A secure hitch is what keeps your trailer attached to you. Check the coupling, chains, wiring and load before every trip, and again once you're on the road.
Ball-and-hitch coupler
A ball on the towing vehicle and a coupler at the end of the trailer's tongue or A-frame. Heavier trailers use a load-distributing hitch that spreads tongue load to all axles.
Handbook p. 69 ↗Hitching a ball-and-hitch trailer — make sure:
- All coupling components are present and not broken
- The trailer tongue isn't bent, cracked or otherwise damaged
- The ball attachment is locked into the mount with the pin and clip or other lock
- The ball is seated firmly in the coupler, and the coupler safety latch is secured down
- The safety chains are attached and crossed
- Electric lines are firmly seated and locked in place
- Chains and electric lines aren't tangled, pinched or dragging
Fifth-wheel hitch
Mounted in a truck bed; the trailer's kingpin locks into its jaws. Very stable, but it takes most of the bed, and the space behind it must stay clear for turning corners.
Handbook p. 69 ↗Know the rule
Before backing under a fifth-wheel trailer, lock the trailer brakes. After the jaws close around the kingpin, make sure the locking lever is locked — if not, the coupling isn't seated; fix it before driving.
Handbook p. 69 ↗Fifth-wheel checks:
- Mounting assembly solidly attached, not loose or missing parts; kingpin not bent
- Electric lines connected; not chafed, spliced, worn, tangled, pinched or dragging
- No cracks or breaks in the platform supporting the fifth-wheel skid plate
- No space between upper and lower fifth-wheel; trailer lying flat on the skid plate
- Plate greased as required; release arm engaged and safety latch in place
Pre-trip inspection:
- Prevent overloads and poorly balanced weight; make sure items are secured
- Latch or lock all outside storage compartment doors
- Test the connection: pull forward gently in low gear against locked trailer brakes, then look
- Chains and electric lines should be secure but slack enough for turns
When to inspect again
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Within 50 miles of starting a long trip | Re-check the trailer and load-securing devices |
| After 3 hours or 150 miles | Inspect again and adjust as needed |
| At every break | Wise to check the trailer again |
Put it into practice
You hitch your boat trailer, cross the safety chains, latch the coupler and plug in the lights. Forty miles into the trip you pull over to recheck the hitch and straps — and again after 3 hours or 150 miles.