BW 3600 5th wheel hitch

[Vette Racer]

Those who use this hitch, how do you reach the safety pin for the handle when hooking/unhooking the trailer? I can barely reach the handle, let along the safety pin, thinking about designing a different pin with a long reach.

How do you handle this problem?

 

[RustyJC]

Tom,

Hey, welcome to the TDR. How are you liking the new Ram so far??

To answer your question, I carry a truck tire step that I picked up at Tractor Supply. See HERE. It fits at one side of the truck bed floor between the wheel well and tailgate when not in use.


Rusty

 

[Dieselnerd]

I stand on top of the tire and lean way over. I can just make it without falling into the bed!

 

[RustyJC]

Ron,

I used to do that - then I got old. LOL. That's why I have to use the step to get to the top of the tire.

Rusty

 

[Vette Racer]

Yep, that's my problem as well Rusty, hard for me to step up on anything too high and impossible to get into the bed, really need to find a way to do it from the ground. I was thinking about making a pin about 4 inches long for the down part, then put a 90 degree bend in it and get a magnet to put on the release lever so it would hold the safety pin, that way it would come out close to the bed so I can reach it.

Like the truck, just put 200 miles on it to help with the break in so getting there. Should be ready for a short tow before long.

 

[Larry Willard]

I carry a small step stool in the back of the bed and use it for fueling the auxiliary tank, reaching the hitch, etc.

 

[RustyJC]

Tom,

Have you thought about boosting Charlie up over the bed rail and let her do it?

Rusty

 

[Vette Racer]

Tom,

Have you thought about boosting Charlie up over the bed rail and let her do it?

Rusty

I did but she didn't think much of that idea. No way I can reach the pin with a 12" step, nor climb up on the dually tire, could use the step and the dually tire step together but life needs to be simpler, not more complex. Think I'll go get a steel rod and play around. Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[RustyJC]

Tom,

I could see drilling a hole in the Companion's handle where you could push it to the open position or pull it to the closed position from the side of the truck using a short version of the old-style manual awning rod. I could also see replacing the locking pin with a rod with a 90 degree bend on one end and a long handle that you could reach from the side of the truck - that doesn't solve the locking clip dilemma, but there are other ways to ensure that the modified locking pin can't vibrate out.

Rusty

 

[kthaxton]

I don't use that hitch, but I can access most things in the bed using the "3rd" step on my N-Fab Nerf bars.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I don't use that hitch, but I can access most things in the bed using the "3rd" step on my N-Fab Nerf bars.

Reaching the hitch on a SRW like yours is easy. The problem we are talking about is on a dually. The hitch lever sits right at the widest part of the dually fenders which requires a "long reach" while you hang over the bed!

 

[TJJEEPER]

I carry one of these...
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/folding-2-step-stool/65819
It gets used for lots of other things now that I carry it!

 

[SnoKing]

I moved where the clip tether was attached to having it tie wrapped out on the handle.

Carry a small folding stool to reach things my 6'3" frame comes up short on. Snoking


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[kthaxton]

Reaching the hitch on a SRW like yours is easy. The problem we are talking about is on a dually. The hitch lever sits right at the widest part of the dually fenders which requires a "long reach" while you hang over the bed!

Ah yes, I missed that little tidbit......I was starting to think y'all were vertically challenged or something. :-laf

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have made three of these. Work great for toolbox access and hitch handle. Copy if you want but if you sell any send me 20% of the profit. First one non skid second Rhino type product.