Hitch Alignment Aids

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Sep 17, 2005 | 08:51 AM

ripkoken

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Joined: Sep 2005

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Hitch Alignment Aids

I just bought a F350 DRW and can't see the gooseneck hitch in the bed and certainly can't see the rear most hitch for alignment with my trailers.

I was wondering what types of hitch alignment aids are you using? How do you like them and what changes would you recommend?

Are there any other alignment tools you might recommend?

Sep 17, 2005 | 09:16 AM

teds74ford

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I always used practice. That will be the best way. I would think that you could get it lined up and then sit in the seat and take a reference from something, like the corner of the hitch and see where it is in the back window. Then mark that spot (using tape or nail polish on the frame of the window) That way, each time you hook up, just line up those 2 things from your line of sight, and you should be close. Good luck.

Sep 17, 2005 | 05:49 PM

horsepuller

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From: Southern California

Welcome to FTE ripkoken. Thanks for joining us in the Towing forum!

Sep 17, 2005 | 06:34 PM

Bouts21

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I have a slider rear window, so I line up the slider handle with a spot on the trailer and back up, when the two aline then I know I'm straight on to the hitch and the ball is under the hitch On edit, forgot to mention, I use the inside rear view mirror to back up, it centers everything as well

Sep 17, 2005 | 08:20 PM

fellro86

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Marengo, Iowa

I had a guy tell me to get one of those spot mirors, put it where you can see it from the cab and have it aimed at the hitch. This of course is mounted on the trailer. Haven't tried it myself, I have been doing it long enough I know by looking at everything in relation about where I should be, and generally am pretty close...

Sep 18, 2005 | 06:52 AM

blackf3504dr

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Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Leesburg , Fl.

Practice is all it takes . Back up to the trailer , center the trailer to the truck , back under trailer ...

Sep 20, 2005 | 02:51 PM

grtF250

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Utah

Practice is great, but I've found myself hooking up my trailer from all sorts of weird angles in the last few months so all my old refrences don't work. I found the setting a toliet plunger just infront of the gooseneck ball (or fifth wheel) works well it gives you a point of ref. that you can see from the cab. Its cheap, and it doesn't break if you hit it.

I haven't needed much help with the bumper pulls but I know they sell some magnetic poles, basically like the toliet plunger except you put one on the trailer and one just in front of the ball, they stick up above the tailgate so you can see them. I would guess you could make you own set without too much work or expense.