Outdoors RV Mountain Series Owner's Manual page 16

On the Road
Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer:
Always ensure that the RV is stable before attempting to hitch up. Both the truck and RV should be on
near level ground. Connecting the receiver and pin-box will be much easier if both height and side-to-
side level is closely matched.
1. Lower the truck tailgate.
2. Slowly back the truck toward the pin-box until the king pin and coupler are in close proximity
then stop with the engine running, transmission in park, and the parking brake set.
3. Raise or lower the front of the fifth wheel using the landing gear so that the king pin height
closely matches that of the hitch plate assembly in the truck.
4. Open the coupler locking device so that the pin can engage the hitch plate jaws.
5. Continue backing and engage the king pin and coupler completely.
6. Place the truck transmission in park and set the parking brake.
7. Ensure that the coupler latch is locked in place and secure it with a locking pin, bolt, or padlock.
It may be necessary to rock the RV or tow vehicle slightly to get the coupler latch to close
completely
8. Plug in the 12-volt electrical cord (7-pin) to the mating receptacle in the truck bed.
9. Raise the fifth wheel landing gear to its fully retracted position.
10. Connect the breakaway switch lanyard loop using a quick connect coupler or carabineer at a
fixed location on the truck such as hitch mounting rails. Be sure that the length of the lanyard is
adjusted so the switch cannot be activated during a full 'jackknife' turn. WARNING - Do not
connect the breakaway switch lanyard to the king pin, pin-box, or to any removable part of
the hitch.
11. Close truck tailgate.
12. If this is your first hitching up, make sure that the height of the pin-box and truck hitch have been
adjusted so that the loaded RV is level when attached to the truck and ready to travel.
13. Remove tire chocks.
14. Run an operational check of stop lights, turn indicators, running lights, back-up lights (if
equipped), and electric brakes before driving away. See 'Braking System' in this chapter and
'Electrical System' chapter for more details about the electrical systems.
15. Reverse the procedure for unhitching.
 Do not connect the breakaway switch lanyard to the hitch ball or to
any removable part of the hitch. Remember that the breakaway
switches' emergency braking feature requires a fully charged battery
on the RV.
 Never attach safety chains to the hitch ball or to any removable part
of the hitch.
 Periodically check pin-box attachment bolt torque with a torque
wrench. Torque to 135 ft/lbs. (5/8-11 Grade 5 bolts).
 Damage may occur to your truck and/or RV if you fail to lower the
truck tailgate prior to hitching or fail to raise the tailgate afterwards.
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