If you tow a fifth wheel or travel trailer, getting to your destination and being there are loads of fun. The problem comes when hitching your trailer up for that next run.
This can be a real exercise in patience. The problem? Once you’ve unhitched and set up your trailer in camp, figuring out how to set the towed unit at the right height to connect the hitch ball or fifth wheel plate can drive anyone crazy.
Hitching your trailer doesn’t have to be a chore at a campsite. Photo by RoadRuler, airforums.com member
Here’s the helpful advice one website offers about hitching up a fifth-wheel: “Using the front-landing gear, raise or lower the kingpin so that it’s slightly lower than the fifth wheel plate.”
While this sounds easy in practice, it takes a lot of running back and forth between the landing gear switch and the tail of the truck, eyeballing to see just what constitutes “slightly lower.” But, once you feel you have hit that sweet spot, you may be dismayed when you start rolling the truck back and find your height was off.
It’s similar to a travel trailer. But, the problem when hitching your trailer is compounded when you can’t see the hitch ball as it lines up below (or maybe above) the trailer hitch. It’s not until you hear that awful “clunk” that you realize your level wasn’t spot on. But at least one RV aftermarket parts company has come up with a solution.
They’ve coupled a trailer leveler system with a memory function. Got your trailer unhitched and ready to level it? Push a button, and the system “remembers” the exact height required when you unhitched.
When it’s comes time to hitch your trailer, push a button and the leveler cranks your rig up or down as needed for the exact height. The only problem is not everyone wants a leveler system on their rig. You may not have a few thousand dollars to invest in one either.
Photo via iRV2 Forums
Try this DIY Hitching Process
The do-it-yourself system we use is inexpensive, easy to install, and a breeze to use. It takes the guessing and cussing out of the hitch-up process.
The heart of the system is a simple bubble level. Simply mount the level on the side of your trailer, near the front of the rig in a convenient distance from your tongue jack (or landing gear control switch for a fifth wheel).
Remember, don’t use the double-stick mounting tape included with the level. Instead, run a screw through the top center portion of the plastic above the level vial.
Snug the screw-down only far enough so you can push either end of the level up and down with some amount of force required. It should be tight enough so the level stays where you put it.
Hitch your trailer in a few steps:
- To use, raise the front of the trailer high enough to unhitch (just off the ball in the case of a pull trailer, or just off the fifth wheel saddle plate).
- Next, adjust your new level to where the bubble is showing level.
- You can now level the trailer up or down for livability. Just don’t touch the “hitching level.”
When it’s time to re-hitch, raise or lower the trailer until the hitching level shows “level” again. Now, your trailer is at just the right height to roll right under and hitch up. To hitch your trailer safely and easily, simply take a little time and patience and you can be on your way home or to a next destination.
My only problem with this is that I have too many inquisitive friends that will come by and wiggle the level, then ask what it’s for! Otherwise a great idea.
Back-up camera on yow vehicle. E.g., Metra, from Best Buy. Has changed my life!
I use a rear view camera and back up to the tounge, then adjust tounge height slightly lower than hitch ball, then finish backing feeling the coupler settle into position, then finish by raising the tounge jack. The license plate mounted rear view camera makes all the difference in efficiency.
Hmmm….
Neat idea. If you didn’t want to put a screw into your trailer maybe you could stick it to a strong magnet with double sided tape and stick it on the frame. And, as Norman said, hope nobody bothers it. 😉
I’ve seen suggestions to put a piece of masking tape on the front jack post, just under the outer tube, after lifting the hitch off the TV. When ready to hitch, Jack it up or down as required tho get that marker tape back to the same relative position.
I use a pair of balls attached to expanding rods. One goes on the hitch, the other goes on the front of the trailer receiver, back up until the two balls line up in the rear view mirror and then check how much I have to raise/lower the trailer to match. The distance I usually have to go is just a few inches and it is easy to see how much more/less I need.
I painted a white line on the receiving hitch on the trailer so I can see the middle when using my back up camera. To get it at the right height, hand signals from my wife, works just about every time.
I ask my wife to direct me. Not cheap, but wort it to have her come along!!!😀
Put a back up camera on your license plate frame and watch as you back up to ensure the hitch ball lines up with the trailer tongue and the height is appropriate. After a few attempts while watching how every thing lines up, the procedure becomes very easy and fast for one person!!
I have an old broom handle which I place next to my hitch and mark the top height of the ball above the ground with my thumb. Then, without moving my thumb, I take the handle to the receiver and adjust its height to just above my thumb mark. Cheap and efficient. My wife also uses the handle by holding it out horizontally from the receiver to make sure I’m lined up as i come back..
I just raise the trailer hitch up to it’s full height.
Why make things more complicated than they need to be?
Exactly! I usually don’t even hitch up. I just tie ropes from my trailer to my truck.
I got a I-Ball camrera for back.It,s the best thing I got in a long time.
I use reflective duc tape 3/4″ wide to mark center line on the back of the trailer and on the inside top of my tailgate. My Daughter guides me to position me under the ball. The same tape is on the shaft of the Elec. Tongue jack for top and bottom positions…. Works great… no one knows it is there…
Sometimes when I am having a tough time hitching up I’ll just tie some ropes from the bumper on my truck to the frame of the camper and haul it that way.
Sometimes when I am having a tough time hitching up I’ll just tie some ropes from the bumper on my truck to the frame of the camper and haul it that way.
There seems to be no shortage of humor.
Low tech, but works.
For a fifth wheel, the next time you unhitch, mark a long dowel with a piece of tape matching the front of the trailer.
Then when re-hitching, just raise the trailer until the tape aligns and your done!
WE use a pair of hand-held Walkie-Talkies and the ‘Driver-Side ‘ or ‘Passenger Side’ commands, as learned from LOLOHO videos on YT. Works every time, tho the wife hates to get out in the rain.. We like the WTs bks cell service is often spotty or non-existent at CGs and my wife hates to yell! ;-).
When I unhitch, after I move the truck way, I rest my leg against the trailer-side of the hitch. This serves as a measuring stick that I can’t lose. Usually it hits right above my knee, so I know to return the hitch height to that place to hook up the trailer again.
For my pull behind, I use the TruePower 20-1888 magnetic Trailer Alignment Kit. It gets me the exact height and I can back the ball EXACTLY under the hitch. I put one magnet (fully extended) on the first flat spot in front of the ball, then the second magnet (fully extended, then minus 3”) on the tip top of the hitch. When the two balls kiss each other, they are at the PERFECT. Aligned left-right, back-front, height.
Easiest way is to get the correct height is with a small magnet and a piece of chain. Stick the magnet on the top of the hitch and cut the chain to the correct height.
I also painted the top of the hitch white. My truck has a backup camera. I can get with 1/2 inch when backing.
My Chevy truck’s backup camera system has 2 cameras, one looks down at the hitch area. Saves a lot of steps for me since I hook up alone.
My pickup has a backup camera. I’ve painted the coupler on the trailer white, and it makes it much easier to see the coupler.