Cheap bed saver

[Stublejumper]

Made my version of a bed saver. Hope I never need this...

[JRTJH]

You know, it's funny, but I was thinking about a piece of half inch steel cable, made into a loop about 14" or so in diameter and slipped over the hitch head and held up on the pin box with a bungee cord.


Just last night I came up with this idea, and also considered some logging chain, but thought the cable would be lighter.

I like your idea, but my 16K plate doesn't have the curved front edge to drill for the eye bolts. BTW, what is the weight rating on the eye bolts you used?

[SAD]

Originally Posted by Stublejumper

Made my version of a bed saver. Hope I never need this...

Very clever.

Originally Posted by JRTJH

....BTW, what is the weight rating on the eye bolts you used?

ONCE.... And worth it!

[Stublejumper]

I think they are rated for 16 k each with a 1 inch solid steel bar, like another member said once if it happens it will in the campground so this should work I hope.

[Jim Dow]

I think that you have come up with a fantastic idea. I work with helicopters (specifically the Eurocopter AS350BA model); and that's a great use for the discarded "Angel Bolts" that hold the helicopter's rotor blades onto the rotor hub. No 5er would ever be able to bend or brake those bolts - and they are long enough to work.

Check around an aircraft (helicopter) mechanic shop at an airport; and they will probably give you a discarded set. I've already got mine.

[blackty]

Nice...Jim

[webslave]

Very similar to one I bought a few years ago. His name was Butch and he sold them on eBay for a while...don't know if he is still making them or not. His had flat plates and came with a drill bit, center punch in the proper diameter and bolts. He, at the time, didn't make one for the B&W Companion, but, I bought it anyway and modified the installation instructions so that it fit perfectly.



The rod has an "index pin" that you can see on the left side that keeps the unit in place and a quarter turn of the handle lets it slide "open" for passage of the king pin and there was a cable just long enough to allow it to open, but, not long enough for the rod to come all the way out. You can see the taught cable with rod pulled for hitching or unhitching below. The bolt heads don't interfere with hitching or unhitching since they sit at the very bottom of the capture plate.



Cheap insurance in case I ever have a "mental lapse" or there is a hardware failure (not likely with a B&W), but, if my pull test, after hooking up, ever fails, it should save the truck bed from any damage.

[Rusty]

I have to play devils advocate here.

Do you think that the pin is far enough back and high enough to catch the trailers pin in case it does drop?

I wonder if your pin is far enough as the pin is set back a few inches from the forward edge of the pin box, and the flange that the pin is welded to may ride down the back face of the hitch, which may allow the pin to skip by it, as the pin would have to land directly in front of your green cross pin.

Also I think that the pin box may push down on the hitch face rotating the pin down and out of the way.

Just wondering if it may give you a false sense of security.

I could be wrong though........

[Stublejumper]

I here what you are saying about the hitch tilting back and the pin sliding over the John Deere green pin but the curt hitch that rotates 360 degree will not angle back enought for the pin to slide over. With to jacks 1/2 inch off the ground and pin unlatched I pulled out and it and it held with 3000 lbs loaded , Still had 1 3/8 inch to go. But I see what you mean about other hitches.

[suza]

I'm sorry . . . . can someone please explain what can happen to damage the bed and how these remedies work? I'm new to 5th wheels.

[tileman]

Originally Posted by suza

I'm sorry . . . . can someone please explain what can happen to damage the bed and how these remedies work? I'm new to 5th wheels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1kxkc2BOpE

[suza]

Now I get it Thanks for the video link.

[Scottinvt]

Sure wish I had one when I dropped mine on my new GMC 3/4 ton duramax :-)