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  • #1

    Unhitching Question

    I’m towing a GDRV 280RS that has a Turning Point pin box that is bolted into position. The TV has a Patriot 18K hitch that has a single lever release.

    My issue when unhitching is knowing when the weight of the trailer has been transferred from the truck to the landing gear. I tug on the hitch release to determine if it will easily release, but sometimes, due to uneven terrain, the hitch release seems still firmly attached, so I extend the landing gear a little more. The problem is I can’t always tell by looking the difference between removing the load from the truck and the trailer lifting the truck.

    Any wisdom on improving my unhitching operation would be appreciated.
    2022 Reflection 280 RS
    2020 Silverado 2500 HD
    Tags: None
  • #2
    What I do is raise the trailer up until there is a little space between the hitch and the pin. This means there is no weight on the hitch. I think on all hitches there is a little play to allow this. I have learned that sometimes the truck is pushing back on the pin or even pulling forward on the pin, in these cases the wife steps in and moves the truck while I run the hitch lever. We also do this if we are at an angle or twist.

    Brian
    Brian & Michelle
    2018 Reflection 29RS
    2022 Chevy 3500HD

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    • #3
      Things I learned when unhitching is to set the chocks, extend the gear, then put the truck in Neutral and set the parking brake. You should be able to pull the handle with the FULL weight of the pin box pushing down, it's the fore / aft load that tends to be what binds the locking levers.

      I've done the looking for gap, but it's not necessary. If you get the gap, lower it a touch. If you are in a quiet enough area, sometimes you can hear the loading in the jacks change as it looses the uplift from the truck, that is a hard one as the jack is steadily ganging load until you over extend and actually start lifting the truck.
      Last edited by Jlawles2; 06-04-2023, 04:36 PM.
      Joseph
      Tow       Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
      Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
      South of Houston Texas

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      • #4
        I also look for that gap between pin box and hitch to know the hitch is unloaded. Sometimes have to move the truck forward or back to unload the pin after the trailer wheels are chocked.
        Ted
        2021 Reflection 310RLS
        2020 F350 PS,CC,LB,SRW

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