mwallace61
Alabama
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Joined: 03/28/2008
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Dave,
My sincere condolences Amigo.
Mike
Mike & Karen
ForrestGump
USA
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rmylek
Pittsburg, CA
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Joined: 04/03/2005
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Actually i find it a lot easier hooking up my 5th wheel than the trailer with a ball hitch. One thing i learned was know where the center of your truck is, and make sure you can see you king pin when backing up. What I also do is lean the hitch toward the trailer so I can see it out the back window also. When unhooking I do like the rest. watch the hitch for a little day light, plus watch for the pressure of the trailer to release from the hitch also.
good luck!
2006 F-250 V10
2006 Wildcat 28RK
Husky 16k slider
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PrivatePilot
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 11/02/2007
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rmylek wrote:One thing i learned was know where the center of your truck is
That's quite important, agreed. My in-bed toolbox has "lines" molded into it that run lengthwise to the truck, and one of them is exactly dead-center on the body itself.
I use it while backing as a reference to where the centerline of the truck is, and it works perfectly for said purpose.
30' Keystone Cougar 5'er, Triple Bunkhouse, SuperSlide.
Chevy 3500 1 Ton long box crew cab dually
6.5 Turbo Diesel, 4.11 Rears, LSD
Miles towed in 2008: 12,900 Kilometers, 7990 Miles
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mtofell1
Oregon
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Joined: 12/08/2006
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If I may be some inspiration.... my wife wouldn't know a king pin or landing gear from a Starbucks latte. I'm a one man show when it comes to dealing with the house on wheels and it's really not bad.
I think it's great that you're out enjoying something the two of you did together. Make the most of it and enjoy yourself. I'm sure she's closer than you might think 
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Dave & Nannette
Burley Idaho
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Joined: 03/25/2005
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Thanks for everyone's help and nice thoughts. I did download the hitches instructions before, but it still was difficult. I'm sure as time goes, it will be easy. Just looking for suggestions to help as I get better. Thanks for the info about leaning the hitch, so you can see the pin better. I can get a budgee cord to hold the handle down. Appreciate it!
Dave
U.S. NAVY RETIRED (active duty '72-'93)
'03 FORD F250 POWER STROKE SUPER DUTY TURBO 6.0
'04 KEYSTONE SPRINTER 27' (One Slide out)
1 DOG - SHIH TZU (MOLLY)
Widower; My wife (Nannette) recently passed away, but I'll keep the name "Dave & Nannette"
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Martyn
Bennett, Colorado, USA
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Dave - lots of good advice been given. I always hitch up and unhitch by myself and think nothing of it. When you've done it a couple of times it will be second nature. Kudos to you on carrying on doing what you like, and also my sincere condolences on your loss. Go camping and think of the good times when you are out there. Best of luck!
2004.5 Dodge Ram 2500 QC CTD 4x4 SLT; 2007 Coachmen Chaparral 267RLS;
Reese 15K Slider;Prodigy;JT Stabilizers;2 Honda EU2000i's;
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McCRam
Montana
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Joined: 04/21/2006
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The only thing I ask my wife to do is wave her arms like crazy if I am about to hit something. I am seriously considering a rear mounted camera on the truck and trailer for backing up and hitching up.
Best advise I can give is to take your time. All of my screw ups happened when I was in a hurry.
97 Dodge Ram 2500 Cub Cab Cummins B&W Companion Hitch
06 Laredo 29RL
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outdoorsman2007
In the Woods - Somewhere!
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Joined: 04/12/2007
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Dave & Nannette wrote:Thanks privatepilot. I will remember that. Another thing that was difficult, was when I extended the electric jacks, how high (or when do you know) is the right height before you unhook? Should you see a little daylight between the teflon ring and the hitch? Or just make sure the jacks are firmly on the boards? Then unhook
Thanks. Just want to get as much info as possible before the trip.
Dave please accept our sympathy for the loss of your wife.
When you are extending your front landing legs watch your hitch. Do not wait to see daylight - thats too far. You are good when you see the weight lift from the hitch head. I hope this helps.
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PrivatePilot
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
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McCRam wrote:The only thing I ask my wife to do is wave her arms like crazy if I am about to hit something. I am seriously considering a rear mounted camera on the truck and trailer for backing up and hitching up.
Relying on a rear mounted camera can be helpful but isn't a total solution to overall spatial awareness.
Based on observations when people hit things in campgrounds its often on their blindside while backing, the roof or gutters (tree branches), or something they drive over such as a curb or fire-pit. A rear mounted camera would only be so much help in all these situations, and its possible to fixate upon it so much that you loose your overall awareness.
I have one on my pickup and speak from experience - I was watching it so intently one day while backing into a parking spot at WalMart that I almost put the front passenger corner of my truck into the rear bumper of a car parked across from the spot I was backing into. I now only use it for "the last few inches" to judge distance.
* This post was
edited 05/03/08 07:07am by PrivatePilot *
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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I have a tip when it comes to hitching.
On my truck I can not see my in bed hitch due to a tool box. I have a mark on the pin box at dead center. Then I have a small piece of white tape dead center and low on my back glass of the truck. Then when the trailer is hitched and straight behind me I put a small piece of white tape on my rear view mirror that lines up with the tape on the rear glass and the mark on the pin box. Then when I am backing up to the trailer I line the three marks like sighting a rifle. If you have the trailer at the correct height you will get the King Pin into the hitch every time.
I have a 5th Airborne so I watch when I am jacking the trailer and stop as soon as the 5th Airborne starts to pivot.
The tip to chock the trailer tires before you release the king pin is also very wise. This will help prevent the trailer and truck moving when you release the King Pin.
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