 times with no problems but 1 stupid mistake and cause allot of damage.

Scared the hell out of me , I wish I had took pic's but all I could think about was getting the gear down !!!

[mike06081969]

We were camping back in June at Tremont Outdoor Resort in Townsend, TN and were getting our stuff loaded into the camper when I heard a loud noise. I looked up the hill, and the poor fella who had been on his maiden voyage with his brand new Fuzion fifth wheel toy hauler AND his brand new Dodge dually diesel had dropped his 5er on the bed sides pulling out. Quite a bit of damage to his bed. I'm ashamed to admit it, but it was a female camp hostess at a state park I camped in a couple years ago that taught me to always check for a false latch and what the repercussions would be if I didn't. So far, I've made that a part of my ritual every time I hook up, knock on wood.

[mike06081969]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy51200

I spent 60.00 shipped for mine over a year ago, they include everything you need to install, took me about 30 minutes. I think they are for sale for 39.99 , very cheap insurance .

I posted this info , because I have hitch and unhitch over a 1000 times with no problems but 1 stupid mistake and cause allot of damage.

Scared the hell out of me , I wish I had took pic's but all I could think about was getting the gear down !!!

Thanks for sharing this here. I can see where you could get in a rush or get distracted with something and forget to check. I may check into this myself.

[dwaynerz]

i painted my latch, the part you can see when hitched properly, a bright yellow. now when i see yellow i wont be seeing red later. or visions of green being tossed into the wind as i pay for repairs.

but i do need to get me one of those bed saver set ups as well. one cant be too careful.

[RodeoGeorge]

I used a padlock to secure the latching handle on my BMW Hitch. I do this because in Yuma, AZ a few years ago, some kids were going through the parking lots (Walmart, Sams Club, etc.) pulling the latches on the hitches.

Now I'll be adding a B&W Companion Hitch to my hauler, and will see how that mechanism can be secured.

Never did find out how many suffered damage, but it was quite a few.

RodeoGeorge

[rattleNsmoke]

And you wonder why wolves eat their young...grrrrrrrrrrr

[joelek]

That pulling hitch release is a common stunt at truck stops and rest stops. Do a tug test after you have been parked and when you first backup into the kingpin.

[rowdydog77]

Ok, my question is , why doesn't the 5th wheel manufacturer have this already installed? Seems like a dang good safety device!

[dwaynerz]

And you wonder why wolves eat their young...grrrrrrrrrrr

apparently a few got away before being eaten.

[Earth Station]

we dropped ours within about 6 weeks of owning it!!! now I am so nervous when we hitch or unhitch that I want to HOLD the ES! Little 'ole me thinks she can stop it!!! We also high hitched that day (after dropping it) I was sick to my stomach!!!

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by wa3pnt

I used a padlock to secure the latching handle on my BMW Hitch. I do this because in Yuma, AZ a few years ago, some kids were going through the parking lots (Walmart, Sams Club, etc.) pulling the latches on the hitches.

Now I'll be adding a B&W Companion Hitch to my hauler, and will see how that mechanism can be secured.

Never did find out how many suffered damage, but it was quite a few.

RodeoGeorge

X2...I always padlock the handle, though I didn't see someone pulling that kind of prank...after reading your story, glad I did and won't think it's crazy for the unthinkable to occur!

[MillerTime]

Man that sux! Good thing you had time to put the safety latch thing on, when hitching.

[MillerTime]

Oh yeah. I use the very top of my B&w companion, taken loose from the base, and mount on the king pin and then lock the latch like others have mentioned- store the top of the hitch out of the way and keep trailer from growing legs.

[OldCoot]

I use my own version of Butch's hitch catcher that I welded on the hitch, then padlock the hitch closed and then lock the modified Undercover Hard tonneau cover to completely cover the bed which discourages courious hands from being mischevious.

[Forbes]

Just added the Blue Ox bed saver to our hitch, not droped yet but I am sure the day will come as they said "there are those who have and those who will"

[NevadaM]

I always give a gentle tug with the pickup every time just to make sure things latched. Followed up with a visual inspection. I like the bright paint idea, and my safety latch is supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Nev