Cut once, measure twice

[icr21801]

Originally Posted by BJC

Enough said!

Oh no. I feel for you. That’s always been my fear since switching to a fifth wheel. It’s the main reason I like the Demco hitches. Heavy as heck but I like the way the jaw wraps around the king pin and has a solid steel locking bar plus a hitch pin that goes through the release handle.

[Fleetman]

Yup, been there, done that, got the Tee shirt.

[BJC]

These are all expensive life lessons, lots of very good suggestions here. Probably the best is a true pull test and to visually inspect. It was an expensive lesson but the truck is in the shop, insurance company stepped up and in a couple weeks I should be back in business. Like I said before, while the money hurts the bruised ego is really the worst . I typically share my mistakes in hopes that it may save at least one person the same agony. Anyway, life moves on as they say

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by BJC

These are all expensive life lessons, lots of very good suggestions here. Probably the best is a true pull test and to visually inspect. It was an expensive lesson but the truck is in the shop, insurance company stepped up and in a couple weeks I should be back in business. Like I said before, while the money hurts the bruised ego is really the worst . I typically share my mistakes in hopes that it may save at least one person the same agony. Anyway, life moves on as they say

Yes and REMEMBER to keep the landing gear DOWN while doing the pull test.

[RedHorse1]

I’ve been there too. I hadn’t pinned the handle in the closed position but it was closed or closed enough to prevent a good capture. I got lucky and the only damage was to the plastic pieces on the top of the tailgate.

I now:
1 Ensure the jaws are open, tailgate down, stairs/rear stabilizers up and utils disconnected.
2 back up for the capture (when it grabs the pin the hitch makes a distinctive sound and if I’m paying attention can hear it).
3 visually verify the pin is in the jaws
4 plug in electrical and secure the break-away
5 raise the legs abt .5” off the ground
6 remove chocks and check under/around 5th/TV for “stuff” forgotten
7 do the test pull (I manually activate the 5th’s brakes via the controller)
8 raise the tailgate/landing gear
9 do the light check

From memory so I hope I’ve gotten it all.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by RAurand

Yes and REMEMBER to keep the landing gear DOWN while doing the pull test.

And the wheels tightly chocked with the manual brake lever all the way.


Earl

[Marine71-76]

Yep, been there, done that - just not nearly as bad. And the landing legs were up about an inch, the wheels were chocked and we saw the arm going out & back in. But for some reason it really didn't latch. After that purchased a "bed saver" for the hitch.