This has to be a common problem but I can find no threads which address it. Because of the deep box and rear seat headrest, I'm unable to see the 5th wheel hitch to hook up the trailer. I find no flexible mirrors to attach to the trailer as Cougar and other trailers come equipped with. I wonder what others have done to add visibility.

 

Welcome to the site!!
On my truck I found that the center head rest was removable. Perhaps yours is too.

 

On some of the late model Fords, on the inside of the headrest latch, you may see a small hole, stick a paperclip in there and it will release the post.

 

Thank you for those helps. I'll look for the small hole. I'm not sure that will give me enough visibility but it's a start.

I've had this pickup-2011 SC, Eco Boost for less than a month. Though I didn't get all that excited about it as a new pickup, when pulling my 9000+ pound 5th wheel camping trailer, I was super excited. It replaced a 2002 GMC, 2500HD, with 8.1L engine. The Eco Boost, effortlessly pulls up hills took a lot of gas, maintains speed than the GMC with lots of throttle response to get over the hills at a slower speed. I suspect this new, 6 speed automatic transmission is part of the winning combination though the Alison in the GMC was nice. I'm pleased with the 21 MPG unloaded and the 10+ MPG pulling the trailer.

 

Careful, Bob, about posting that you are towing a 5ver. The weight police on here will be telling you how much over your GVWR you are and that it cannot be done with an F150.LOL

 

You can find mirrors that mount on the pinbox. Similar to what Keystone is doing on their front cap, but these are just a regular mirror. I've got a Cougar and that mirror they use is worthless. It hasn't worked even once for me. The light is always wrong.

I can tip my rearview mirror down and see my pin, so it isn't an issue for me. But I've read where others with crewcabs cannot see the pin at all. If you think about it, most big rigs cannot see their pin at all either, but they still manage to hit it close enough. They do that by using their side mirrors to judge center alignment between truck and trailer.

 

Thanks for the responses. I found that there was a release on the opposite post of the headrest adjustment post, that allowed the headrest to be removed. If I sit way up in the seat, I now can see the hitch. I think I'll try to mount a small convex mirror on the pin box anyway to see if it will give me an added alignment view.

 

I've used these before.

http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Tow-534.../dp/B00153ZTR0

They are intended for hitching bumper pulls. But just stick one of them on the hitch in front of the pin hole and back it towards the center of the trailer. Stop when you get close enough to make sure the trailer is at the right height and then back it in.

 

Hmmm. Double post.

 

My 5th wheels a cougar and there mirror up on the cap helps me alot when im close. My new 5er tail gate was awesome at helping me line up to. But yes crew cab makes the job much harder.

 

Another alternative, albeit a costly but very effective one is to buy one of the wireless cameras with the magntic base. I have one since I tow my multiple trailers with both my Excursion and F350. Yes the trailers I tow are tag trailers but I'm sure these would be very suitable for your 5th wheel application. Especially if you hitch/unhitch a lot. I've found mine to be priceless.

 

To be fair, when you are hooking up a regular tractor-trailer you can see the duels and they are as wide or nearly as wide as the trailer. If you have the duels lined up with the trailer edge (on a 96" wide trailer) yo will be centered on the pin.

What I do is when I'm hooked up to any trailer for the first time is pay attention to where the side of the truck is (looking in the mirrors) in relation to the trailer. There's usually a door or something on the trailer that is close and I aim for that with the side of the truck. I suppose a guy could put a short strip of reflective tape on the front to aim at until you get used to where you need to be.

It works well for me but then I had over 20 yrs driving truck to get used to it

 

Walmart sells a replacement mirror glass. It is polished metal. I had one but I didn't get it mounted well and it came off.
It did help lining up the pin.

 

This is what seems like the best idea to me. Can you give me a clue as to the department in the store? Thanks.

 

I found it in automotive. It is thin enough to trim to fit a mirror. I just used it as is.

I thinks some goop glue along with some double stick tape to hold it till the glue dries, just might work. Jim


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