Fifth Wheel Hitching | Reese M5 Review | Changing Lanes!

Properly connecting your truck to your Fifth Wheel is a CRITICAL step in a safe travel day!
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Pull Test!
Before we get into the checklist (you knew there had to be a checklist, right?), lets jump right to the highly debated topic of doing a pull test!

Let's address the primary argument for NOT doing a pull test: harming the front landing gear.
We completely agree with this. Pulling the RV (even just an inch or two) with the front gear down can damage it. Luckily, the remedy for that is easy! Perform the pull test with the front gear no more than one inch off the ground. This saves the landing gear from the stress of the pull check. If the pull test is a failure and the pin comes out of the hitch, the fifth wheel falls one inch or less to the ground (on the front landing gear).
Problem solved! Details of performing a pull test are below.

Reese M5
We've got over 22K miles using our original Reese 27K fifth wheel hitch (Ford branded accessory) and it's been super solid, so we were looking forward to trying out the M5! It did not disappoint.

Some features that are the same between our old hitch and the M5:
✅ Very solid steel construction powder coated. It FEELS like it can handle 27K!
✅ Four inches of adjustability. Very important for getting your RV to the proper clearance of 6 or more inches.
✅ Talon Jaw. We really prefer the single jaw wrapping around the kingpin. It's a simple mechanism with less moving parts to fail.
✅ Directly adaptable to almost any truck out there.

Some NEW features:
✅ Ready-To-Receive Talon Jaw. One less step when hitching up! The new design opens, closes, and locks all with the force of the kingpin. Love this!
✅ Tow/No-Tow Indicator. A very simple red or green indicator shows that the hitch is locked and ready to tow. Still do a pull check to be sure!

I also like that the release is accomplished by a rotation of the handle versus just a straight pull. This allows a lot more leverage and eliminates the need to put the truck in neutral to relieve pressure from the pin.

We really like the changes Reese has made to the M5!

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[staceymiller]

As a retired truck driver, your video and instructions were spot on! Great job!

[ordnancemarine]

From a former OTR driver and now a full timer. The best way to do a pull test is to slightly raise the landing gear, engage the trailer break and pull. There is no other way to do it! You are teaching the right method.

[jimchambersed.d.]

This is my first 5th Wheel experience and the Changing Lanes videos are truly exceptional. As a professional educator, I was about to pull out what little hair I have watching one nonsensical video after another. Then, when about to give up I saw your logo and thought, "OK, one more time!" and what a blessing. Each video is thoughtful, informative, and professional - no rattling on about unrelated nonsense, and the checklists on the blog are fantastic. I'm sure you get a lot of positive feedback, but I just wanted to add my "THANK YOU" and to encourage you to keep it up.

[Whalla]

I've traveled alone for work with a camper for 14 years, the last 7 in a 5th wheel. I've purchased some of the items that y'all have recommended that give me peace of mind, and will make my life easier. I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge of RVing. I hope to never have problems getting my RV off the hitch again. The struggle has been real. Again, thank you for sharing and showing me that there are better ways to do this RV thing.

[danhuhn]

Chad and Tara this is one of the best hookup video I’ve seen on YouTube. Thanks for showing people the correct way to hook up.
I really enjoy following your videos very informative.

[jtull]

Hey guys, we decided that this is the life for us, and will be full-time 5th Wheeling in the not-so-distant future. We really appreciate your straight-forward no BS instructions and it is clear you are genuine folks. Thanks a ton, we have already learned so much. Safe Travels and if ever in N Idaho, you would have a place to stay!

[dalevig]

I had a 20K Reese. My previous pickup had a B&W hitch. I loved that B&W! Maybe the newer style you have is better, but the older one wouldn't lock automatically. I purchased another B&W as quickly as possible. I needed the peace of mind knowing my hitch was locked. I always execute a pull check like used to do when I drove trucks. We have a checklist as well. You guys are great! Thank you for always sharing great info!

[EverythingRVbyPat]

I am a definite advocate for using a goose ball hitch. That said, I really do like this Reese hitch better than most I have seen. We use a checklist too and I highly recommend that anyone else pulling a 5th wheel have one too. It only takes a minute of distraction to get off your game and that's when something bad happens. Great instructional video!!!
Thanks for sharing,
Pat

[ericbenjamin]

Great video. As a truck driver for 14 years, a routine is very important when hitching and unhitching.

[earlribaudo]

I have the Reese air sidewinder. You showed the basic one, the air is is in closed, so it does look a little different. It is a great hitch for the short box. I can do the ninety degree turn with no problem. You can adjust the air for your needs. Wasn't that expensive. Two of us installed it in about one hour. No more worries about turning. Good video. Like your check list. I have to admit, I do not use a check list. After 25 years plus of trucking, I pretty well have it down pat. But anything can happen, so probably good idea to have one. Never to cautious. Again, good video and be waiting for next one. Happy

[xwetmlr]

I dont do any 5th wheel towing but I m familiar w it. This video answered every single curiosity, how to, or what if, thought I had in my head.. ..Thank you

[blzt]

It's the middle of winter in Canada. I love your videos because it gets me hyped for camping season even when it's still months away.

[trollingdollars]

Thank you for this video. I have asked the question of how to exactly hitch and unhitch a 5th wheel with no response from other YT'ers. I use check lists on a daily basis, and for me, I print them, laminate them, then use a dry erase marker to check of the items. No batteries to go dead, no screens to break; old school

[timengle]

XLNT hitching video for newbies to watch. Well put together. We learned alot with our old truck about hitching and unhitching. (The hard way) on some of it.
We leave our tailgate on as most ppl do. 😒 One of our first trips out with "OLD YELLOW" I was not paying attention and was just a little crooked and poked the front compartment door with the tailgate and put a dent in it. With ppl watching the newbies boy was I 😳.
Then another time we forgot to drop the tail gate after I dropped the dead legs down, released the hitch and started to pull out, you guessed it I hear this big bang and felt a jolt. This time a dent in the tailgate. 🙄
😀 lessons learned. 😀
Safe travels.

[garykwiatkowski]

I had my Class A License back in the day for a number of years. The number one instruction to hook up a trailer was the pull test. The old saying in driving a tractor trailer was to test before getting underway. Apparently the pull test is the same with a fifth wheel RV. I really love you guys and seeing more and more of your video's, make my day.. THANKS FOR BEING YOU! Chad you are a great instructor & Cara, a great

[PagasoLoco]

Hello All,
Just came across your channel and you have some great info and experiences. My wife and I have both "Been There! Done That!" You cover all of what we have bestowed on our girls for traveling with their families. Safe Travels!

[mikekennemer]

The two of you did a beautiful job.. Thanks so much.

[Thewanderingturtletale]

Great video! 5er noobie here and just starting my looking but, you 2 are a great resource for me in my searching. You answer a LOT of my questions and your explanations are clear and to the point. As a retired US Army helicopter pilot, it's "The same thing, the same way, Every single time".

[archstanton]

Great video for people new to the 5th wheel world. I have one of the coil breakaway cables but haven't used it, didn't like the hookup points. ( Dodge 3500 DRW). Seeing your set up I will try it when we take off in April. The new Reese hitch looks nice. We have the B&W Companion and I leave it in the dang truck unless I need the full bed. I use the loader on the tractor to remove and install it. Thing is heavy, but I too like the weight in the bed when running less the trailer, smooths out the ride. I need to build a hitch checklist, getting older I don't want to forget anything. I usually start a week before we roll checking wheel bearings and pressures on the trailer tires, then check the lug nuts (I mark them with a Sharpie and can just look and see if they have moved)
We also use radios for light check and backing in tight places. My partner's hand signals change every time and I couldn't keep up. The radios keep the hollerin' down to a minimum.LOL

The more I watch you two interact the more you remind me of my and my other half, although we are a lot older. Been together since teenagers, turned 61 last fall, and she still seems to like me. Next time you come out west would love to meet up someplace, boondock a couple days and I can hook Chad on the Turbo S Rzr....:)

[FittingInAdventure]

😂 Had issues with our first tug test and knew you’d have the answer! Thanks for all the great help!