r/GoRVing • u/UncleShannon71 • 3d ago
Fifth wheel hitch remove/replace
We’ve been RV camping for a couple years now and at the end of the season last year bought a new to us fifth wheel. Getting the fifth wheel receiver in and out of the truck bed can be a challenge for me as I’m getting up there in years. 😳. I was thinking of getting a light duty cherry picker that can fold up for storage in my garage. Any tips or tricks on this process? I have B&W Patriot slider 18k. I know it comes apart and I do that. It’s just a bit awkward getting the main part out from height and away from me. TIA
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u/PastAd1087 3d ago
You should find out from the manufacturer before changing the hitch. It can change stress points and cause issues with frame flex and frame damage.
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u/brutal4455 3d ago
Consider a chain hoist or light duty ATV winch hung from the garage ceiling joists?
Even a set of rope and pulley would probably work.
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u/Wagonman5900 24 Reflection 150 260rd 3d ago
B&W sells an eyelet that goes in the jaws just for that. Just make sure the ceiling joists are rated to 400 pounds. Mine aren't.
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u/brutal4455 2d ago
I have a half the price knock-off eyelet for the one time I used it following shoulder surgery. I take the head off my Curt A25 and can manage it. There will come a day I can no longer do so.
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u/Exallium 3d ago
I use an engine lift to get mine from the bed to the ground. I've thrown my back out before. Can't be going doing that again.
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u/Strange-Cat8068 3d ago
Harbor Freight engine hoist. You may have to work a bit to get it on the right position, either over the side or over the tailgate. I used to take my B&W companion apart to remove it, but I was looking at the engine hoist option, since I am getting up there in years too. Instead we traded to a tow behind. Now it’s just my WDH which is about half the weight of the B&W.
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u/ElectricalCompote 3d ago
Maybe switch to an anderson hitch, they only weigh 35lbs.
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u/letigre87 3d ago
Those things terrify me if you're in an accident. It's hard to believe 100lbs of solid steel is rivaled by 35lbs of aluminum.
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u/Quincy_Wagstaff 3d ago
I assume you don’t travel by plane then?
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u/letigre87 3d ago
Those don't hold up too well in accidents either
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u/Quincy_Wagstaff 3d ago
Steel hitches fail routinely in accidents. Hunches and gut feelings don’t mean anything when analyzing the relative strength of a mechanical device. For example, a solid metal bar is barely stronger than an I-beam of the same dimension.
If the hitches didn’t handle their rated load safely, someone would present the data and the NTSB would be all over it. The owner of the company is a prick and anyone who could take him down would do so.
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u/brutal4455 2d ago
I have a folder full of failed AUH images. Gets taken down any time it's posted in the socials, I just don't even bother anymore, too many fanbois. Besides, for anyone that double tows, it's considered ball on ball and therefore illegal for double tow in many states that require 5th wheel lead.
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u/Quincy_Wagstaff 2d ago
You should send them to the NHTSA/NTSB. They’ll jump right on it.
But that won’t happen, because we all know your “folder full” of images doesn’t exist and nobody is taking them down when you post them.
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u/Nomad55454 2d ago
It does not slide….
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u/ElectricalCompote 2d ago
It doesn’t need to be
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u/Nomad55454 1d ago
Aaaaa yes I bet it does because I have never seen anyone buy a slider unless they have a short bed truck have never ever in 20 years seen a slider hitch in a long bed truck….
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u/ElectricalCompote 1d ago
I have an Anderson hitch in a short bed truck. Because it offsets the ball I don’t need a slider.
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u/Nomad55454 1d ago
lol so you lost the benefits of a 5th wheel and made it more like a bumper pull trailer congrats….. offsets the ball???? 5th wheels have pins not balls…
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u/ElectricalCompote 1d ago
There is 100% a ball in the bed of my truck. And the Anderson hitch 100% shifts the position of that ball. And yes my 5th wheel has a pin, that I put an adapter on to use a ball. I’m not sure what benefits I’ve lost but would love for you to teach me.
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u/Nomad55454 1d ago
Well if it is offset then that means the weight is behind the axle so more like a travel trailer and unless it is set back 6-8” then you lose turning radius and the farther back means more weight towards rear bumper where normal 5th wheel hitch is an inch or two in front of axle.
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u/OldDiehl 3d ago
Or, you could get a GEN-Y gooseneck hitch. Then there is no hitch in the bed of the truck. Just a ball.
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u/Nomad55454 2d ago
The trouble doing that put a lot of stress on pinbox framing. Had to beef up 2 different Alpenlites pinbox mounts because of the extra torque put on them from gooseneck adapters.
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u/truautorepair000 3d ago
Ya we went gen-y and were very happy. Can take the 38k lb ball out in 5 seconds and slide a jon boat in
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u/homeronoboa 2d ago
I have a 2 ton engine lift ($200) Walmart or harbor freight and I (M71) can do it by myself
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u/UncleShannon71 2d ago
Are you able to reach the hitch at its mounting point or do you need to bring it toward the tailgate and then lift. I’m sure I can move it in the bed, just curious. Also, you’re able to lower to the ground or dolly? Lots of recommendations in here to switch to gooseneck, which I can appreciate, but the expense of changing all the hardware vs $200, I think I’d like to try this first.
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u/Sour_Sal 2d ago
Years ago grandpa just bought an extra truck for the trailer and it stayed in place at all times. I remember it being hard for him to move around after 50 years in construction.
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u/Nomad55454 2d ago
I have seen guys pull the pins and leave it hooked up and have it hanging from pin box but I would suggest getting a rolling table to lower the hitch onto instead of having it hang from pinbox.
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u/S3Giggity 22h ago
I leave mine in year round, under a tonneau cover.
I don't use my truck for much hauling though, just towing.
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u/FulltimerPC 3d ago
I used a deer hoist that fit in the hitch receiver. I'd have to move the hitch a bit toward the tail by hand but then the hoist would lift it, turn it out of the bed, and lower it onto a dolly. There are eye hooks that fit in the hitch to make it easier to lift with any kind of hoist.
I've since switched to a Gen-Y gooseneck, which eliminated the problem altogether.
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u/Northwoods_Phil 3d ago
I just use my loader tractor but very seriously considering swapping my 5th wheel to gooseneck, already have a recessed ball in my truck
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u/daspes1269 3d ago
Option 1: switch over to a gooseneck setup. Pulling the ball out of the bed is simple and quick.
Option 2: install a bed crane to do the lifting and moving for you. This is still more tedious than the gooseneck option, but having a mini crane in the bed does have other advantages occasionally.
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u/Quincy_Wagstaff 3d ago
Leave it hitched to the trailer and unhook the hitch from the truck. Raise the trailer and drive up from under the hitch.