Sunday, January 27 – One of the things we worry about when hitching up the truck and 5th wheel is the awful damage that would be caused by dropping an improperly hooked trailer onto the pickup. It is said there are two types of 5th wheel owners – ones that have dropped the 5th wheel on their pickups and ones who eventually will.
Well, to help avoid this, Paul ordered the Bed Saver from Butch's Service. It is designed to catch the 5th wheel pin before any damage can be done. Paul has read several testimonials on the Internet and decided to give it a try.
It arrived in the mail the other day. Installation was fairly simple and straight forward. The hardest part is interpreting the instructions and getting the layout correct for drilling the holes for attachment.
Once laid out, you drill four holes and use the bolts included to attach the Bed Saver to the 5th wheel hitch.
To hitch up, you unlock and pull the Bed Saver bar away from the mouth of the hitch. Once hitched, you return the bar to the locked position and complete the normal “hitch test.” If not hitched securely, the bar will catch the 5th wheel pin before any damage is done by the trailer falling down on the truck bed.
Paul then did some cosmetic touch up painting of the hitch and the installation was complete.
Hopefully, we will never have to give the Bed Saver a test. We'll let you know the results if the test is ever completed.
There is a rule in the park that dogs must be on a leash but not so for cats. There is a cat that has been coming around driving Bella crazy. It acts like it belongs here with us.
Once Bella has enough of this cat, she lets her thoughts be known.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
One thing Len always does is have a lock on the lever that opens the latch. We have heard of people walking by a Fifthwheel hooked to a truck and pulling the level causing the rig to fall on the bed of the truck when the driver takes off.
ReplyDeleteThey somehow think this is funny.
Cat probably belongs to one of your friendly neighbors who believes her cat should be allowed to roam.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, you'll never get to test your new contraption.
As anxious as you are to try out the new toy, I think this is one I'd wait on as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteGood for Paul...better safe than sorry! An investment that will be well worth it...if you never have to use it!
ReplyDeletePoor Bella...she can't leave and go home when she's had enough...she's already home!
I like that little gadget I think I better check in to one for us.
ReplyDeleteI always check my hitch when we have been away from the rig for any reason. I too have heard of pulling the lever in parking lots. Good job Paul.
ReplyDeleteThat is unreal about people pulling the lever for kicks. Although we have a motorhome, Eldy keeps a padlock on the hitch pin. He says people will do that to motorhomes towing a car.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think that a fifth wheel hitch would already come with some sort of back up device, but maybe I'm just naive.
ReplyDeleteNo comment on the lose cat. I take a dim view. (I'd have the water hose handy)
Very wise decision. . .we dropped our smaller trailer TWICE. . .first time due to total inexperience. . .second time . . .outside interference during setup (long story). . .after that. . .the truck NEVER moved until the hitch LOCK was on and secure. . .
ReplyDeleteI read a blogger who says she has hook up anxiety (HUA). . .I can totally relate!
Hope you never need your new installation. . .but glad you have it!
Nice safety device and good job of installing it too.
ReplyDeleteOnce our lever is in place, locking the fifth wheel pin, we padlock it so it cannot be pulled. maybe they dont all have a way to do this.
ReplyDeletePut us in the we have dropped the 5er group. Looks like a good insurance policy.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea in "preventive maintenance". Always good to think about what might happen, and do all you can to avoid the problems that come with it. Looks like a real stand off there with the critters on their leashes...HAHAHA.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this but am passing this along to hubby as we also have a 5th-wheel. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm still thinking that Marsha should rent Paul out. I'd be the first in line.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea having it installed, as you say, hopefully you will never know if it works.
ReplyDeleteGlad that Bella stands up and protects her family and property.
Kevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com