Looking for ideas for a fifth wheel hitch cart. I'm running a B&W and although I can remove the head to lighten the load the bas is still almost to heavy to handle by myself. Been thinking of ways to move it around the house and a way to load it in the bed of the truck.

You guys have pics of a cart or system that you are using?

 

I will take on today of the setup I have. I described it in detail in another very recent thread about hitches. I have the Pullrite slider with ISR rail adaptor and I use the cart plus 2" PVC pipe to roll the hitch from the truck to the cart. It is very easy and I can completely install tyne hitch by myself (Or remove it) in under 15 minutes.

The cart is made by ULINE. It has pneumatic tires and the top "Shelf" is a flat shelf so there is no lip to overcome. This process works VERY well IMHO. I'll take a pic. later and post it.

 

I'll try to take one I have later today as well. Got it from uline website.


Measured the height of the tailgate and got a cart to match it.

 

Hmm...Problems posting pic. Stay tuned.

 

Let's try that again:

 

I have a 18k Slider Reese that i took out of the 03 F350 with my engine crane with a extension boom. Also lifted the cab and box on and off my 49 with it. Then just set it on a bench until needed. don't take it off the M2 very often but use the same thing.


Just a swivel hook on the extension bar.

 

Do you store your fiver at the house or a secure location? I've seen any number of folks pull the pins/pucks on the hitch and use the fiver to lift it out of the bed. They just leave it stored on the pin box of the fifth wheel. The pin box is designed to handle thousands of pounds of pin weight and the front of the trailer frame even more. A few hundred pounds of hitch is no problem.

Rob

 

I bought a chain fall and hung it from the trusses in my garage. The hitch hangs all winter long and I never need to move it or lift it.

 

That seems like the easiest solution. Good idea.

 

If you have the room, a simple cart built out of common 2x construction lumber, a box of 2-1/2" drywall screws and a set of 4 casters with some lag screws or carriage bolts is really all you need. My 'cart' is low enough that the assembled hitch fits under my garage workbench but could be any height that works for you. And a non slider B&W base really doesn't weigh much more then the head but is awkward and the head pivots are always grungy/greasy - which of course are well cleaned by my pants.

 

X2
It's funny telling people that in person because they get that " yeah, duh " look on their face. And if you're worried about theft just put padlocks through the pin tabs and one on the jaw release pull handle.

 

For what it is worth, here is what I use;
It is a 2 in 1 convertible hand truck in the cart configuration. An Electric winch and a Demco Part # 6100 Hitch Lifter. I raise the hitch back the truck under it, then lower and secure to the truck. (My Wife is disabled so I had to come up with a system that I could install and remove my hitch without asking for help.)

 

This is exactly what I do. Hitch stays in the truck most of the summer. During winter storage or if I won't need it for a while I just pull the 4 pins in the truck bed when I park the trailer and let it hang from the pin box. If i had an expensive pullrite or something like that I might be more adverse to leaving it out in the elements but with my manual slider I just spray some oil on it and dont worry about it till next time.

 

SecondChance, I've left it hooked to the pin before. I really don't like to do it that way. I keep the hitch stored in the side yard covered up when not in use.

rdlouks, I have a dolly like yours and thats what I've been using to move it around. I still have to cary it through the back door in an upright position because the door is not wide enough. Like the winch idea. I hate lifting it into the truck just because of the sizes. Getting older and thinking smarter.

I wish my garage was as big as some of you guys! Sure would be nice.

 

I use a chain hoist to lift it out, and put it on a furniture dolly to move it around.