Lifting the 5th wheel hitch

[jshumate]

I'm interested to know what people use to load and unload their 5th hitch. My youngest son is moving out soon and I've always relied on his help. I'm trying to avoid having to take the head off each time I want it out. Preferrably, I'd like to be able to lift it off the bed and move it into the garage. I used to do it alone, but the back isn't what it used to be.

Options I've looked at are cranes, hoists, hydraulic lift tables, etc.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[GWBourne]

depending on how your garage is built and how you park in it... . this could be easy



build a hoist out of a couple of pulleys and some high end rope. if you back into the garage ALL the time you could set it up so the 5th wheel hitch stays locked up by the ceiling and "out of the way"

 

[JimBob24]

I bought an inexpensive 1-ton chain hoist which I use to lift my Pullrite Superglide (probably over 200#). I put a large "eye" in the ceiling of my garage and hang the hoist when I need it. I back in to the garage, lift the hitch, then drive out from under it. I have a wooden dolly which I lower the hitch on so I can roll it out of the way. I then take the hoist down so the chains willl not be in the way of parking my truck. Almost effortless and takes less than 10 minutes.

 

[klenger]

I pull off the head and remove it first, then I remove the main hitch assembly, and finally I remove the hitch rails (PullRite Super 5th with SuperRails).



Start here and go backwards

 

[JKinney]

Ive never tried this! I read where one fellow just pulls the pins and lifts it right up while hooked to the pin, using the trailer hoist. and then just drives away. I wondered how he aligned the hitch back up or if he could not line it up I guess he could set it down and pull the release, but with my luck it would stick, so im not trying it.

 

[WHazelwood]

I bought an inexpensive 1-ton chain hoist which I use to lift my Pullrite Superglide (probably over 200#). I put a large "eye" in the ceiling of my garage and hang the hoist when I need it. I back in to the garage, lift the hitch, then drive out from under it. I have a wooden dolly which I lower the hitch on so I can roll it out of the way. I then take the hoist down so the chains willl not be in the way of parking my truck. Almost effortless and takes less than 10 minutes.

I do basicly the same as JimBob24. I beefed up a header with 2 2X6's and put a big eye bolt through it, hung a 1/2 ton chain hoist on it and back under it to lift out the hitch. I cut a wood pallet down to set the hitch on and put casters on the 4 corners of the pallet and shove it under the bench when not in use.

Works great and only takes about 10 min. to set in or take out.

Happy pullin and keep grinnin

Walt

 

[P Pacatang]

What I do when I want to use the bed of the truck is, hook it up to the trailer pull the pins on the bed rails and raise the trailer up to clear the bed. If its for just 1 day I just leave it hooked up to the trailer, if its 2 or more days I have a cart that I set it on and push it in the garage.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Ive never tried this! I read where one fellow just pulls the pins and lifts it right up while hooked to the pin, using the trailer hoist. and then just drives away. I wondered how he aligned the hitch back up or if he could not line it up I guess he could set it down and pull the release, but with my luck it would stick, so im not trying it.

I used to do this same thing. Worked great. To line it back up is like you said, lower the trailer to where the hitch just touches the bed. Uncouple the hitch from the trailer and repin it to the truck. Then back under and recouple. I'm not a real big guy either and the first time I tried to lift the hitch into the truck, I about blew out my a** gasket.

 

[jshumate]

Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately, I have one of those garages that holds everything but cars and trucks. I can't even back my truck in far enough for a chain hoist. So now I'm looking at hoists that out onto the driveway.

 

[BGlidewell]

A google search for "gantry" yielded a few possibilities. If you can weld, this would be quite the ticket.



http://www.synthx.com/btw/crane.htm



http://www.hoistsdirect.com/wallace_gantry_cranes.htm

 

[RSeymon]

hitch lift

Don't know if this would work.



How about a cherry picker engine lift. Might be able to roll it under rear of truck hook up hitch and roll it back into a storage area? Just a idea Oo. .

 

[EricBu12]

Do a search on "spits lift" ... it is a fold up crane that the main part comes out to store but a bracket gets bolted in..... it is a strap winch crane and is very versitle... . mounts near the end of the bed, hook up and lift, then swing out to the rear and lower..... stong enough for engine blocks... .

 

[BGlidewell]

Portable Truck Crane

 

[rowilson]

As much as I hate Harbor Freight they have a truck crane on sale for $99. 00 that mounts in the corner of your truck bed. Item number is 37555. This would work great for what you want to do.

 

[Nate]

I made one of those before out of some 4x4s and plywood to pull an engine out of truck that had too much lift for the engine hoise. Worked great, cost maybe $60 in materials.

A google search for "gantry" yielded a few possibilities. If you can weld, this would be quite the ticket.



http://www.synthx.com/btw/crane.htm



http://www.hoistsdirect.com/wallace_gantry_cranes.htm

 

[litespeed]

I pull off the head and remove it first, then I remove the main hitch assembly, and finally I remove the hitch rails (PullRite Super 5th with SuperRails).



Start here and go backwards

This works good if you are doing it by yourself. It is much lighter when you seperate the head from the base.



I do it this way every time now. It is quick and easy.



AJ

 

[Boondocker]

Removing/installing a Pullrite Superglide is not a one-man or one-man + one-wife job without mechanical advantage.



After a couple of years wrestling with this, I finally took my own advice and bought an engine hoist ($99 after rebate from Pep Boys). I spent about that much more on a load lever, chain rigging, and a heavy duty steel garden wagon to move it around with.



Now it really is a one-man job with no strain either. My truck bed is no longer useless for having to carry that big, heavy hitch because removing it was such a pain... literally.



I like the hoist on the garage header idea, but it just wouldn't for me.



Neil



Lift with your legs, or

happy, happy, backy, snappy...