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Post by milpol4523 on Oct 4, 2017 14:08:32 GMT -5
I need to do what we did with our 09 Heartland Sundance 313 BH and it was the best thing ever. I added a piece of mirror plexiglass to the fiberglass nose cone for a docking mirror. 3M 2 way tape holds the sheet in place and then it was clear sealed around the outer edge. I also added docking led lighting and a switch. This new KZ 331 TH 12 is so difficult to load into the box of the truck that I find myself climbing out of the truck several times to align and lower or raise the nose it is becoming a running joke with people in the seasonal park. Has anyone gone and added a mirror to their 5th wheel so its easier to match the head to teh pin on the trailer? if so what size mirrored reflective film or mirrored sheet of plexiglass did you use? any photos to share would be great. the tough guy in teh back seat merely wants to get camping sooner than later and i always get this look when i return to the truck about the 10th time. Attachments:
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Post by Chuck on Oct 5, 2017 16:02:21 GMT -5
milpol4523 Somewhere an I do not recall, maybe Camping world that had magnetic based rods with tennis balls on the top so you could line them up backing into your trailer, one you put on the pin box an the other either on the 5th wheel or the top of bed wall near the back window on your truck. Thus making it much easier to hitch up without getting out of your truck a number of times to make sure you are lined up .... Hope this helps Safe travels  Chuck |
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Post by milpol4523 on Oct 6, 2017 6:47:49 GMT -5
thanks Chuck.
I had those with the tag along travel trailer we owned until this July when we traded it for the new 5th wheel.
The mirror, like the one i installed on our BH, meant I could look through my mirror and align the pin to the receiver a lot easier.
I don't know why manufacturers fail to adopt good ideas from the industry and add them to their products. sort of like turning signals, windshield wipers and seat belts in cars and trucks
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Post by doublewa on Oct 6, 2017 9:35:42 GMT -5
thanks Chuck. I had those with the tag along travel trailer we owned until this July when we traded it for the new 5th wheel. The mirror, like the one i installed on our BH, meant I could look through my mirror and align the pin to the receiver a lot easier. I don't know why manufacturers fail to adopt good ideas from the industry and add them to their products. sort of like turning signals, windshield wipers and seat belts in cars and trucks Turn signals? What are those!?! In Colorado, they must be optional equipment because I never see them. Same thing for daytime running lights. |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 8, 2017 11:25:13 GMT -5
doublewa I think that's a norm all across the country, I did see a guy use hand signal awhile back with an old Chevy making a left hand turn, 1st time I have saw that in many a year milpol4523 I have mirrors on my truck that extend out another 6 to 8 inches so seeing abound our 5th wheel even thought it is 101 inches wide is no problem. I have over three million miles in a semi truck an maybe a few hundred backing up LOL ... So hooking up to our 5th wheel even in the dark is not to much of a problem, I line up the truck with the trailer using the fenders an back up a close to the trailer without going under it. I then get out check that I am straight an the 5th wheel on the truck lines up with the trailer, I also check to sure the trailers is not to high... I then back up watch that I am centered on the pin till I hook, I then get out look to make sure I am hooked, put my cord plug in the truck light socket, get in do a pull test to make sure I am hooked ... I have one extra step, I have a pad lock an I pad lock the pull handle so it can not be pulled, thus if i am away from the truck some dirt bag can come along a pull the pin on the 5th wheel, I also hook my emergency brake cord into this lock as well ... Two things I was told by my father many years ago, always set your trailer bake back against the trailer before for pull forward to make sure the 5th wheel pin is locked to the trailer, two, never set your trailer air brakes when stopping only the tractor brakes in cold weather because they will surly freeze if you do so ... I know only one above apply for most of use with electric brakes, but I still back even thought I know I am pad locked to that 5th wheel before I go forward to this day, I also do a small tug test going forward before leaving a site or parking area In today's world the drivers are worse than ever, no turn signal, speeding, talking or texting an not driving. It's all about them, you have to get out of their way because they are more important ... lastly you can adopt good idea's, but the younger people of today either abuse them or do not use them at all, look at cell phones, a very handy tool, but it detracts a driver if used... I can tell if a person on the cell phone is happy or mad, happy they are all over the place an laughing, sad they drive like a mad man ... If you late to work it's not my fault, your late, don't cut me an other off because you in a hurry Ugh Sorry for the rant, 3 million miles I have seen it all from the seat of my truck an now the seat of my pickup pulling our 5th wheel, I use to love to drive an somewhat do not but it's getting were I almost want to stay home an camp in my driveway Ugh Safe Travel Chuck & Hildi |
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Post by doublewa on Oct 9, 2017 10:22:44 GMT -5
Chuck, The padlock is an EXCELLENT idea! I never thought of it. Then again, I've never pulled a 5th wheel. That changes on Thursday. I used to drive a F-550 with a 1`5' bed hauling a 35' tri-axle bumper pull, so I'm guessing the 5th wheel won't be too bad, it will just take a little getting used to. I'm picking my camper up mid-day so that I can get out of metro Denver before rush hour so I can hit a clean highway with my camper and have ample, stress free driving experience. You're right about drivers these days. I've been driving for only 20 years, but it's the cell phones that are the worst. Here in Colorado, there is no cell phone law, but in NJ, you can get a bigger fine for using a cell phone than you can for a DUI. I'm all for less regulation, but driving is a privilege, not a right and therefore should be heavily regulated. People drive several thousand pound rockets at high speeds and their distractions can directly affect me, so I'm all for banning cell phones in cars. I'll get off my soapbox now  |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 9, 2017 11:32:25 GMT -5
doublewa We have the cell phone an texting law in Washington state, believe me they still do it as much as they did before an it's a $150 fine ... On picking up your 5th wheel Take your time doing your PDI, ours took well over 4 hours, make them turn on an off everything twice maybe even three or four times. If you do not understand someething stand there asking questions till you do understand it ... Make them turn the water on thought out the trailer an then check under it to see if there is any leaks also check under the sinks for water leaks as well. Make them show you have to run the TV both on cable an on the units outside antenna... Check the axles to make sure they are not bent, how do you do that, look directly in front of the wheels an see if they are directly in line, if they are not in line the axle may be bent ... Open close all draws, look at cabinet doors, make sure they open an close correctly ... Make them operate the leveling system a number of times till you are familiar with it ... Ask many questions about everything an right down what you don't understand an ask again .... Do not leave before they fix everything, once you are out the door it may take awhile to get back into the door to have things fixed ... Lastly plan on come to the Kz Rally in either late July or early August in Indiana you will not regret it |
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Post by doublewa on Oct 9, 2017 11:56:14 GMT -5
I already did the checks on the cabinets and such. We got lucky, we went and checked out this camper on a rainy day and a salesman never bothered us. We went through that thing pretty good. I checked out the underbelly and the axles. Everything looks good that I can check that doesn't require power or water. I'm having them winterize it for me, so I requested that they do it during my walk through for the reason you just stated. I already have a list of questions that I want to ask and I still need to get on the roof to check that out, but other than that, we are looking good.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 9, 2017 13:14:55 GMT -5
doublewa Make sure they have water in it to check for leaks by running such before the winterize it, that way you can look under the sinks an underbelly to see if there is any water... Also check the shower stall for such ... As well the leveling system, even thought I watched, did myself at least three times by the time I got home I had lots of questions an you can see in the "Durango" folder here on this site. I as well as others are still asking questions regarding such to this day LOL Good luck an again welcome to the Kz Family Chuck & Hildi |
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Post by ronc on Oct 10, 2017 13:10:10 GMT -5
doublewa I think that's a norm all across the country, I did see a guy use hand signal awhile back with an old Chevy making a left hand turn, 1st time I have saw that in many a year milpol4523 I have mirrors on my truck that extend out another 6 to 8 inches so seeing abound our 5th wheel even thought it is 101 inches wide is no problem. I have over three million miles in a semi truck an maybe a few hundred backing up LOL ... So hooking up to our 5th wheel even in the dark is not to much of a problem, I line up the truck with the trailer using the fenders an back up a close to the trailer without going under it. I then get out check that I am straight an the 5th wheel on the truck lines up with the trailer, I also check to sure the trailers is not to high... I then back up watch that I am centered on the pin till I hook, I then get out look to make sure I am hooked,
put my cord plug in the truck light socket, get in do a pull test to make sure I am hooked ... I have one extra step, I have a pad lock an I pad lock the pull handle so it can not be pulled, thus if i am away from the truck some dirt bag can come along a pull the pin on the 5th wheel, I also hook my emergency brake cord into this lock as well ... Two things I was told by my father many years ago, always set your trailer bake back against the trailer before for pull forward to make sure the 5th wheel pin is locked to the trailer, two, never set your trailer air brakes when stopping only the tractor brakes in cold weather because they will surly freeze if you do so ... I know only one above apply for most of use with electric brakes, but I still back even thought I know I am pad locked to that 5th wheel before I go forward to this day, I also do a small tug test going forward before leaving a site or parking area In today's world the drivers are worse than ever, no turn signal, speeding, talking or texting an not driving. It's all about them, you have to get out of their way because they are more important ... lastly you can adopt good idea's, but the younger people of today either abuse them or do not use them at all, look at cell phones, a very handy tool, but it detracts a driver if used... I can tell if a person on the cell phone is happy or mad, happy they are all over the place an laughing, sad they drive like a mad man ... If you late to work it's not my fault, your late, don't cut me an other off because you in a hurry Ugh Sorry for the rant, 3 million miles I have seen it all from the seat of my truck an now the seat of my pickup pulling our 5th wheel, I use to love to drive an somewhat do not but it's getting were I almost want to stay home an camp in my driveway Ugh Safe Travel Chuck & Hildi Good technique ... I back up as you describe, until I am just short of hooking up (inches to actually touching the hitch), then I plug in the trailer to the truck and squeeze the trailer brake controller to put on the trailer brakes ... then I back up to hook. By using the trailer brakes to keep the 5er from moving I feel like I lessen the strain put on the front landing jacks when hooking. I also do this when unhooking. We all have our "ways" don't we? |
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Post by Chuck on Oct 10, 2017 13:19:11 GMT -5
Ron
I have the X blocks between the wheels, but as you I do hook the trailer plug up an use the bake controller,
thus I have a double wameeeeeee to make sure the trailer will not mover away from me... I also do the tug test
an pull hard against the pin once hooked to the trailer an the landing gear still down to make sure I am hooked
even thought I also look to make sure ...
Safe Travels my friend
Chuck
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Post by doublewa on Oct 10, 2017 13:38:06 GMT -5
Ron I have the X blocks between the wheels, but as you I do hook the trailer plug up an use the bake controller, thus I have a double wameeeeeee to make sure the trailer will not mover away from me... I also do the tug test an pull hard against the pin once hooked to the trailer an the landing gear still down to make sure I am hooked even thought I also look to make sure ... Safe Travels my friend Chuck Chuck, Sounds like you have a good YouTube video subject right here. I'd watch it. |
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Post by johnr on Oct 10, 2017 15:03:26 GMT -5
I was told when I got my first 5er that when you hook up, you need to make sure that your truck picks up the RV slightly as you make the connection. The 5th wheel plate should be slightly below the level of the top of your hitch. Basically, to use the angled slide plate on the hitch to do the lifting. They said this transfers the weight from the landing gear to the truck so you have less strain on those connections.
If you connect at an even level, the landing gear is still bearing all of the forward weight which causes more strain.
When I unhook, I do the same steps backwards so that the truck raises in height slightly as I pull out from under the rig. Or, basically setting weight of the RV down on the landing gear as you unhook.
It could be a bunch of bull, I don't know. It does make sense to my brain though.
Oh, edited after, make sure you have rail clearance. The lifting and setting down is not so exaggerated that the rails come super close to the underside of the fifth wheel.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 12, 2017 18:59:45 GMT -5
Johnr I agree with you, I do the same, I lift the 5th wheel up till I see daylight between the pin box an the 5th wheel taking the weight off the truck. I then lower the trailer till a have a little weight on the truck an then pull away ... In semi's they do not want you to do that, even thought 98 percent of drivers cranl the dolly's down till they touch the ground an then pull away. What happens is that you scrap all the grease off the 5th wheel an after a period of time the grease goes away an then destroys the 5th wheel from lack there of... I have a plastic plate on my pin so it more or less dozen't have to be greased, I do grease my pin all the time an my pull pin to make life easier Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by doublewa on Oct 12, 2017 22:15:14 GMT -5
Brought mine home.today and they didn't lube the new hitch when they installed it. They didn't even offer me a lube plate. I had to walk I. And ask for one.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 14, 2017 15:22:50 GMT -5
doublewa They didn't offer me one as well, I bought mine the next day at the Ace Hardware in our small town I think a lube plate is the best thing since sliced bread I do not put grease on my 5th wheel plate just on the pull assemble an the pin, makes for an easier hooking an unhooking but that just me. Everyone has their way of doing things as johnr stated, but if you read enough you about doing such hooking an UN-hooking in most case's are about the same with some minor tweaks Safe Travels an congratulations on you new 5th wheel hope to meet you somewhere down the road Chuck & Hildi |
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