Thanks for sharing this. I own a travel trailer now, but within the next few years my wife and i will be buying our first fifth wheel. Never to soon to start learning how to do things. Very informative video.
Great job! Nice detail. Tape will be going on my pinbox soon! One think I do is to physically look at the jaws when hitching up to make sure they are in the closed position even if I have a green indicator.
Great job! Just wish the lippert system is more countable! They are so sensitive that most times you have to manually correct especially upon re hook. Unless you are on flat pavement. Even that could be troublesome!
This is GREAT! We just got our first 5th wheel and haven't towed it yet. We're going on the road to grow our business, and we are doing everything we can to learn! My husband found this video and shared it with me. As I was watching it, I said 'This guy's instructions are GREAT. He made this for folks exactly like us.' Excited to learn more and hopefully see y'all out on the road! Thank you!
Thank you for a great informative video! I'm a 72 year old female that does all the driving and hooking up as my husband has short term memory problems. We've had bumper pulls (both Grand Design) since 2018 & finally went with a Solitude. Loved that you explained everything so well and especially explaining the Lippert 1 which we also have. Well done. You've got a new fan!
Thank you Melissa! Thank you for taking the time to comment. Best of luck to you and the husband, so glad you are still out there RVing. Thanks for subscribing!
The one thing i disagree with is where you put your brakeaway cable at. Personally i think it should be hooked infront of the hitch not on the rear. The reason is if the hitch does fail the brakeaway switch will be activated long before the hitch crashes thru your tailgate.
Gary, I own a 5th wheel. Your advice confuses me. If the trailer detaches from the truck, and the Emerg brake is applied by the breakaway switch, the trailer will probably drop onto the bed rails, and something (pinbox, hitch, or both) will be crashing thru the tailgate regardless of where the cable is connected.
Not necessarily agreeing or disagreeing. If done as you say and the brakeaway engages earlier, wouldn't that stop the trailer sooner and then yank the pin through the tailgate? Personally, I don't think it would matter one way or the other (like TFSFireman says). Perhaps it engaging later would be good. You'll know when it drops out of the hitch and give you a chance to come to a stop more slowly rather than locking up the trailer brakes. (rather than trailer lockup, pin through the tailgate, and the trailer separating from the truck). Hopefully none of us experience any of this.
He said to put your trailer brakes on my trailer. Brakes will not go on until I press the brakes on my truck which activates my trailer brakes, so am I supposed to hold my foot on the break while I do the toe test? I don't usually do a tug test because I can look on my hitch with the unlock. I know that it's locked or not locked but I'm just ask that question I'm curious cause my truck has a mechanism for the break, but it only works when I hit the brakes.
Outstanding video!! Buying our first 5th wheel Jan 8. I'm really nervous about hooking and unhooking, as like everyone else, i don't want to damage my new trailer or truck. After watching your video, I'm confident I can do it with ease now. Thanks for the great video and all the pointers.
I have been pulling a 5th wheel now for a couple of years.... You know guys like me, we know (Just about) everything.... I got a tip from your video and put it into play and worked 1st time... Here's to hoping it works every time from here on out.... Thanks and Cheers..
Very good! BTW - I tagged you guys in a video challenge on our channel that will be released today at 11am CST. Hope you will play along! It's just for fun!
Thanks so much for the challenge! Love those questions. We are super busy right now packing up with just 22 days left before we hit the road. Once we get settled down to our first destination we will get er done!
Great tutorial. Question? Why put your tail gate up before tig test? If test fails, might you damage the tailgate if you were just a little slow applying the brake. Asking because I just bought my 5th wheel. coming from a class A to the 5th wheel, when the 5th wheel is out of the factory. thanks for sharing.
I knew this would come up after I posted the video. Great question, only answer is so you don't forget about it. I have no other answer, other than I have forgotten about it and almost paid the price. Hopefully if you do a tug test an go slow, you wont drive your pin into the tail gate before you figure out what's going on. The jacks should support it as the pin falls off the hitch before it strikes the tail gate in our opinion. I hope that answers your question.
Good video. FYI. I have the same Curt Q20 hitch. Your hitch needs to be greased, that is why is didn't lock properly when you backed in. The handle should pop in immediately. That hitch has 3 grease zerks.
ThNks for the video and tips. Just picked up our Reflection 5th wheel last week. After owning two bumper pulls, first time with a 5th wheel. We installed a Gen-Y gooseneck. Question: when you select hitch height why didn't all the rear jacks come up? We are still trying to figure it out and don't want to damage anything. Safe travels
The rear jacks will go up if the Lippert control needs it to come up. Majority of the time they remain on the ground until hitched up. After you are hitched then you retract all. Hope that answers your question.
Wow. Thank you sooooo much. We have a 2021 Reflection with this system. Only difference is we have controls on the front of our camper. And, YES, please don’t talk to me while doing this! I didn’t quite understand the difference between the auto leveling and the hitch return system. I got it now😇!
I would never hook the breakaway cable off to the side like that. Ìf the trailer comes unhitched the cable will pull sideways on the switch and could break it. Cable should be in line with the bed.
Good video. but 1 flaw - You always ALWAYS! engage your parking break BEFORE putting your truck in park, all that weight on the parking pawl is never a good thing. Parking pawls are designed to hold the weight of the vehicle only NOT the combined weight of truck and trailer...
Yes, make sure the truck is out of the way before you push that button. Make sure the truck is out of the way before you hit auto level. Chock the wheels before doing anything. Thanks for reaching out!
Question: When you do the tug test, 1. First, you put your foot on the brake, 2. you put truck into drive. 3. you release the trailer brake???? Do you ever touch the gas pedal?
Hello Kathleen, you put on the trailer brakes only, give them a chance to engage, hit you gas pedal, the tailer brakes should hold the trailer while the truck tries to go forward. If the trailer does not fall off the hitch, your all good.
In my search for a 5th wheel receiver, I'm noticing that they are made specific for certain trucks. My question then is if you use top mounted bed rails that are universal, then isn't it a moot point?
Yes Catherine, that is an option to the tug test. If you pull to far ahead then you may damage the tailgate. People have made note of that before. I go slow so I shouldn’t pull mine through the tailgate if it falls on the jack.
Could you clarify your question. Not sure how you could hook up when the jacks are raised. The jacks should be extended to a height where you could back under and comfortably hook up.
What about unhitch your 5th wheel on unlevel ground,when both camper and trailer are not level and the king pin and the hitch are at compound angles..any thoughts?
Hey Campoholics! What are your thoughts on this topic? Got any tips to add? Were you really scared your "first time?" Post your comments!
The best hitch & un-hitch video I have seen for us rookies who are just starting to tow a fifth wheel. Especially the tug test! Thank you!!
Wow, thanks so much for your input!
Should have also left your tailgate down when doing tug test.Just in case
Thanks for commenting Jason.
Hey Brother, Great video. We recently purchased our first "auto level" 5th wheel. Your video is right on! Thx, safe travels.
Right on!
Thanks for sharing this. I own a travel trailer now, but within the next few years my wife and i will be buying our first fifth wheel. Never to soon to start learning how to do things. Very informative video.
Thank you Brian!
Great job! Nice detail. Tape will be going on my pinbox soon! One think I do is to physically look at the jaws when hitching up to make sure they are in the closed position even if I have a green indicator.
That white duck tape has made a world of difference for us! Yes I agree, double checking gives you piece of mind. Thanks for watching!
Great video! It's the best 5th Wheel hitching video I have seen. Just the right level of detail.
Thank you very much William!
Man my 5th wheel is small and I was nervous as H*ll the first 10 times I hooked mine up. lol
Hell, I still get nervous!
Great stressing the slow and steady approach. Even with our bumper pull I'm the same way. Things can go bad and expensive quick if you get distracted.
Yes indeed, speed kills!
Thank you for the video I never do T-test.. new for me.. I’ll do it next time I travel
Thank you for watching, it may save a mess of damage some day!
Great job! Just wish the lippert system is more countable! They are so sensitive that most times you have to manually correct especially upon re hook. Unless you are on flat pavement. Even that could be troublesome!
Good point!
This is GREAT! We just got our first 5th wheel and haven't towed it yet. We're going on the road to grow our business, and we are doing everything we can to learn! My husband found this video and shared it with me. As I was watching it, I said 'This guy's instructions are GREAT. He made this for folks exactly like us.' Excited to learn more and hopefully see y'all out on the road! Thank you!
Thank you for the comment, best of luck!
That's my husband, just saying!
Who luvs yah!
Thank you for a great informative video! I'm a 72 year old female that does all the driving and hooking up as my husband has short term memory problems. We've had bumper pulls (both Grand Design) since 2018 & finally went with a Solitude. Loved that you explained everything so well and especially explaining the Lippert 1 which we also have. Well done. You've got a new fan!
Thank you Melissa! Thank you for taking the time to comment. Best of luck to you and the husband, so glad you are still out there RVing. Thanks for subscribing!
We are newbies. So glad we found this video.
Thank you, that's why we do it!
The one thing i disagree with is where you put your brakeaway cable at. Personally i think it should be hooked infront of the hitch not on the rear. The reason is if the hitch does fail the brakeaway switch will be activated long before the hitch crashes thru your tailgate.
Ok, I see that. I don't disagree. Never thought of that. Thank you for your input.
Gary, I own a 5th wheel. Your advice confuses me. If the trailer detaches from the truck, and the Emerg brake is applied by the breakaway switch, the trailer will probably drop onto the bed rails, and something (pinbox, hitch, or both) will be crashing thru the tailgate regardless of where the cable is connected.
Not necessarily agreeing or disagreeing. If done as you say and the brakeaway engages earlier, wouldn't that stop the trailer sooner and then yank the pin through the tailgate? Personally, I don't think it would matter one way or the other (like TFSFireman says). Perhaps it engaging later would be good. You'll know when it drops out of the hitch and give you a chance to come to a stop more slowly rather than locking up the trailer brakes. (rather than trailer lockup, pin through the tailgate, and the trailer separating from the truck). Hopefully none of us experience any of this.
He said to put your trailer brakes on my trailer. Brakes will not go on until I press the brakes on my truck which activates my trailer brakes, so am I supposed to hold my foot on the break while I do the toe test? I don't usually do a tug test because I can look on my hitch with the unlock. I know that it's locked or not locked but I'm just ask that question I'm curious cause my truck has a mechanism for the break, but it only works when I hit the brakes.
Outstanding tutorial! Heck of a lot better than what I got at PDI from the dealer. Good job Campoholics!
Thank you Tom!
Thank you for taking the time to do this video. Slow, turtle wins!
That's cool that it remembers the height. You made this seem really easy. Great instructions! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! By the way, ,💗 your channel!
Great video. Very informative. Just sold my class C. Future RV will be a 5th wheel (when I’m ready for one )
Good choice!
Thank you so much for this! Been looking for this step by step and you answered all of our questions. Truly appreciate it!
Wow, thank you so much! That's why we do it!
Thank you for the tutorial. We just used it as reference for our first hitch, tow and unhitch. Couldn't have done it with out ya
Thank you for taking the time to comment. So glad it helped!
Outstanding video!! Buying our first 5th wheel Jan 8. I'm really nervous about hooking and unhooking, as like everyone else, i don't want to damage my new trailer or truck. After watching your video, I'm confident I can do it with ease now. Thanks for the great video and all the pointers.
Thank you so much for the reply! Best of luck!
I have been pulling a 5th wheel now for a couple of years.... You know guys like me, we know (Just about) everything.... I got a tip from your video and put it into play and worked 1st time... Here's to hoping it works every time from here on out.... Thanks and Cheers..
That's cool, thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
Thank you so much for this. We just got home with our Momentum last night, first time owning a 5th wheel. So much to learn! Very helpful video!
You are so welcome!
Very good! BTW - I tagged you guys in a video challenge on our channel that will be released today at 11am CST. Hope you will play along! It's just for fun!
Thanks so much for the challenge! Love those questions. We are super busy right now packing up with just 22 days left before we hit the road. Once we get settled down to our first destination we will get er done!
@@TheCampoholics Awesome! Take your time! Thanks for playing along!
Great tutorial. Question? Why put your tail gate up before tig test? If test fails, might you damage the tailgate if you were just a little slow applying the brake. Asking because I just bought my 5th wheel. coming from a class A to the 5th wheel, when the 5th wheel is out of the factory. thanks for sharing.
I knew this would come up after I posted the video. Great question, only answer is so you don't forget about it. I have no other answer, other than I have forgotten about it and almost paid the price. Hopefully if you do a tug test an go slow, you wont drive your pin into the tail gate before you figure out what's going on. The jacks should support it as the pin falls off the hitch before it strikes the tail gate in our opinion. I hope that answers your question.
Good video. FYI. I have the same Curt Q20 hitch. Your hitch needs to be greased, that is why is didn't lock properly when you backed in. The handle should pop in immediately. That hitch has 3 grease zerks.
That's a great point. Thanks for watching!
ThNks for the video and tips. Just picked up our Reflection 5th wheel last week. After owning two bumper pulls, first time with a 5th wheel. We installed a Gen-Y gooseneck. Question: when you select hitch height why didn't all the rear jacks come up? We are still trying to figure it out and don't want to damage anything. Safe travels
The rear jacks will go up if the Lippert control needs it to come up. Majority of the time they remain on the ground until hitched up. After you are hitched then you retract all. Hope that answers your question.
Wow. Thank you sooooo much. We have a 2021 Reflection with this system. Only difference is we have controls on the front of our camper. And, YES, please don’t talk to me while doing this! I didn’t quite understand the difference between the auto leveling and the hitch return system. I got it now😇!
Also. I am going to post this link to my Facebook pages!
Thank you for the kind words and support!
@@TheCampoholics you are welcome. You have earned all the good words.
Very informative with a simplistic approach for beginners, thanks!
You are very welcome!
Great video.
Thanks for the visit
buying my first 5th wheel soon great tutorial thanks
Thank you! Best of luck!
thanks for your efforts on this. Very thorough explanation
Thank you Kirk!
Very helpful... thanks for going through the whole process.
You're very welcome!
I would never hook the breakaway cable off to the side like that. Ìf the trailer comes unhitched the cable will pull sideways on the switch and could break it. Cable should be in line with the bed.
Valid point, thank you.
Good video. but 1 flaw - You always ALWAYS! engage your parking break BEFORE putting your truck in park, all that weight on the parking pawl is never a good thing. Parking pawls are designed to hold the weight of the vehicle only NOT the combined weight of truck and trailer...
Thank you Lawrence
Best video I’ve seen yet. Just got our new fifth wheel and I’m quite nervous about it all. This really helped! Thank you!
Thank you Kevin, best of luck on your new RV!
Very helpful. Thanks. Just want to make sure I understand Hitch Height. I would hit that button when before getting ready to hook up?
Yes, make sure the truck is out of the way before you push that button. Make sure the truck is out of the way before you hit auto level. Chock the wheels before doing anything. Thanks for reaching out!
good stuff thank you
You're welcome!
One thing I would add to your tug test; visually inspect the jaws ensure they are closed.
Yep, your right, someone else pointed that out.
Nice job and explanation!
Glad it was helpful!
Question: When you do the tug test, 1. First, you put your foot on the brake, 2. you put truck into drive. 3. you release the trailer brake???? Do you ever touch the gas pedal?
Hello Kathleen, you put on the trailer brakes only, give them a chance to engage, hit you gas pedal, the tailer brakes should hold the trailer while the truck tries to go forward. If the trailer does not fall off the hitch, your all good.
@@TheCampoholics Do you ever move the truck gear? Meaning, do you put the truck into gear before doing the tug test?
Very informative. Thanks for the video.👍🏽👍🏽
Thank you Freddie!
In my search for a 5th wheel receiver, I'm noticing that they are made specific for certain trucks. My question then is if you use top mounted bed rails that are universal, then isn't it a moot point?
You failed to do a visual check of kingpin to make sure jaws were locked.
Thanks for commenting Jason.
Great video!!
Thank you very much!
When doing the tug test, why wouldn't you keep the tailgate down? If it's not locked in, you may damage the tailgate, right?
Yes Catherine, that is an option to the tug test. If you pull to far ahead then you may damage the tailgate. People have made note of that before. I go slow so I shouldn’t pull mine through the tailgate if it falls on the jack.
good info sir thanks for taking the time.
Thank you Ryan for watching! We appreciate your support.
Should I raise my rear jacks before hooking up?
Could you clarify your question. Not sure how you could hook up when the jacks are raised. The jacks should be extended to a height where you could back under and comfortably hook up.
Some times the head won’t cock .. why does that happen?
Hello Susan, the pin might be slightly to high or low. It's gotta be just right.
What about unhitch your 5th wheel on unlevel ground,when both camper and trailer are not level and the king pin and the hitch are at compound angles..any thoughts?
Chock the camper tires, use blocks under the front landing jack or legs, proceed with caution.
@@TheCampoholics I dont think its possible as the king pin gets bound with the hitch because of the compounded angle.
Excellent tutorial thank you
Thank you John!