Removing-Installing 5th wheel hitch

[lrhogusa]

I am too short to lift up my 5th wheel hitch into my RAM 2500. Does anyone who is short have any techniques to get their hitch in and out of their truck without killing your back? One person job usually for me. Thanks.

[SB_James]

Harbor Freight has an engine hoist for $180 which works great if you have room to store it.

[RoadrunnerII]

I bought a cheap ATV winch mounted with a steel bar across a couple roof trusses in garage. Wired up to a lawnmower battery
Lift our slider with factory puck adapter in and out with no issues
Maybe $100.00 cdn tied up in it. Use my 12 volt battery charger to top up battery 3-4 times a year

RoadrunnerII

[barryg]

While I am not short my B&W is still a bear to get in and out. Awkward and heavy. While I can get it done in another few years I may not be able. Aside from the engine hoist idea which I do not have the room to store another piece of equipment in my garage and putting it in the shed would be as bad or worse than muscling out the hitch. A thought I have had is a block and tackle setup or a cheap winch attached to the garage ceiling joists/rafters/trusses (with appropriate framing etc).

The above or switching to an Anderson Ultimate hitch. I like what I see about them, well the weight of it anyway just not totally sure I want to go that route. Though it would solve my other problem as well of having to carry my hitch about 100' to the shed where it lives when not in the truck. Cant use a cart due to the ground and landscaping between driveway and shed. I cant leave my hitch in the truck all season as I use the truck for other truck stuff so for me it isn't a in the spring out in the fall type thing it goes in and out multiple times a season.

[54camping]

I purchased a used utility cart ($25) and lift hitch from truck while still locked to trailer. Pull truck away and lower hitch onto cart and it stays there with cover on it. Reverse procedure to install on truck

[georam1]

X2^ When I had a hitch that fit in bed rails I would just pull the pins and leave the hitch attached to the kingpin. Then lift the hitch with the front landing jacks. Now that I have a B&W I don't do that anymore. This is just an idea depending on what type of hitch you have.

[poohbear]

B&W now has a lifting device that the jaws clamp on with a lifting eye. I made one out of an eyebolt and large washers, use my pallet forks for my tractors front end loader . Takes a little more time to get it out but no back problems either. Honestly my 18K Patriot in two pieces isn't that bad but at 70 I see the day it will be tough so why wait to use my toys uh tools

[John7349]

Originally Posted by SB_James

Harbor Freight has an engine hoist for $180 which works great if you have room to store it.

The engine hoist front legs will fold up for a small floor footprint. Works great!

[GHen]

I built a cart with wheels the same height of my tailgate. Set it on the cart, roll it into the garage. Easy in, easy out. Very little lifting.

[bender88]

Originally Posted by John7349

The engine hoist front legs will fold up for a small floor footprint. Works great!

Looks like the arm might be a little short for an 8' bed. What do you think?

[John7349]

bender88

For an 8ft box, you would have to loosen the hitch and slide it towards the rear before you could attach the hoist. No problem with a 6ft box.

[jpgale]

Originally Posted by bender88

Looks like the arm might be a little short for an 8' bed. What do you think?

Come in from the side and lift until clear of the bed rails it might have to be at an angle for the wheel.

[Packerbacker_TX]

Originally Posted by lrhogusa

I am too short to lift up my 5th wheel hitch into my RAM 2500. Does anyone who is short have any techniques to get their hitch in and out of their truck without killing your back? One person job usually for me. Thanks.

Do yourself a favor and purchase an Andersen Ultimate Hitch. They weigh about 35 pounds and can handle 4,500 lbs of tongue weight (24K trailer). No need to throw your back out. You can carry this with 1 hand.

https://andersenhitches.com/Products...k-version.aspx

[Big1]

Originally Posted by John7349

The engine hoist front legs will fold up for a small floor footprint. Works great!

^^This^^ but only thing I have mod my bar with the chain to go out a little farther, it work for me and after I have the base B&W hitch in the bed I can muscle it in the pucks.

[GraftonGuns]

I've installed lifts for people with the same issue. I use ATV winches from Harbor freight or Northern tools mounted on angle brackets and fastened to the roof frame or truss system in garages. Using a small lawn tractor battery for power. Add the wireless handheld remote you are looking at $200-$300 for parts.

[Shorty Cox]

I know this is not the answer you want to hear, and I'm not trying to be a smart-a$$. I never take mine out. My bed cover closes down over it so I just leave it in. Now, thus far, I have not has an occasion to need that bed space for hauling items.

[lrhogusa]

Wow! Thanks for all the great ideas. It was making me nervous using a step to get up to my tailgate. Darwin Award waiting to happen.

[Lake Huron]

I have a couple systems in my garage I use. I took a 4x4 and ran it across the v's in the trusses above, wrapped a chain around that and hung a chain fall hoist from that. Nice thing with a chain fall is you can easily take it anywhere. Back under a tree, throw a sling over a branch and hang the chain fall off that, lift it up a little and drive out from under it then set it down.

My other system uses an electric hoist winch from Northern tool. I bolted it to a steel plate that I attached barn door rollers to. I bolted an 8' section of barn door track to the trusses overhead so the hoist can roll on it. I've lifted 800# with it before with no issues. It's a little more permanent but works great for all kinds of stuff and I can still park my vehicles under both systems I have.

[Vfoote3]

Is there a ride/tow difference with the gooseneck hitch compared to the regular 5er hitch?

[cubbear]

get a reese goose box only need take ball out if u want