EZ-Hitch "The best towing accessory ever!" - Page 2 - Diesel Forum

DslLvrLdy · 03-25-2005, 04:05 PM

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...and I've told her that.

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Okay!! I won't add any more grief to you [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] ...but, can someone answer my question?

OT · 03-25-2005, 05:00 PM

Didn't mean to hi-jack thread, but one Q. leads to another Q. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Backing up & doing by yourself takes just alittle practice.

If your not good at judging distance or how slow to back up, then your gonna need help. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Obviously you cant have t.tongue higher (above) top of V bracket. When backing up (sloooow) you'll hear/feel tongue contact V bracket. You might hit center of V or off center. Off center means you'll be nudging the tongue abit to center it over ball. Wheel on t.jack is needed.

Besure all stabilizer's are up. No blocks (chocks) on wheels. Althou if chocks are needed this is where the "jerk around" gonna happen. I've had wheels blocked due to unlevel surface. Alittle tweaking (sort to speak) does happen. This is where a helper is most helpful, at least first time, so you know what's happening. My t.t is lite wt. & t.wt. only 450# & does ok. Heavier I dont know, but a good Q. you asked. Look for updates.

Good luck...OT [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

typhoid · 03-27-2005, 10:27 AM

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I would rather get out a thousand times than have my wife anywhere near me when getting a trailer.

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Wife and I came up with a different solution for hitching up. She gets behind the wheel, and I give directions. Maybe it's a genetic (male) ability to do 3d visualization, but switching roles has worked out *great*. I give simple directions like "steering wheel half-turn to the right", "quarter-turn left", etc. Also, when she's within 6 feet or so (my armspan), I give her a continuous indication for how much further she has to go by how far apart I hold my hands. As she gets closer, I move my hands closer together. When my hands touch, she's there. I've seen others use the "come on back, come on back" with absolutely no indication of whether you're three feet or three inches from the stopping point, then yell at the driver when they either don't go fast enough or are going too fast.

It's now a piece of cake to get hitched up, even when coming in at odd angles. We hardly ever have to pull forward and try again. No stress and no yelling.

jschira · 03-27-2005, 09:10 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Wife and I came up with a different solution for hitching up. She gets behind the wheel, and I give directions. Maybe it's a genetic (male) ability to do 3d visualization, but switching roles has worked out *great*.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry. But I do not want to be standing behind the truck when my wife puts it in "R".

Words like "right" and "left" have no meaning to her. However, saying "spin the wheel clockwise" or "spin the wheel counter-clockwise" have seemed to help.

I also make little spinning propeller motions with my hand. That helps too.

bajaron · 03-29-2005, 02:51 PM

You guys are just to F U N N Y. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

typhoid · 03-29-2005, 07:08 PM

[quote
Sorry. But I do not want to be standing behind the truck when my wife puts it in "R".

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I guess we all need to consider our individual circumstances. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

There's a fellow I work with, that I don't even want to be in the same zip code when he's behind the wheel. He once commented that nobody seems to want to ride with him any more when the group goes out to lunch. He was right - once was enough for most of us. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

Scottz · 04-08-2005, 01:29 PM

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Sorry. But I do not want to be standing behind the truck when my wife puts it in "R".

[/ QUOTE ]

I get out of the way when she pulls into the garage too. Although in all fairness, I won't stand in front of anyone.

I solved the problem of her running into my workbench and putting holes in the garage wall (I'm not kidding) by hanging a fishing bobber off the ceiling so that it touches the windshild when she is far enough. Once again in fairness, I also have the same system on the other side of the garage for my truck. For a little different reason; my truck must be pulled within 2 inches of the front wall to close the garage door; the bobber works great.

EBX · 04-30-2005, 01:50 PM

I got one of those mirrors that sucksioncup to the back window. It works perfect.

8theman · 06-03-2005, 08:47 PM

off topic post removed.

wingnut60 · 06-04-2005, 01:35 AM

You guys don't have any idea of what problems are when having your wife give directions--try it with a Hensley Arrow hitch. There is a 30 minute difference (less)if my wife is not around to "help."

It is sooooo much better to get in and out of the truck 2-3 times at the start of a trip than to let the little woman give directions.
I could have had a "worlds funniest videos" a couple of times letting my wife figure out left/right, up/down, and up/down angles.

For "Better or Worse" didn't include hitching up.

a93bowtie · 06-04-2005, 11:18 AM

After having the Mrs. direct you to your trailer, and as you get out to walk back and hook up, have any of you ever had her look at you and say
"Well, it's pretty close." One time I said "Okay, just pick it up and toss it on the ball, and we'll get outta here!" (250 lb boat tongue [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img])

She's getting better.

We use a system I haven't heard mentioned. Director stands over/near the ball with forearm held vertical over the coupler. Hand in flat for "straight back", thumb left for bringing the ball left, and right for right. The other hand is showing distance from the ball, as mentioned before, hands come together, and hookups a breeze.

jef · 06-04-2005, 06:03 PM

My wife isn't very good at backing me up to the trailer. But I have trained the 12 year old daughter how to do so it is a one shot deal for us. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] She must of gotten her looks from her Mom and brains from me [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Honey, if you read this it is a joke you still make more money than me.

dcbowe · 06-07-2005, 06:03 PM

OT they make a hitch level thimajig that works good, a friend has one on his 5th wheel
when you raise it up to unhitch you turn a knob until it shows level
when you get ready to hitch back up you just run the jacks until it
shows level again then back up. don't know the brand or name of it
but he said he bought it at a trailer place. It looks like a
protractor with a bubble on it, he said it was cheap but
he's got alot of money too.
Oh to get back on subject I bought some cheap walkie talkies
and my wife says door or slide that tells me which way to turn
to line up on ball and when my hitch hits I move up about a inch
and its there.

8theman · 06-16-2005, 09:58 AM

off topic post removed

redneckdiesel · 06-16-2005, 10:16 AM

I just like big rear bumpers. That way, you just back up till you hit something and get out and c where you are! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] Actually one trick that has worked for me is getting those cheap stick on reflectors from walmart and putting them on the front edge of each side of the trailer. In fact a lot of heavy duty trailers already have them. Unless you have a dually, you can see these and keep the truck in between until you hear the hitch hit the trailer. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img] Pull forward an inch or so and walah! You are there.