rick83864
Sandpoint, ID
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up2nogood wrote:chipper wrote:Irelands child wrote:What I really like about this website? The OP dropped his brand new fiver. This happens!! But what do we hear? Comments that start on about page 2 or 3 that have the tone of 'I'm perfect and plan my hitch so that it will never happen to me'. These folks, the OP, in reality, had a problem, asked, if you really care to read between the lines, how can I not do this again. There are some really good answers. Then come the "It will never happen to me". Please folks, go walk on water, feed the massses, but stop those inept and inane statements. It can happen. It does happen. It did happen. And yes, after 18+ years, I 'tested' my Bed Saver. I sincerely doubt that most here have as much experience in terms of years as I have with a 5er - and I for sure use a check list, and still messed up but luckily, with no damage - because I have a Bed Saver. Is it a crutch - yep, but for sure it saved me a bunch of money vs. the $200 it cost for peace of mind. Do I recommend one. Yep - but for only those who don't have a perfect life.
Yep, took me 19 years too ,but I finally did it.
Like the old saying goes, there are those who have done it & those who will.
I have to believe you are serious, but are you serious ?? What gets me is we get this mostly from the drop your fifth wheel club, if I didn't know better, you guys sound like its a badge of courage and everyone is going to drop a fifth wheel so lets all do it and join the club, well I have news for you there are a lot of folks out there that have been doing this for a long time ,and HAVE NOT dropped there fifth wheels. I can't say I will never do it , but to date, I guess according to some I have been just plain lucky. Well I have some more news for you no luck involved. Its paying attention to detail
Nothing wrong with a bedsaver I have one. Its the attitude about hitching that chaps my behind. We hear this peace of mind thing, I can tell you honestly what in heavens name could be the piece of mind to hear that fifth wheel bang into a bedsaver, well my peace of mind is that I have never heard that noise, and I will do everything under my power to keep it that way. There will be no peace of mind if I ever drop a fifth wheel bedsaver or not. You folks can throw that perfect******or never make a mistake thing out there all you want, but the fact still remains there are a whole lot of folks out there that ARE NOT going to join the dropped club. Let me change the old saying just a bit, there are ones that are going to do it ,and ones that are not.
You might be on to something up2nogood
Maybe after owning this device for a couple of decades one might want to hear the music it makes at least once. I am in the will not group because I will not be that lax.
06 Dodge 3500 Laramie 4x4 Dually
5.9 Cummins HO Automatic,Jacobs brake, Dodge Navigation
06 Grand Junction 34' Mor/ryde, 5500 Onan genny, Dual A/C, Fireplace
21500 GVW
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up2nogood
Utah
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Joined: 02/20/2008
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rick83864 wrote:up2nogood wrote:chipper wrote:Irelands child wrote:What I really like about this website? The OP dropped his brand new fiver. This happens!! But what do we hear? Comments that start on about page 2 or 3 that have the tone of 'I'm perfect and plan my hitch so that it will never happen to me'. These folks, the OP, in reality, had a problem, asked, if you really care to read between the lines, how can I not do this again. There are some really good answers. Then come the "It will never happen to me". Please folks, go walk on water, feed the massses, but stop those inept and inane statements. It can happen. It does happen. It did happen. And yes, after 18+ years, I 'tested' my Bed Saver. I sincerely doubt that most here have as much experience in terms of years as I have with a 5er - and I for sure use a check list, and still messed up but luckily, with no damage - because I have a Bed Saver. Is it a crutch - yep, but for sure it saved me a bunch of money vs. the $200 it cost for peace of mind. Do I recommend one. Yep - but for only those who don't have a perfect life.
Yep, took me 19 years too ,but I finally did it.
Like the old saying goes, there are those who have done it & those who will.
I have to believe you are serious, but are you serious ?? What gets me is we get this mostly from the drop your fifth wheel club, if I didn't know better, you guys sound like its a badge of courage and everyone is going to drop a fifth wheel so lets all do it and join the club, well I have news for you there are a lot of folks out there that have been doing this for a long time ,and HAVE NOT dropped there fifth wheels. I can't say I will never do it , but to date, I guess according to some I have been just plain lucky. Well I have some more news for you no luck involved. Its paying attention to detail
Nothing wrong with a bedsaver I have one. Its the attitude about hitching that chaps my behind. We hear this peace of mind thing, I can tell you honestly what in heavens name could be the piece of mind to hear that fifth wheel bang into a bedsaver, well my peace of mind is that I have never heard that noise, and I will do everything under my power to keep it that way. There will be no peace of mind if I ever drop a fifth wheel bedsaver or not. You folks can throw that perfect******or never make a mistake thing out there all you want, but the fact still remains there are a whole lot of folks out there that ARE NOT going to join the dropped club. Let me change the old saying just a bit, there are ones that are going to do it ,and ones that are not.
You might be on to something up2nogood
Maybe after owning this device for a couple of decades one might want to hear the music it makes at least once. I am in the will not group because I will not be that lax.
Be careful what you say,you will get put into the perfect club, it is not nearly as popular as drop the fifth wheel club. I like music, but that is one tune I can do without.
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Roy M
British Columbia
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Joined: 10/16/2009
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Well, I feel a LITTLE better knowing that I am not the first to drop a trailer. I had a senior moment and in my haste forgot to lock the hitch while moving the trailer away from the fence. Fortunately all I got was some scratched paint and a small dent on the box. The best part was nobody was watching LOL.
Old age and treachery always beats youth and enthusiasm
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rkentzel
Perris, CA
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Joined: 04/11/2006
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There is a place on Limonite ave in Riverside CA Use to be by Sams Western wear but they moved down the street that sells pickup beds as one of the other posters mentioned. You most likely get one there for less than a repair. Most of the beds there are white.
2006 GEORGETOWN 349TS Ford F53
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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Irelands child wrote:What I really like about this website? The OP dropped his brand new fiver. This happens!! But what do we hear? Comments that start on about page 2 or 3 that have the tone of 'I'm perfect and plan my hitch so that it will never happen to me'. These folks, the OP, in reality, had a problem, asked, if you really care to read between the lines, how can I not do this again. There are some really good answers. Then come the "It will never happen to me". Please folks, go walk on water, feed the massses, but stop those inept and inane statements. It can happen. It does happen. It did happen. And yes, after 18+ years, I 'tested' my Bed Saver. I sincerely doubt that most here have as much experience in terms of years as I have with a 5er - and I for sure use a check list, and still messed up but luckily, with no damage - because I have a Bed Saver. Is it a crutch - yep, but for sure it saved me a bunch of money vs. the $200 it cost for peace of mind. Do I recommend one. Yep - but for only those who don't have a perfect life.
I readily admit that I am NOT "perfect". Oh, yes, I make mistakes.
HOWEVER, when hitching the 5er, I strive to do the same things, in the same sequence EVERY TIME! I set the height of the 5er so that it has to lift about an inch or so to get on the hitch. That eliminates the possibility of a "high hitch" situation. I make sure the indicator pin on the front of the hitch is sticking out, showing that the king pin is fully seated in the hitch. I make sure the safety latch will easily engage, showing that the jaws are fully locked. I connect the umbilicals, then raise the landing gear about an inch or two off the ground. I then do a "pull test" by locking the trailer brakes and trying to drive forward in first gear. If the hitch holds, (and it always has), then I am good to go after fully retracting the landing gear. If ANYTHING interrupts this sequence of events, I go back and ensure it was all done right! By the way, I don't use a "check list".
Is that "perfection" or simply situational awareness and attention to detail? Since I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am NOT "perfect", it can't be "perfection".
My Husky Hitch and my routine have never failed me. Someday, perhaps it will. Since I do not have a "crutch" to rely on, it is up to me to endeavor to see that it doesn't happen. If it does, it will be MY fault, for not paying adequate attention to what I am supposed to be doing.
As for the OP, he made a mistake. He knows it. I hope he learned from it. I tried to tell him how I have avoided making that mistake. Others have attempted to say the same things, in different ways. Most of us are not interested in bragging about our "perfection". We know it doesn't exist!
Further Edit: I forgot to say that I don't have a V-notch "5er tailgate", either. I have never hit the tailgate, though.
Just lucky, I guess.
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CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 274,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '08 Subaru Outback
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited/Load Trail 16' flatbed
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Irelands child
Any City
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Joined: 05/01/2006
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Amazing responses from some folks (and, to be perfectly honest, exactly what I expected  )
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Road Runners
Tampa Bay, Florida
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Joined: 12/19/2001
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It seems to me that most of the dropped fifth wheels come from hitches that have jaws that wrap around the pin. There are hitches that have a bar that slides behind the pin locking the pin in place. In these hitches with the bar lock, if the handle is triggered and slams shut then the bar has slid closing the exit and locking in the pin. I don't know that much about a Curt hitch, but I would be interested to hear if it has two jaws that wraps around the pin.
'05' F-250 Power Stroke
'00' 30' Cameo Fifth Wheel
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ol Bombero-JC
USA
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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Capt Skup wrote:If the truck's bed is badly damaged, there is a way to save quite a bit on replacement. Hundreds of stock OEM pickup beds are removed each year to allow aftermarket "upfitter" custom work beds to be installed. Facilities re-sell those almost brand new beds for a whole lot less than what a dealer purchase would cost you. There is a local yard that has racks filled with these beds waiting to be purchased. Many I saw last time I drove by were Public Works yellow(think checker cab). All you have to do is have it repainted to match your truck and have it installed.
Second the thought/s above.
You're in CA - check major metro areas -like So.CA- in the Recycler (take-off beds), and the Yellow Pages, etc. for the outfits that sell service bodies on pickups.
Usually there are lots of complete pickup beds available - "maybe" at a reasonable price. Calling to ask is cheap!
~
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NAVY MSC
fresno california
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Joined: 06/27/2003
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Hey Debra,
Sorry to hear bout you mishap, been there, done that...I had a small amount of damage to the rails of my last Dodge 1 Ton. I was lucky, some Line X on the rail covered it, and away I went. It can always be worse...
NAVY MSC
F-350 LB Dually--32ft Challenger RL
Harley Davidson FatBoy
Shot of Yukon Jack 
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camillit
SE Pennsylvania
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Just an FYI after 8 pages of posts.....which i didn't read. I have a Signature series 18K hitch. I do a tug test and would have dropped it about 4 times show if I didn't! Why? Because I "high hitched". Yes, the jaw closed, the safety flag showed, you could see the jaw wrapped around the pin...but, the pin was too high in the jaw. Then I overcompensated and broke about 3 Teflon lube plates because I had trailer too low. On a hard surface I measure up from ground to bottom of trailer nose, 61.5 inched. But when you are on uneven sites it is tough. So, I measured and cut a board 28" long, that is distance from bed floor to bottom of trailer nose. Make sure you don't High Hitch.
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