B&W let go so I guess you gotta look!!!!

[Dick Noble]

Never had to worry about this, I use an Anderson hitch.

[Hoopy Frood]

Same here. Me (usually twice if not more) and then my wife. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.

Also, have seen some use yellow or white paint on the outer (visual side) portion of either the jaws or king pin to help with verification of a proper closure via the color contrast.

Note: I use slip plate dry lube on my king pin and hitch plates to help with my hitch attempts using my unlocked Turning Point pin box since we bought our 295RL. IMO, it really helps when relieving some friction and providing solid jaw(s) lock.

How thick is the slip plate? If 14" it's too thick, the B&W needs a 1/8"/3/16" wear plate.

[Hoopy Frood]

Never had to worry about this, I use an Anderson hitch.

Yeah, me either, but I have a B&W hitch.

[trailrydr]

How thick is the slip plate? If 14" it's too thick, the B&W needs a 1/8"/3/16" wear plate.

Its only a dry lube thats applied to the surfaces of the pin box and hitch plates to reduce friction. It comes in both spray can and brush on form.

https://zips.com/parts-detail/slip-p...BoCVXwQAvD_BwE

https://www.zoro.com/slip-plate-grap...RoCbOIQAvD_BwE

We use the brush on.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Note: I use slip plate dry lube on my king pin and hitch plates to help with my hitch attempts using my unlocked Turning Point pin box since we bought our 295RL. IMO, it really helps when relieving some friction and providing solid jaw(s) lock.

All the plates I've used say to not spray any kind of lube on them. While I don't think dry lube would hurt the plate, you really think adding a lubricant to teflon is helpful?

[Dutchman2]

Been towing my reflection for 3 years with the B&W hitch. Always do a pull test. Today I back up and it clunked in and the lever was all the way in so I pinned it. I set the brake to do a full test and heard a creaaaak!!!!!! The Reflection slid off the hitch. Makes your heart pound a bit. I put the legs down and lifted the trailer up again. Reapproached it and clunk right it. I looked this time to check that the jaws were connected and they were. Pinned it in place and the tug test worked and I towed it home. I don’t understand what exactly happened. The trailer was up on one side on Anderson leveler ramps. Maybe it just didn’t wrap the jaws but it’s crazy because the lever snapped all the way in which is an indication that it was a good hitch. Luckily I did the pull test or it would’ve been bad.

I guess things happen but man was that a weird feeling seeing the trailer slid backwards on the hitch.

Well not the same result, but still one to remember. In hooking up to haul FW to storage last week I got in a hurry and after hooking up forgot to install the hitch lock pin. I did visually verify the jaws were around the pin and did a pull test. Then drove @ 10 miles on some rough roads to storage location. Why it never came unhitched I'm not sure unless the spring loaded jaw pressure kept it from releasing. Very lucky and nothing I want to press my luck doing again.

Dutchman2

[Hoopy Frood]

When the jaws shut, and are closed, the jaws cannot open. They are blocked from opening, physically blocked. The pin just keeps the arm from being knocked open or opened by accident. But the jaws will not open until the handle is pulled.

[dryfly]

Easy. I was replying, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, to the other poster. Not sure why you felt I was gloating, but just having some fun.

You have made me feel "disenfranchised" since I don't have a B&W hitch!

Seriously, I've been considering getting one, but I have a 15 year old Husky hitch with a Blue Ox Bedsaver and it just keeps working. Wonder if these hitches eventually wear out?

By the way, I'm guilty of never doing a pull test. The Husky is a single jaw hitch, so I just use a flashlight to make sure the jaw is wrapped around the pin.

[Hoopy Frood]

You have made me feel "disenfranchised" since I don't have a B&W hitch!

Seriously, I've been considering getting one, but I have a 15 year old Husky hitch with a Blue Ox Bedsaver and it just keeps working. Wonder if these hitches eventually wear out?

By the way, I'm guilty of never doing a pull test. The Husky is a single jaw hitch, so I just use a flashlight to make sure the jaw is wrapped around the pin.

Well, they may wear out, but it would have to be after at least 13 years, that's how long we had our previous one. But there's nothing really there to wear out, only a few moving parts.

[powerscol]

Have you lubed your B&W jaws - there are two zerks if I remember and always do a pull test with the landing gear down, just off the pavement (catches the trailer it it comes out). Last always visually inspect the jaws and arm is closed and pin fully inserted. It's all in the owners manual. Might read up on it.