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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Something Else to Check...
Post Info TOPIC: Something Else to Check...
Terry and Jo


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Something Else to Check...
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If one has a fifth wheel, and if the fifth wheel hitch in the pickup has pins and "clips" to hold those pins in place, be sure to check those on occasion.

I went out today to clean out a bunch of leaves.  Our F450 stays parked under a tree and it had a bunch of old leaves in the front of the bed around our fifth wheel hitch and generator.  In order for those to not be there and get wet when it rains, I wanted to clean out the leaves.

After cleaning out the leaves, I noticed one of the "clips" lying on the pickup bed under the fifth wheel jaw area.  Looking around at the pins in the hitch, I noted that the ones holding the hitch to the rails were in place and two others that I noticed had their clips.  But then, I found one more set helping to hold the "head" of the hitch in place and one of those was missing the clip and the pin was part way out.

Glad I found that before hooking up sometime and moving the fifth wheel.  So, I advise a periodic check of all pins and clips on your fifth wheel hitches.

Fifth Wheel Pins and Clips

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

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RVStrayKatz


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I witness wire all critical pins to ensure nothing works loose or gets tampered with. In addition when I’m traveling for more than one overnight I remove the standard safety pin and replace it with a keyed lock. There has been more than one occasion where somebody has pulled the fifth wheel handle as a form of vandalism. The unsuspecting owner drives off in the morning only to crush there tailgate. I have personally seen this happen.

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John & Dawna

DRV Elite Suites 39RESB3 2016

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LarryW21


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Haven’t it happen but I’ve seen the tailgates.

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The Bear II


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I've heard stories of kids removing the clips and/or pins in campgrounds where there are lots of unsupervised teens.

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Terry and Jo


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Bear,

Not been in any places like that for the most part.  In this case, the clip would have had to have been pulled toward the passenger side of the pickup, and the clip was found on the pickup bed directly under the hitch's "head."  So, it seems unlikely to have just worked out on its own and fallen into that area.  On our travels back to Oklahoma from Utah, we did have our RV at a KOA north of Pueblo, CO for a few days while we were in Colorado Springs.  Most all other times, teens weren't anywhere near when the RV wasn't to where it could be watched.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
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