Is it safe to leave it hanging there after disconnecting from the truck? I have seen other do it and it would save me wieght and space from my bed's truck and the space in the garage. I have a slider too, dont know how heavy it is but its a heavy summahbeeatch.

I did that with my old fifth wheel and never had any problems. It takes a few extra minutes to line up the pins but it makes it nice and easy to get the hitch out of the truckbed.

I would think that the extra weight might cause the front of the trailer to eventually sag. I store my 5er with a piece of 6" diameter tubing cut to length under the hitch to support the front. It seems when I got my first 5er that the dealer suggested that is is the best way to store them for long periods of time.

I have always heard the same thing that "oldman" posted. You dont want the extra weight up there, and they also sell a tripod to support the front, especialy if you might be up in the front of the trailer while it is unhooked. Sometimes I put the hitch in the back of the toyhauler on a blanket to save space.

Thx for the replies. Those are my worries, apply a opposite load on the pin box and the hitch. I also read that most hitch makers do not recommend this practice. Kinda leary about have 300 lbs dangling there also.

On a monster 5th wheel with that much tongue weight, I dont think the wieght of the hitch would even be noticeable.

The only downfall I could see is you need to be more precise when hooking up.

I was thinking the same thing about how strong it must be made to handle all the weight. But I was told it was designed for the force "pushing" up not the weight pulling down the other way. I also have a 34' triple axle bumper pull toyhauler and you can see where the frame flexes even with extra gussets. I was surprised about that also! I just wouldnt take any chances with an investment like that over storing the hitch, I see it done, but it would make me nervous. You could put a support under the hitch after you hang it there. 55gal drum or somthing simular up to the right height? Or weld up something?

What's the difference between a 300lb hitch on the pin and a 300lb dude sleeping in the bed above it?

I've always been leery of doing this cause it just doesn't look right

The 300lb man isn't sleeping over it 24 hours a day 365 days a year (hopefully anyway)

I can see how the trailer should be able to take the weight though because it would seem that while traveling, the trailer should have occasion to try to pull up away from the hitch (IE hitting a bump or something) but, what the hell do I know

Lol, he is 300lbs for a reason...

Seriously though, I don't think it matters. Especially with the point you brought up. I just wouldn't do it because I know that someday I might forget to lock it, and some idiot kid (possibly one that has the same last name as me ) will play with the slide bar and drop my 200lb hitch right on his head.

Great question.I've wondered this myself.I have a super glide hitch.It's heavy for two guys to lift.Hence,I leave it in the bed of my truck year round.It would be nice to be able to use the bed of my truck!

A 300# guy sleeping in the bed has his weight distributed across the the bed frame on to the floor and the chassis. 300# hanging from the pin box is not a good idea in my eyes. I would get a Tri pod as someone mentioned to relieve the stress off the pin box it self. just my 2 cents

Shawn

It's also not good for the lock jaws or slide bar in the fiver hitch.

The pin box has to be built to take all of the tongue weight, acceleration forces and shock transmitted from the entire trailer to the truck. 300# is nothing compared to those types of forces.

Isn't the pinbox connected to multiple frame members to spread out the load?

I've seen one drop once. Didn't hurt anybody but did some nice cracking to the month old concrete he just had poured. I wouldn't do it. Not cause I know anything about the weight, but because that would hurt if it hit somebody.


Andy

I tried it once what a PIA to line back up, I bought a non slider so if Ihave to remove it from the truck it is not so heavy. Or just pull it and store it inside the hauler. Even so the in and out stuff is not so much fun really a 18 K hitch is no light weight.

yes might hurt someone if it fell... But then again someone must have been messing with it.. If your so worried lock it on there.

As far as it hurting the trailer....I doubt it...If I was worried about that I would be scared to pull it down the road.

Well maybe A weekend warrior... I could see that....LOL

Ive done it so I can use my truck and dont want to lift it out. 8 inch lift sucks to put in and out. I dont try to hook it up attached with the pins.. I drop it in my bed put the pins in and then hook up.

I don't see any problem with this issue at all. What is the difference between a 16,000 lb trailer being pulled by the single king pin, or a 150 lb hitch hanging on that same king pin. I don't see any problems. The trailer as many different forces; being pulled up hill, backing into driveway up hill, making sharp turns in parking lots, conducting brake test everytime you hook up (as per manual). When the hitch maintains a constant, non forcefull or any abrupt forces.

When parking trailer, I don't even disconect hitch from trailer. I unpin the hitch from bed and lift the trailer up high enough to clear the mounting rails and then drive off. This prevents any possibility of dropping. I don't worry about being perfect when re-hitching, just get close, un-hitch from trailer and the trailer has done all the heavy lifting for me. I have been lucky enough to make it in the mounting rails without un-hitching, but don't usually worry about it.

If in a public place, I lock the hitch to prevent theft and even place a lock in one of the bottom pin holes to prevent theft of the trailer.

I saw this where I park my 5er toy hauler. I've got a gooseneck, so I don't have this issue.

This guy leaves his truck portion hitch with the trailer as refered to in this post. He made a "sawhorse" to just fit his hitch when left hooked up to the king pin. I thought it was a good idea, some I'm passing it on to you guys!!

Tank

I never did it until recently. My hitch lifter helper (23 yo son) moved out and it's too heavy to lift myself.

How do you have old concrete that you just poured? I sell the stuff and most is rated at 4500 Per square (inch). Maybe it was Slurry and not concrete.

no sir, i wont do it. and my hitch is non slider that doesnt weigh much.