Well IT Did Happen To Us!

[Susan_S]

We prepared to leave the campsite in South Carolina and head to North Carolina for the next leg of our travels. We completed all of our "chores" the last being to test the hitch connection while the jacks were still on terra firma. I always look too. My husband held the trailer brake and I watched as he tried to pull forward. No go. So we were set.

Two and one half hours into our travels we hear a loud noise. I thought we had a blowout and I just say "Pull over". But as I turned to my husband who was driving, I notice that on the screen behind his steering wheel, it said, "trailer brake engaged" or something similar. It registered enough for me to realize something was seriously amiss but not enough for me to look at the trailer. My husband pulled over and we heard another loud noise and we looked at each other. All the while we should have looked behind us.

We both got out of the car and my first reaction at seeing our disconnected 5th wheel, a little way down the shoulder was to say, "Oh heck, we're not going to recover from this". To make the long story short, with the help of an EMS crew who blocked traffic and provided some power to our battery (couldn't lower the jacks due to 'low voltage'), we reconnected to the trailer. Minus the tailgate of our truck which was pulled off in the process and Plus a $250 ticket for "failure to secure the load", we were on our way.

We made it to North Carolina, then to VA., then to PA (I'm not even going to tell you what happened there but it was not related), and then to NY State. We finalized our journey to VT safely.

I'm grateful that the trailer made it off of the highway before it came to a complete stop. I think the tailgate of our truck kept it with us. I'm grateful that no drivers were impacted by this, no one was hurt, and except for being a bit nervous for the remainder of the trip, we made it home unscathed. I think that there could have been a real horrible outcome if the trailer didn't get off the road with us or if something else caused a more serious result. But it was a strange occurrence.

I called B & W Hitch to let them know and to see if there were any other complaints or a recall of some sort. The customer service representative I spoke with didn't take any responsibility and told me that it was one of two things. Either the pin was not engaged into the coupling (bzzzzz wrong answer I saw it myself) which he called a high hitch or the pin that locks the handle in place was not seated properly (bzzzzz wrong answer too because my husband is diligent about this). Still, we're human, so I don't discount an error I'm just not seeing it.

I am supposed to call him again since we've gotten home so he can troubleshoot this but I've put it off. It doesn't seem like there is much recourse unless I had a video of our checks and balances while hitching up. One thing I wondered was if bumpy roads (the roads were very bumpy) could cause the hitch locking pin to "jump up" out of the handle and that would allow the handle to open.

Anyway, just wanted to put this out there. Has anyone had a similar situation? Is the C.S. Rep correct? It's a real enigma to me and I would like to know what happened so I can avoid it happening ever again.

Thanks,
Sue

 

[huntindog]

We prepared to leave the campsite in South Carolina and head to North Carolina for the next leg of our travels. We completed all of our "chores" the last being to test the hitch connection while the jacks were still on terra firma. I always look too. My husband held the trailer brake and I watched as he tried to pull forward. No go. So we were set.

Two and one half hours into our travels we hear a loud noise. I thought we had a blowout and I just say "Pull over". But as I turned to my husband who was driving, I notice that on the screen behind his steering wheel, it said, "trailer brake engaged" or something similar. It registered enough for me to realize something was seriously amiss but not enough for me to look at the trailer. My husband pulled over and we heard another loud noise and we looked at each other. All the while we should have looked behind us.

We both got out of the car and my first reaction at seeing our disconnected 5th wheel, a little way down the shoulder was to say, "Oh heck, we're not going to recover from this". To make the long story short, with the help of an EMS crew who blocked traffic and provided some power to our battery (couldn't lower the jacks due to 'low voltage'), we reconnected to the trailer. Minus the tailgate of our truck which was pulled off in the process and Plus a $250 ticket for "failure to secure the load", we were on our way.

We made it to North Carolina, then to VA., then to PA (I'm not even going to tell you what happened there but it was not related), and then to NY State. We finalized our journey to VT safely.

I'm grateful that the trailer made it off of the highway before it came to a complete stop. I think the tailgate of our truck kept it with us. I'm grateful that no drivers were impacted by this, no one was hurt, and except for being a bit nervous for the remainder of the trip, we made it home unscathed. I think that there could have been a real horrible outcome if the trailer didn't get off the road with us or if something else caused a more serious result. But it was a strange occurrence.

I called B & W Hitch to let them know and to see if there were any other complaints or a recall of some sort. The customer service representative I spoke with didn't take any responsibility and told me that it was one of two things. Either the pin was not engaged into the coupling (bzzzzz wrong answer I saw it myself) which he called a high hitch or the pin that locks the handle in place was not seated properly (bzzzzz wrong answer too because my husband is diligent about this). Still, we're human, so I don't discount an error I'm just not seeing it.

I am supposed to call him again since we've gotten home so he can troubleshoot this but I've put it off. It doesn't seem like there is much recourse unless I had a video of our checks and balances while hitching up. One thing I wondered was if bumpy roads (the roads were very bumpy) could cause the hitch locking pin to "jump up" out of the handle and that would allow the handle to open.

Anyway, just wanted to put this out there. Has anyone had a similar situation? Is the C.S. Rep correct? It's a real enigma to me and I would like to know what happened so I can avoid it happening ever again.

Thanks,
Sue

Due to the way B&W is designed that cannot happen. When the pin is enclosed by the jaws and the handle closed, it doesn't rely on the pin thru the handle to remain closed. several have reported forgeting to pin the handle without incident I think you were high hitched

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Nope, nothing will spontaneously cause the B&W hitch to let go unless something breaks internally, which is very unlikely. I didn't see you hitch up so I don't know what could have gone wrong. But yours is the first time I've ever, ever heard of a possible issue with a B&W hitch.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Due to the way B&W is designed that cannot happen. When the pin is enclosed by the jaws and the handle closed, it doesn't rely on the pin thru the handle to remain closed. several have reported forgeting to pin the handle without incidentI think you were high hitched

A high hitch on a B&W will be easily spotted: the pin will be about 2 inches above the jaws. Only a blind person couldn't see a high hitch, and the jaws won't come back and latch. Some user error somewhere would be my guess, unless something has broken inside the hitch itself. That seems unlikely but things happen.

 

[Ynot4me2]

Wow, glad there was no injuries and also that you were able to continue on.

 

[trailrydr]

2 and half hours..... WOW! Sure seems like a hitch failure to me. And as for a "high hitch" on a 5th wheel, not sure on how thats possible? Assuming everyone hitches up the same (so to speak) by sliding the king pin hitch plate against the hitch top plate, not sure how a high hitch could happen? Especially, if the jaws were checked as being closed "around" the king pin and the vehicle went 2.5 hrs down the road....... Even with my cheapo Reese 16k and Turning Point pin box I'm not sure how I could have that happen with how it locks to the king pin....?

Hope B&W takes a look at it to see what really happened. Good luck to the OP.

 

[huntindog]

A high hitch on a B&W will be easily spotted: the pin will be about 2 inches above the jaws. Only a blind person couldn't see a high hitch, and the jaws won't come back and latch. Some user error somewhere would be my guess, unless something has broken inside the hitch itself. That seems unlikely but things happen.

We just did it last week. From the side it looked fine. Looking directly from the rear, it was obvious. we always look at the jaws from the rear. Obviously the OP had an issue. I ruled out a hitch malfunction, as they were able to continue their trip. That leaves a high hitch or????????????

 

[Mannyjt]

Glad you made it home safely fellow travelers.

That's my worst nightmare in action.

Im curious how it held on for so long before letting go something must have been off.

Not enough lube and didnt fully seat even though it closed? I'm not familiar with that hitch so purely speculating.

I'd be anxious to tear it down and check everything for passing tolerances.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

What position was the hitch in when you went to re-hitch after the incident? Did you have to open the jaws? Or were they open already?
Or...maybe stress of the situation has you not remembering?

Glad it went a well as it did for an involuntary de-coupling. Could have been tragic.

 

[SGT ROC]

I always - with my wife confirming - that the jaws are around the pin. We have a Curt A16 hitch. Once the handle swings forward to the lacked position everything SHOULD be ok. We still look. What we do not do is a pull check. In your case it appears that would not have mattered. I doubt you could have been "high hitched". the pin sitting in the lowest position possible in a high hitch scenario would put the pin box at least 1/2" above the base plate of the hitch plate. Perhaps the jaws were in that sweet spot between being fully latched and not, allowing everything to seem to be locked in and looking good. Don't know, but it tells me to use a little more caution when hitching for sure. Thank God everyone was Ok and you could continue on. Please let us know it you figure anything out.

 

[Susan_S]

Due to the way B&W is designed that cannot happen. When the pin is enclosed by the jaws and the handle closed, it doesn't rely on the pin thru the handle to remain closed. several have reported forgeting to pin the handle without incident I think you were high hitched

Hi Huntindog, Thanks for responding. I just don't see it...or the truth is I did see it. I always look, in fact sometimes before my husbnd does the pull test he wants to up the tailgate which results in me yelling about it. So I am sure I looked. The only thing that concerns me is that - what if I didn't know what I was looking at? But it would sure seem to me that if the pin was above the jaws I'd have seen that.

Thanks again though.

Sue

 

[Susan_S]

A high hitch on a B&W will be easily spotted: the pin will be about 2 inches above the jaws. Only a blind person couldn't see a high hitch, and the jaws won't come back and latch. Some user error somewhere would be my guess, unless something has broken inside the hitch itself. That seems unlikely but things happen.

Hi Hoopy, Well that is what I would have thought, that it would be obvious. I just don't even know what the error could be? But I'm not discounting that I could have made one, just can't figure it out. Maybe never will. I'm going to hope it doesn't happen again.

Thanks!

Sue

 

[Susan_S]

2 and half hours..... WOW! Sure seems like a hitch failure to me. And as for a "high hitch" on a 5th wheel, not sure on how thats possible? Assuming everyone hitches up the same (so to speak) by sliding the king pin hitch plate against the hitch top plate, not sure how a high hitch could happen? Especially, if the jaws were checked as being closed "around" the king pin and the vehicle went 2.5 hrs down the road....... Even with my cheapo Reese 16k and Turning Point pin box I'm not sure how I could have that happen with how it locks to the king pin....?

Hope B&W takes a look at it to see what really happened. Good luck to the OP.

Hi Trailrydr, Yes I think that one of the points you make is very true. When my husband is backing up the truck, I'm checking the proximity of the pin plate to the hitch plate. I often lower the jacks a bit so they of course touch (the plates) and slide through. I cannot imagine how a high hitch could possibly happen - I'd be happy to hear though if anyone knows.

And yes the jaws were closed, and the 2.5 hours is really concerning.

Thank you, I hope they would look at it too. I do owe them a call and might suggest that. Or that they recommend someone who they trust in my area.

Thanks again,
Sue.

 

[Susan_S]

We just did it last week. From the side it looked fine. Looking directly from the rear, it was obvious. we always look at the jaws from the rear. Obviously, the OP had an issue. I ruled out a hitch malfunction, as they were able to continue their trip. That leaves a high hitch or????????????

I did look at it from the rear. I'm only 4 ft 10 so frankly, looking at anything from the side of the pickup has me looking at the tires or the outside of the truck bed. . I can't see over the sides of the truck, and into the bed, at all.

Yes, we continued our trip and I agree that it would seem if the hitch were broken it would have happened again (thankfully it didn't) but I'm more inclined to go with the ??????

Thanks,
Sue

 

[FT4NOW]

Hi Trailrydr, Yes I think that one of the points you make is very true. When my husband is backing up the truck, I'm checking the proximity of the pin plate to the hitch plate. I often lower the jacks a bit so they of course touch (the plates) and slide through. I cannot imagine how a high hitch could possibly happen - I'd be happy to hear though if anyone knows.

And yes the jaws were closed, and the 2.5 hours is really concerning.

Thank you, I hope they would look at it too. I do owe them a call and might suggest that. Or that they recommend someone who they trust in my area.

Thanks again,
Sue.

When I'm setting up to backin to the pin, I stop slightly before the pin engages, but where the lube plate on the pin box is above the hitch plate, then I lower the RV so the lube plate is touching the hitch plate. I then will backup the rest of the way and the truck almost lifts the RV a hair when I'm locked in. This method prevents high hitching.

 

[Susan_S]

Glad you made it home safely fellow travelers.

That's my worst nightmare in action.

Im curious how it held on for so long before letting go something must have been off.

Not enough lube and didnt fully seat even though it closed? I'm not familiar with that hitch so purely speculating.

I'd be anxious to tear it down and check everything for passing tolerances.

Hi Mannyjt, Thank you for your well wishes. It was pretty frightening. And I wish I knew how it didn't disconnect much sooner too. It doesn't make sense to me but I'm not an expert. It's also probably above my pay grade to take it apart. I wish that B&W would though.

Thank you,
Sue

 

[Susan_S]

What position was the hitch in when you went to re-hitch after the incident? Did you have to open the jaws? Or were they open already?
Or...maybe stress of the situation has you not remembering?

Glad it went a well as it did for an involuntary de-coupling. Could have been tragic.

Hi Scott'nWendy, Well that is all a good question to which neither my husband and I can remember. Yes, stress, stupidity, one of the es words. In retrospect it should have been the first thing we looked at but we didn't even think of it at the time.

Yes, it really could have been tragic so I'm really grateful that it wasn't.

Thank you,
Sue

 

[Susan_S]

I always - with my wife confirming - that the jaws are around the pin. We have a Curt A16 hitch. Once the handle swings forward to the lacked position everything SHOULD be ok. We still look. What we do not do is a pull check. In your case it appears that would not have mattered. I doubt you could have been "high hitched". the pin sitting in the lowest position possible in a high hitch scenario would put the pin box at least 1/2" above the base plate of the hitch plate. Perhaps the jaws were in that sweet spot between being fully latched and not, allowing everything to seem to be locked in and looking good. Don't know, but it tells me to use a little more caution when hitching for sure. Thank God everyone was Ok and you could continue on. Please let us know it you figure anything out.

Hi SGT ROC,

We always do the pull test but knowing that we traveled over 2 hours before uncoupling makes me figure it didn't matter. What bothers me is that there is some unknown element that I worry could happen again. Now my husband and I are doing redundant checks because we're worried that one set of eyes isn't enough. So I'm checking that he locked the handle and he's checking the pin is seated properly. I'm sure there could be worse things than two sets of checks but we're still concerned.

It may be true, that the jaws seemed to be locked but weren't really, but that usually prevents the handle from closing all the way and the locking pin won't engage. That used to be an issue when we were new to the 5th wheel but hasn't happened since then.

I sure will let you know if we figure it out.

Thank you,
Sue

 

[Susan_S]

When I'm setting up to backin to the pin, I stop slightly before the pin engages, but where the lube plate on the pin box is above the hitch plate, then I lower the RV so the lube plate is touching the hitch plate. I then will backup the rest of the way and the truck almost lifts the RV a hair when I'm locked in. This method prevents high hitching.

Yes, yes, agreed. I do the same.

 

[SGT ROC]

Hi SGT ROC,

We always do the pull test but knowing that we traveled over 2 hours before uncoupling makes me figure it didn't matter. What bothers me is that there is some unknown element that I worry could happen again. Now my husband and I are doing redundant checks because we're worried that one set of eyes isn't enough. So I'm checking that he locked the handle and he's checking the pin is seated properly. I'm sure there could be worse things than two sets of checks but we're still concerned.

It may be true, that the jaws seemed to be locked but weren't really, but that usually prevents the handle from closing all the way and the locking pin won't engage. That used to be an issue when we were new to the 5th wheel but hasn't happened since then.

I sure will let you know if we figure it out.

Thank you,
Sue

My wife double checks everything before we start out and after unhooking. I have forgotten to do things in the past, mostly by getting distracted, such as not putting the tailgate down when unhooking, forgetting to pull the wheel chalks, leaving cargo doors open, and so on. We both do extra walk arounds just to be sure... It can't hurt