WATCH THIS FIRST BEFORE BUYING A HITCH FOR YOUR HDT | HDT RV LIFE

WATCH THIS FIRST BEFORE BUYING A HITCH FOR YOUR HDT | HDT RV LIFE
✔️About this Episode:
Join us in this episode where we have to replace the hitch on our HDT. The comfort ride hitch that we thought was the perfect complement to our truck turned out to be a piece of junk. In this video we replace it with an ET Senior hitch and only wish we had purchased the ET to begin with. So, come along as we remove our truck bed and replace our hitch. 😊
Don’t forget to Like, Share and Subscribe! We appreciate you following along with us.
Enjoy! 😊
Thanks again for your support.
Until next time, Safe Travels.
Where to buy the ET Hitch: ethitch.com/
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Intro/Outro -
ES_Walk The Walk - Jan Chmelar
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#NEWHDTHITCH #HDTRVLIFE #JONESN2TRAVEL

[@clarencesmith449]

Can’t blame the bed manufacturer when you’re the bed manufacturer lol ! Great work, Shiny Side Up!

[@JonesN2Travel]

Great point. LOL We were just lucky we built it big enough to start with. Thanks for checking out the video Clarence. Safe Travels

[@woodysofwellington3099]

Absolutely having such a great time watching this build. Great job, alot of work however.. I have the fever for a HDT hauler. Hoping i can reach out to ya for a build..Hello from Wellington Florida, Palm Beach County..

[@jimsjacob]

Man! Nothing better than the right tools for the job! Mag drill and an overhead lift. Excellent! Shop envy. 😋

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi Jim. You go that right :) We couldn't have done that job in the driveway LOL Safe Travels

[@winginitwithjohn8451]

Oh, to have a work shop like that...

[@millertyme214]

I am in the middle of building a truck myself and I bought this hitch, it is without a doubt the best hitch you can purchase for an HDT. Thanks for the videos they are fun to watch.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Blaine. Thanks for following along. I agree, this hitch is awesome. Safe Travels

[@oldtanker4860]

Older HDT user here. I looked at the cushioned hitches but instead decided to go with an air bag pin box on the trailer. Far less cost than the air cushioned hitch and much simpler mechanism. Used the commercial plate for most of the first year then swapped it out at our first HDT rally in Wichita. Went to a 4 way flex 32k load hitch. Worked great. Now we are hanging up the keys and I am going to sell the truck (Motorhome registration in Montana) as we downsize RV.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey there Old Tanker :) There are definitely other options. We had the air bag pin box on our bighorn and it was nice. We appreciate you following along. Safe Travels

[@marcusjweeksify]

Famous last words, it should be pretty easy to remove. When I converted my truck I went with the et senior also. Henry and his wife are awesome and the hitch itself is a beast.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Right? I always think its gonna be easier than it is LOL We are loving the ET Senior; should have bought that first. :) Safe Travels

[@ericconklin6195]

Great video Thank you for sharing your build process

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Eric. Thanks for following along, we appreciate you. Safe Travels

[@sherriweber7105]

Safe travel to you too! And stay safe.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thank you Sherri. :)

[@stevetsigounis6535]

You guys always have great content.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thank you Steve. Safe Travels

[@sherriweber7105]

Great job guys. Great to see a family doing this together. You all did a great job. Glad you all helped out. Glad the hitch works too. Nice video. Thank you for the video as well.

[@JonesN2Travel]

You're welcome Sherri and thanks for following along. Safe Travels

[@DavidJames-uv7yc]

Another really interesting and informative video Aaron. Well thought out and organized fo rlearning. Safe travels.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thank you David. Safe Travels my friend :)

[@texasproud3332]

Great job on the bed definitely looks factory also good to see family getting together to help

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thanks for checking out the video. Its always good to have the right tools and a bunch of experienced helping hands :) Safe Travels

[@QuadeQuick]

Sure helps to have the right tools and the right team! Nice work, y'all!

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thank you Quade. Yes, without that shop we couldn't have built anything nearly this nice. Safe Travels

[@larryburkett9837]

I miss following your adventures.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi Larry. We're trying our best to get back online.

[@TipsyMarlinTravels]

Safe travels. See you soon.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Soon :) Safe Travels

[@innerspaceavailable]

I remember sitting there at the rally thinking what a great deal it would be to snag the demo hitch that Brian brought down with them from Popup. Henry is a class. act. I mentioned about wanting a Jackolopee and we just walked out to his van and he had ten or so with him. Great rally and it was so nice to meet you both!

[@JonesN2Travel]

I was really surprised that it hadn't been snatched up when I committed to buy it. I asked Henry if Popup had any in inventory and he called them right then and there. He said the show model was available and I couldn't pull my wallet out fast enough LOL. Henry is awesome and I hope to be able to sit and chat with him more in the near future. :) I have since reached out to the sales manager at Popup, just to say hi and get a feel for their company. I have to say I am glad Henry is working with them, they are great and customer service, top notch. Thanks for checking out the video. It was great meeting you as well. Hope to see you next year. :) Safe Travels

[@innerspaceavailable]

@@JonesN2TravelThanks for the tip on the raptor liner. I ordered some right after you mentioned it. Perhaps we can get Maggie and Lydia together for a great dane play date sometime. I think a dane should be required for owning a HDT. Lol! Great job on the videos!

[@JonesN2Travel]

@@innerspaceavailable I agree 100%. Big Rig should require a Big Dog LOL Would love to get together again soon :) Keep in touch. Safe Travels

[@TwoCents690]

Good catch and install. I bet you saved a lot from future repairs.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Yes we did. :) Thanks for watching. Safe Travels

[@michaelwilliams-fx3fi]

When you exit your truck come out backwards and use three points of contact

[@jackpinnell3204]

Hi....just started following your channel and subscribed. i'm guessing from other comments that the shop you are working in is a family owned business? Great job on the hitch swap and since I just found out you built the bed, it looks awesome!!! Followed you through the process of buying your "new to you" Volvo. I really learned a lot with that video.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi Jack. First of all, thank you for subscribing. So happy to have you following along. Yes, a family steel business in Missouri. We couldn't have pulled it off without access to that awesome shop. :) Thanks for following along and please let me know if you have any questions. I am far from an expert but happy to help however I can. Thanks again. Safe Travels

[@todbrooks583]

Another great video for those of us learning the process! Now here’s a question for your in-laws...would they consider building the beds for future customers?

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Tod. We've talked about it but aren't quite sure if we want to get into the bed building business :) Will keep you posted. Safe Travels.

[@86rustbucket]

Nice team work. I was thinking the same as the other commenters, remove the bed, oh my.....BUT, on a pickup truck, you need to pull the bed to put in a goose etc mount or the factory puck systems, so not much different (except the hoist can be smaller ;). Sometimes, you need to make some choices when you are designing and building something. If you haven’t needed to make a choice and weigh pros and cons, you’ve probably never designed or built anything.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi David. Great point. We wish we had just started with the ET hitch and the saying is true, "You get what you pay for". We went with the Comfort Ride because it was cheaper but this proves not better. :) Safe Travels

[@mikeandre9903]

It is so awesome to see that process in action I was watching another Channel and there's somebody out there with HDT truck that extended their flatbed and they're going to put a 4 door jeep wrangler to fit on it that's going to be crazy good luck with everything it's looking really nice and happy Veterans Day thank you for serving👍👍

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Mike. Yes, we have a couple of friends that have done the Jeep on their HDT. These trucks are so versatile its really cool. Thank you! 👊

[@mikeandre9903]

@@JonesN2Travel 👍

[@todbrooks583]

Mike...can you tell us the page you were watching? I’m going to be modifying my future truck to possibly haul a Grand Cherokee.

[@rrproperties8999]

Gantry crane, 3/4 wrenches, and Walla a new 5th wheel install. Luv the shop 😍. Delivery to Portland, Oregon. Happy camper

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thanks for following along. True, we couldn't have done it without the shop. Safe Travels :)

[@brianb-p6586]

" Voilà" (or just " Voila").

[@davidschonhardt4958]

Aaron, that's awesome, what a beautiful garage! You didn't mention if you contacted comfort ride for information and parts? I have comfort ride hitch pulling an old Teton, and haven't had any problems.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi Dave. I did and they tried to tell me it was my fault because I put the hitch on a HDT with the wrong head. Still scratching my head over that one. About $600 for parts to fix it but I lost confidence in the hitch so I got rid of it. :) See you soon.

[@diyoverhauler5432]

Who would of ever thought a hitch would need new bushings

[@JonesN2Travel]

I especially didn't think it would happen in a few months. :) Safe Travels

[@Kevin-midmichigan]

Hows that hitch holding up?

[@nathan00campbell]

something my Holland Kompensator on my Freightliner will never do to me. Oh and i can use it with my step deck as well. The more moving parts, the more failure points.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi Nathan. Excellent points. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels

[@brianb-p6586]

I had not heard of the Holland Kompensator, but it is apparently a pivot system to allow a commercial-duty Holland fifth-wheel to pivot laterally as desired for an RV. That's good, but it doesn't provide the cushioning of the air suspension on the hitches used in this video. Perhaps a Holland Kompensator on the truck plus a cushioned pin box on the trailer would be a good combination.

[@nathan00campbell]

​@@brianb-p6586The air cushioning is more of a gimmick than a reality. Maybe on a tandem drive axle truck it matters, but on a single drive axle semi truck it actually rides smoother than it does on a one ton leaf spring pickup. My little day cab single axle truck is noticeably smoother and I have a lot less open cabinet doors and moved around items inside the trailer with the Freightliner than I ever did the one ton ram.

[@jbarchie1074]

I wonder if your the one I seen In Albuquerque on Friday 11/5/21 I was in a lifted Chevy Are you an Air Force veteran I spoke to you on CB I didn’t know I could tow my 5th wheel camper with a semi and not have to get my CDL again

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Jason, Yep that was us. :) Glad you found the channel. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. We have a number of videos around registering the truck in South Dakota as well. :) Safe Travels

[@jimdunn731]

Love it,That is the hitch I like, what is the cost of that one and do you have to run an extra airline for that?

[@JackMayer]

$3690 for a 3.5K-6.5K pin weight version. Heavier pin weigths are available as well. We usually take air off the cab suspension and run it back to the hitch, but you cantake it from other locations as well.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Jim, see Jack's comment below. :) Safe Travels

[@winginitwithjohn8451]

Is this shop available for hire to build another bed on an HDT?

[@williamsneedjr4129]

I would like to to know if you could have designed the hitch to come off with out taking the bed off

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi William. In order to get the proper height on the hitch it is designed to mount between the truck frame rails. I suppose you could design a bed with an open rear or a removeable panel on the rear that would allow you to slide the hitch out without removing the bed. A lot is possible when you're designing your own :) Hope that helps. Safe Travels

[@rrproperties8999]

?, Did you move your driver's forward, or add an extension to the frame. And if so on the frame extension how much?

[@JonesN2Travel]

We added a 30" frame extension. Just long enough to accommodate the hitch and give us the space needed to turn the fifth wheel without hitting the Smart car. Hope that helps. Safe Travels

[@thomaswilson8634]

Oh myyyyy. Drilling a heat treated frame. Last i checked thats a big no no.

[@JonesN2Travel]

We followed the same process Volvo would have used to install the hitch. The frame isn't hardened, it is easily drilled.

[@MrtrenchTrucker]

I need a platform like that myself however I need to be able to easily detach it and the 5th wheel whenever I need to so I can still use the commercial 5th wheel for hauling freight. Any suggestions as to who can fabricate something like that?

[@brianb-p6586]

The fifth-wheel for RV use is often, like this, very far back on the frame to allow for a deck ahead of the the trailer. If you want that, but don't want the commercial hitch so far back, it might be feasible to mount both hitches, commercial ahead of RV, and just deflate the RV hitch air spring to lower it when you want to use the commercial hitch.

[@jimdunn731]

Was you able to paint the bottom of the bed?

[@JonesN2Travel]

Yes Sir. We had it painted before but there were a few spots we missed so we took the opportunity to inspect and touch up those areas :) Safe Travels

[@stsears11]

Isn't that a End Mill instead of a drill bit?

[@JonesN2Travel]

Kind of. The mag drill uses cutters instead of a traditional bit. 😁

[@davidcarroll8735]

What’s your clearance, Clarence? 🤣

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hi David. If you cant have fun then what's the point LOL Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels

[@RLBS61]

Nothing simple bout that.Redesign while you have it off so you don’t have to take the bed off to remove hitch next time..Simple enough just take a torch and cut it wide enough.I use to have a customized mobile home mover.Every time I had to work on it it was a pain.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Not that simple. The hitch mounts between the frame rails so you have to remove the bed to slide the hitch out. We shouldn't have to do it again now though. Safe Travels

[@RLBS61]

@@JonesN2Travel Keep On truckin👍😹

[@donhouse8720]

You be in the body business before long as other rv's see what you have built

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey Don. We've had a few ask but not sure we're ready for that just yet. :) Safe Travels

[@goddukee]

Might just be me,, but having to remove the entire bed to work on the hitch or replace seems like a design flaw. Seems like a removeable plate to access the hitch would had been a plus.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels

[@brianb-p6586]

Since the hitch shouldn't need to be changed in the life of the rig, taking the bed off each time doesn't seem so bad too me.

[@timf6916]

A lot OF WORK

[@JonesN2Travel]

Yes but sooooo worth it :) Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels

[@curtisclaxton6163]

What's the longest fithwheel could I pull and still be legal with the HDT?I'm looking at the toy haulers 44-48 ft.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Length mainly applies to commercial and I've only heard of 2 RVers ever pulled over for being too long. It may vary by state too. We are 73' connected with a 45' toyhauler but we know people who triple tow in the 80+' range. Not a precise answer but hope it helps. Safe Travels

[@sfcjones2590]

From what I understand the overall length can not exceed 75 feet. Icould be wrong but that is what has been told to me.

[@robertbruce7937]

Wow! I can't believe that you have to pull the bed to remove the hitch. If you got the parts for the other hitch would you still have to remove the bed to fix it. Seems a bad design by the bed manufacturer.

[@JonesN2Travel]

Its not the bed, simply the way the hitches are installed. If we had the parts for the other hitch we could have fixed it without removing the bed, yes. But since we wore the other hitch out in a few months we kind of lost confidence in it. Safe Travels

[@cowboyfrankspersonalvideos8869]

I have the same hitch but I experienced a catastrophic failure because I hadn't noticed the play you found. I'm by myself so was inside the cab anytime I'm hooking up. Do you have a photo or description of where your Comfort Ride failed? Here's my failure video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnKbfGZre9yHrJI

[@JonesN2Travel]

Hey there Frank. I ran across your video just a few days ago. Ours was failing where yours failed. The welds around the main pin that holds the head on were cracked and the saddle in the head that the pin runs through was stretched. Glad we caught ours before we suffered any damage. Glad you came out of it relatively unscathed. Thanks for sharing and following along. Safe Travels

[@cowboyfrankspersonalvideos8869]

@@JonesN2Travel Thanks. Sounds like the same issue.

[@jans4522]

Poor deck design that you have to take everything off to change the hitch!

[@JonesN2Travel]

How did you design your bed to allow for easy hitch removal? The point is that you shouldn't have a heavy duty hitch wear out in a few months. LOL Its really the way the hitch is mounted and if you want to encapsulate that and produce a good look there isn't much way around it. Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels

[@biketothetop]

9:51 no one is wearing safety goggles while drilling hole (One guy has normal eye wear without side shields). 11:19 Guy lays on ground could benefit from safety goggles 12:48 Guy wears safety goggles on top of hat... nice place to store them, but needed them earlier!

[@JonesN2Travel]

Thanks for checking out the video. Safe Travels