rick83864
48°16N 116°33W
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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camillit wrote:Just an FYI after 8 pages of posts.....which i didn't read. I have a Signature series 18K hitch. I do a tug test and would have dropped it about 4 times show if I didn't! Why? Because I "high hitched". Yes, the jaw closed, the safety flag showed, you could see the jaw wrapped around the pin...but, the pin was too high in the jaw. Then I overcompensated and broke about 3 Teflon lube plates because I had trailer too low. On a hard surface I measure up from ground to bottom of trailer nose, 61.5 inched. But when you are on uneven sites it is tough. So, I measured and cut a board 28" long, that is distance from bed floor to bottom of trailer nose. Make sure you don't High Hitch.
Glad you have it figured out, the tug test works. I was just interested in how the lube plates break. Do they break in the front because of it hitting below the throat or what? You should read more, some are better than the Sunday comics... if you like to laugh.
06 Dodge 3500 Laramie 4x4 Dually
5.9 Cummins HO Automatic,Jacobs brake, Dodge Navigation
06 Grand Junction 34' Mor/ryde, 5500 Onan genny, Dual A/C, Fireplace
21500 GVW
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afdds
California
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Joined: 01/10/2003
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Hi guys,
DH and I are home from another great camping trip. Yep, we did everything right this time around. I was a little nervous, but better to get right back on the HORSE!
I'm not proud to be a member of the "Dropped It" club and I realize that my husband and I are not perfect and we learnt a very hard lesson. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have a family like "Open Roads Forum". I read each and every post and take away so much great information. Of course you will always have the good, the bad and the ugly. It's how you process and learn from all this information.
After getting the estimate from Ford and reading posts here, we have decided to take our time and look into the replacement of the bed. I will check into the few places that people have mentioned for full bed replacement. I looked the other night online and couldn't come up with any company websites. I'm still looking. Please send web links if anyone knows where to locate a bed. CA would be good, but can pay for shipping.
Not sure about the Jaws of the Curt hitch. I think we have a bar on the handle that goes all the way across, turns turns the handle when the pin is engaged. We will also be painting the pin white this week. We didn't have a flashlight handy and had a hard time seeing, even though it was daylight. I will also buy a small flashlight and keep it inside the cab.
All in all...had a great relaxing weekend...low 70's and loads of sunshine.
Debra
F350 Lariat,Crew Cab long bed 4x4 Diesel
Heartland Big Country 3500RL
"Our home is where the Air Force sends us!"
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John H
Kansas City Mo.
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Joined: 04/11/2002
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Debra,
I enjoyed your post, it reads like I like you personality & your attitude. "Why Do Bad Things Happen To Nice People", I just don't know that answer. But it sounds like the two of you will push on. Sorry for the hard lesson learned. Best of luck from here on....John
Oh yes, DW & I have a bed saver.... It will only Take a second,, to leave a life time of bad memories.
John H
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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I have never "high hitched"! Here is why. When I back my truck under the pin. I lower the trailer so the pin rests lower than the hitch plate. It has to slide UP on the plate to get into the opening of the hitch. It also puts the weight on the hitch when it does that. It is not enough to raise the trailer feet but it will depress the truck springs. When it clamps shut, I KNOW that I am not "high hitched".
Frank
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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Rvpapa
Alberta , Can.
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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Seems like a dropped trailer ALMOST gets more response than a blocked toilet.
Art.
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robertbick
Upstate NY
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Joined: 07/05/2006
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camillit wrote:Just an FYI after 8 pages of posts.....which i didn't read. I have a Signature series 18K hitch. I do a tug test and would have dropped it about 4 times show if I didn't! Why? Because I "high hitched". Yes, the jaw closed, the safety flag showed, you could see the jaw wrapped around the pin...but, the pin was too high in the jaw. Then I overcompensated and broke about 3 Teflon lube plates because I had trailer too low. On a hard surface I measure up from ground to bottom of trailer nose, 61.5 inched. But when you are on uneven sites it is tough. So, I measured and cut a board 28" long, that is distance from bed floor to bottom of trailer nose. Make sure you don't High Hitch.
Well... if you backed up until the king pin was just behind the hitch, got out of the truck to check the height, then none of that would have happened. Measuring height before is not the correct way to do it.
Bob
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4X4 LTZ
2010 Keystone Cougar 276RLS Pictures
PullRite Superglide 14K Hitch
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fdonham
Paris, Arkansas
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Joined: 10/08/2003
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I dropped my new Raptor on my new F350 yesterday. I had put down the jacks and unlocked the hitch, then decided to reposition the 5er. There was only damage to the bed rail, because the lowered jacks kept it off the tailgate and bed. I guess I am lucky, but it is hard to feel any thing but stupid. I filed it with my insurance. That's what I pay the premiums for.
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rick83864
48°16N 116°33W
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fdonham wrote:I dropped my new Raptor on my new F350 yesterday. I had put down the jacks and unlocked the hitch, then decided to reposition the 5er. There was only damage to the bed rail, because the lowered jacks kept it off the tailgate and bed. I guess I am lucky, but it is hard to feel any thing but stupid. I filed it with my insurance. That's what I pay the premiums for.
You are lucky I guess?? That TH would have put a hole right through the bed, made your gate look like a pretzel. I bet you won't make that mistake again. Live and learn . Good luck
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afdds
California
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rick83864, I feel your pain. I'm so glad it didn't mess up your new truck. We still can't decide what to do about the insurance. Your right, that's why I pay the premiums, however, I have a couple of teen drivers on my policy and I don't want them to increase even by 15% as someone posted.
Subway Truck Parts in Sac just wrote to me and said they have a blue tailgate for 550.00 and white for 650.00. They don't have a bed though. Should I be looking for a white bed, if I'm going to get a paint job?
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rick83864
48°16N 116°33W
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Joined: 09/04/2009
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afdds wrote:rick83864, I feel your pain. I'm so glad it didn't mess up your new truck. We still can't decide what to do about the insurance. Your right, that's why I pay the premiums, however, I have a couple of teen drivers on my policy and I don't want them to increase even by 15% as someone posted.
Subway Truck Parts in Sac just wrote to me and said they have a blue tailgate for 550.00 and white for 650.00. They don't have a bed though. Should I be looking for a white bed, if I'm going to get a paint job?
Thanks, your a very caring person but my truck is just fine. I think you are talking to fdonham. I see your from Sac town, have some relatives in the Roseville area. Good luck
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