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Open Roads Forum > Toy Haulers

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tj548

Salt Lake City

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Joined: 03/14/2006

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Posted: 05/22/12 02:33pm

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mr. old style wrote:

My reese 20k has double jaws, and I confirmed by looking it up in owners manual that the ONLY correct way to hook it up, is to
1-have trailer lower than 5th wheel plate by 1/2 to one inch
2-have jaws CLOSED with safety catch open
3-back in under trailer forcing truck down, jaws open, and watch handle open and then close. with all the various safety measures in place.
just as described in asuperheat's response above. I found this in the manual supplied with the hitch.
I am confident, however disgusted with myself that this was operator error, especially seeing it was the second time it happened.
Triple checking will definately be common in the future!!!
Thanks for all the great replies and help with this issue
Happy Camping!

Thanks for making your experience available to all. It's a tough deal for you but a great reminder to everyone else. You just can't be too careful when it comes to this stuff.

TV: 2011 Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7L Diesel
TH: 07 Next Level 38CKS
2010 Polaris RZR
2 Polaris ATV's
1 Yamaha Enduro

nayther

Burbank, CA

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Posted: 05/22/12 04:51pm

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At least you had the landing gear down. My buddy has dropped two trailers on his bed, still has the bent bad and I think he's so mad at himself for doing it he's going to live with a mashed truck.

DIRT BIKES RULE

'12 Duramax CC short bed
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mapguy

Puget Sound

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Posted: 05/22/12 05:34pm

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Get a Markal Paint Stick and paint the jaws brite yellow so you can easily check for proper position after hitching -day or nite.

Four things make sure it won't fall.
1. Proper hitch procedure with handle movement in/out
2. physically engage the safety latch/plate
3. Pull test against wheel chocks/trailer brakes before fully lifting landing gear
4. visual check of jaws

Any of these fail/not right -don't move the truck until resolved.
Using a check list helps remember all these things. If you have a smartphone -there is an app for a RV checklist that can be customized.

mr. old style

wisconsin

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Posted: 05/22/12 09:36pm

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nayther wrote:

At least you had the landing gear down. My buddy has dropped two trailers on his bed, still has the bent bad and I think he's so mad at himself for doing it he's going to live with a mashed truck.

No not really my bed was crushed pretty good, got it straightened up enough to use on vacation next three weeks, then its in the garage and off come the box sides

mr. old style

wisconsin

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Posted: 05/22/12 09:39pm

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mapguy wrote:

Painted my jaws quite some time ago, the only thing I didnt do was engage the safety catch

I was "only moving it 100 feet" turns out it only takes 50'

and I reckon my landing gear was up a little high

nayther

Burbank, CA

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Posted: 05/23/12 08:38am

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The "safety catch" wouldn't help much, if any, the jaws are spring loaded and the bar sets into a notch so I don't think that would have mattered. I move mine all the time without a lock in the safety catch but I always (I think) swing down the safety catch. It's only 18 gauge or so bent plate so it's not very strong.

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