How to Hitch and Unhitch a 5th Wheel
HITCHING A 5TH WHEEL
- Be sure wheel chocks are in place
- Be sure the rear stabilizers are UP on the 5th wheel. (Check the cross-stabilizers are loosened if you have them)
- Be sure any kind of cross-stabilizers on the front landing gear are loosened if you have them
- Lower tailgate on tow truck.
- Back the tow truck until the king pin on the 5th wheel is close to the hitch
- Use the front-landing gear and raise or lower the king pin so that it is slightly lower than the 5th wheel plate.
- Open the arm/jaws on the 5th wheel hitch
- Back tow truck slowly until kingpin engages up the 5th wheel hitch and automatically locks on jaws
- You can see the handle close on its own if you are lined up right and back far enough
- Put the emergency brake on
- Close the arm/jaws on the 5th wheel hitch and pin into place
- Visually check that the jaws of the hitch are around the king pin
- Connect power cord between tow truck and the trailer.
- Connect breakaway switch cable.
- Test: Manually activate the tow trucks trailer brake and take off the emergency brake. Press the gas and try to pull away from the 5th wheel. Put the emergency brake back on
- Raise the landing gear to their fully retracted position
- Raise tailgate
- Pick up and store wheel chocks.
- You may need to pull the 5th wheel forward a little to remove blocks under the low-side tire.
- Always walk around the 5th wheel and use our checklist for departure
CHECKLIST (See complete Departure Checklist)
- Check all lights. A second person is handy and again we use our cell phones.
- Check lock is closed..
- Check that TV antenna is down and in the correct position or satellite dish is removed.
- Check that all park connections are disconnected; water, electricity, cable.
- Check that all windows, doors and steps are closed and secured properly.
- Check that chocks have been removed.
- Walk around the entire trailer to be sure everything is secured properly.
- Look at your campsite to be sure it is clean and you are ready to travel.
UNHITCHING A 5TH WHEEL
- Find a level site and situate 5th wheel where you want it parked
- Chock the wheels
- Drop the landing gear
- Disconnect the cord and breakaway switch cable
- Drop the tow truck's tailgate
- Gently put the truck into reverse without giving it an acceleration. This will move the kingpin off the locking bar and allow you to disengage it
- Shift the truck into neutral
- Step on the brake and apply parking brake
- Disengage the kingpin locking bar on the hitch
- Slowly drive tow truck away from 5th wheel
- Raise truck tailgate
- Adjust 5h wheel height to proper front and back level
- See complete Arrival Set-up checklist
NOTE: You may need to modify some of these steps for your specific 5th wheel
TIP: Paint the jaws a bright red or orange to easily tell if it is properly hitched to the kingpin. This tip was in Trailer Life Magazine, Quick Fix, July 2013 sent in by Paul Skinner, West Plains, Missouri.
TIP: Paint the jaws a bright red or orange to easily tell if it is properly hitched to the kingpin. This tip was in Trailer Life Magazine, Quick Fix, July 2013 sent in by Paul Skinner, West Plains, Missouri.
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ernest Hemingway
― Ernest Hemingway
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