Hitch alignment & hookup

[IceOnFire]

What process do you use when backing up your tow vehicle and connecting hitch to king pin? In my current situation, I will be using the Andersen Ultimate Hitch which utilizes a ball in the bed of the truck, but I am not able to see it in my rear view mirror. So I have no point of reference aligning the king pin for solo hitching. Any suggestions/tips?

[ROC-REQS]

After getting the hitch & king pin aligned, I've put a dot sticker on the rear window of the truck that when looking through the rear view mirror the dot aligns with the king pin.

Then when backing up I align the dot with the king pin and that helps me get aligned with the hitch.

Hope this helps and gives you some ideas.

[MEFarmer]

I have the kingpin so not much help. Maybe some place to mount a mirror above the hitch with a magnet? Angled so it will look straight down?

[Lake Huron]

A ball in the bed of the truck sounds like a Gooseneck style connection to me. Using a kingpin and a 5th wheel head style you can be off a little bit and the pin will still slide into the jaws. Gooseneck style needs to be pretty dead on. My neighbor uses an old short CB radio magnet mount with a tennis ball on the top of the antenna to help line things up. He places the antenna in the center of the bed in front of the hitch and can see the ball thru the rear window and in the rear view mirror.

[goducks]

I have an Andersen and have also used a B&W 5th hitch. All I do is lift myself up a bit and turn to the right and look over my shoulder. I can't see the hitch in the rear view mirror either.
I'm not overweight and fairly flexible so it's easy for me.

[TxLoser]

I have a little loop on top of the middle back seat. Don't even know what it's for. I get the king pin visually inside the loop. Next, there's a sticker on the top of king pin. When that disappears below the window I'm nearly right there. I get out and check the vertical, and if all looks good, back it in the rest of the way.

I'm sure in every situation if look close enough you can find some little visual cues to make it easy.

[RedHorse1]

I can’t see my hitch at all. I bought a magnetic hitching guide (yellow foam balls on telescoping antenna with a magnet base) that I didn’t like when we had the HTT.
I discovered putting one on the hitch plate in front of the jaws and aligning the pin with that I could nail it pretty accurately.

[Bookemdanno]

Just an idea that I ran across from a friend of mine...he glued a magnet to the bottom of a dowel rod. He backs up using the dowel rod as his point of reference placed on the hitch with the magnet. The dowel rod just falls off the hitch when he gets to the proper hitch point.

Worth a shot...just thought I'd share. Good luck!

[T&M_Texas]

Originally Posted by IceOnFire

What process do you use when backing up your tow vehicle and connecting hitch to king pin? In my current situation, I will be using the Andersen Ultimate Hitch which utilizes a ball in the bed of the truck, but I am not able to see it in my rear view mirror. So I have no point of reference aligning the king pin for solo hitching. Any suggestions/tips?

Just a thought. I see you have a Lariat does it have the navigation? If so I think they can add the cargo light camera to that system. If not I think they can add the camera and have it in the rear view mirror. You might check into it.

[PMC]

https://www.iballhitchcam.com/?CAWEL...SAAEgInE_D_BwE

Something like this is easy to use and wireless. You just stick it out back when you need it so nothing to steal, etc.

[TxLoser]

Pretty interesting hearing all these ideas and techniques. I like the dowl rod and magnet idea.

[2nOZ]

I just use the center high mounted rear camera that looks down into the bed. I know, I'm cheating. LOL.