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Leaving Truck Hooked To Fifth Wheel For Overnight Stop?

Midnight Rider

Midnight Rider

Prominent Member
My Question is?
Is it OK or advisable to leave truck hooked to 5’er for a quick overnight stop on level ground? If it’s OK to do it, what procedure are most advisable? Do you put jacks down? What’s best way to proceed. Just trying to eliminate hook up step early in the morning before departure?

Thanks
 
BryanValRox

BryanValRox

Elite Member
Midnight Rider said:
My Question is?
Is it OK or advisable to leave truck hooked to 5’er for a quick overnight stop on level ground? If it’s OK to do it, what procedure are most advisable? Do you put jacks down? What’s best way to proceed. Just trying to eliminate hook up step early in the morning before departure?

Thanks
Click to expand...
It would be my opinion, that this would not be a problem. Assuming you deploy the jacks using the manual mode. I think the main thing would be to ensure that the coach is stable and level before extending the slides. And you are not trying to lift the truck in anyway. Thinking out loud here, you will likely need to level UP to the truck level.(the landing gear would be the forcum it this case)
So , my thoughts would be to extended the front landing gear for stability and use the middle and rear to raise to match that point. Not sure if you would have enough travel , so blocks or “buckets” might be needed to reduce mid and rear jack stroke. Or even if the delta between the front would be excessive to overcome.
I haven’t ever done this, but have read where others have, so I am only offering an opinion, not advise from experience.
At the end of the day, not sure it will save all that much time and effort.
Obviously this become an individual decision based on one’s comfort level and experience.
I am sure others will offer pro and cons for you to consider based on their experience.
And I would bet big money the manufacturer would advise against it!
 
2 Allies

2 Allies

Prominent Member
Rider,

When we are just overnighting and the spot is fairly level, we stay hooked up. We drop the front landing gear to level front to back. Generally it means just raising the front slightly not more than relieving the spring pressure off the truck most of the time. Then you can make small adjustments left or right as long as you are not binding the hitch too much. Usually enough play to accomplish. If the site is too unlevel, best to unhook. We do find it easier to get out in the mornings. We use this method when we are loading or unloading for the trip in front of the house as well.

Hope this helps,
 
Bierdude

Bierdude

Member
We do this on overnight stops as well. I "rough level" the 5th wheel side to side, if needed, with leveling blocks. I have a Levelmate Pro that makes the job easy. I lower the front jacks just enough to take pressure off the truck. I don't worry about front to back level for overnight. But I make sure not to raise it so much that it pulls up on the 5th hitch. I always unplug the rig from the truck.
 
J

John G

Active member
My 2023 295MK sits a little nose high when hooked up so if I'm going to open any slides I disconnect from my truck. That way I have no worries about anything getting out of alignment (hopefully). This has been a great trailer and I always worry about the slides being damaged by not being level when moving them in and out.
 
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