Husky 31318 User manual

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Assembly, Installation, Operation and Maintenance
Instructions
26K W 5th Wheel Hitch
Part # 31318 (Hitch Head, Yoke and Cross Member)
Part # 31325 (2 Uprights)
Dealer / Installer: Provide a copy of these Instructions to the end user of this product. These
Instructions provide important operating and safety information for proper
usage of this product. Demonstrate the proper use of the product with the end
user. Have the end user demonstrate that they understand the proper use of
the product.
End User: Read and follow all instructions included in this manual. Ask your Dealer /
Installer for assistance if you do not understand the proper use of the product.
Never remove any decals from the product.
NOTICE
Husky recommends to always drive the king pin into the hitch throat and not drop
the king pin from above into the hitch head to avoid incorrect hook-ups. Please
read Operating Instruction to understand how this important Safety Feature
operates.
WARNING
Failure to follow all of these instructions may result in death or serious injury
Base Rails Not
Included.

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Contents
Assembly, Installation, Operation and Maintenance Instructions.............................................................................1
26K W 5th Wheel Hitch ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Contents.....................................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................3
Tools Listing ..............................................................................................................................................................3
Package Contents ................................................................................................................................................3
31318 Box 1 of 2 Contains:..............................................................................................................................3
31318 Box 2 of 2 Contains:..............................................................................................................................3
31325 Box1 Contains: ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Prior To Installation ...........................................................................................................................................4
Assembly & Installation Procedures ..........................................................................................................5
1.Upright and Cross Beam Assembly............................................................................................................5
2.Head and Yoke Assembly...........................................................................................................................7
3.Handle Assembly........................................................................................................................................7
Understanding The Safety Features Of your New HUSKY 5
th
Wheel. ...........................................8
Operating Instructions ............................................................................................................................................9
About Your Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch....................................................................................................9
Preparing For First Use.....................................................................................................................................9
Coupling Your Trailer .................................................................................................................................... 10
Before Towing................................................................................................................................................11
Uncoupling Your Trailer ................................................................................................................................ 11
Maintenance ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
Towing Tips.............................................................................................................................................................14
Driving Tow Vehicle...................................................................................................................................... 14
Driving Conditions ......................................................................................................................................... 14
Check Your Equipment .................................................................................................................................. 14
Trailer Loading...............................................................................................................................................14
Tire Inflation...................................................................................................................................................14
Towing Vehicle And Trailer Manufacturers Recommendations.................................................................... 14
Passengers in Trailers .....................................................................................................................................14
Trailer Lights, Turn Signals, Electric Brakes.................................................................................................14
Trouble Shooting ............................................................................................................................................... 15
Warranty Terms: ................................................................................................................................................16
Parts Listing.............................................................................................................................................................17
Weighing Truck and 5th Wheel Trailer.......................................................................................................... 18
Summarizing Weighing ......................................................................................................................................19

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Introduction
Safety is of paramount importance in both installation and use of the Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch
System. Observe all "Cautions" and "Notes" found in this manual, as well as common sense precautions
to ensure the safety of yourself and others.
Caution: The Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch System is recommended for use only in truck beds 6 feet or
longer. A Husky Heavy Duty Roller combined with a 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch is recommended for 6 foot
short bed truck installations.
For best results, it is recommended you have your Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch System (31318 and
31325) professionally installed by a qualified technician.
The Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch System is designed to tow 5th Wheel Trailers with a total Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating up to 26,000 lbs. Do Not Exceed the Rated Capacity.
King pin weight should never exceed 6,500 lbs.
Tools Listing
The following tools will be required for installation:
(2) 7/16” wrenches/sockets
(2) ¾” wrenches/sockets
2 ¼” wrench or pipe wrench
Eye protection
Gloves
Torque wrench capable of 100 ft-lbs of torque
Package Contents
Unpacking: TheHusky 26K W 5th Wheel HitchAssembly(31318 and 31325) ships in three boxes as
indicated below. The Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch Assembly (31318 and 31325) does not include Base Rails.
Inspect all parts for - damage & verify that all items listed are present.
31318 Box 1 of 2 Contains:
Hitch head (Qty 1)
Hitch Handle w\Grip (Qty 1)
Instructions
31318 Box 2 of 2 Contains:
Cross Member (Qty 1)
Hardware kit
31325 Box1 Contains:
Uprights (Qty 2)

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Prior To Installation
If towing with a short bed truck (less than 8ft. But longer than 6ft.) Husky Towing recommend the use of a
Husky Heavy Duty Roller for increased turning clearance at slow maneuvering speeds.
WARNINGS
•Check the Truck Payload and Trailer Weight as defined in Appendix A
(Checking Truck & 5th Wheel Trailer Weight Rating). Never Overload
Truck, Trailer or Hitch.
•This Hitch requires Pre-Installed Base Rails which are bolted through the
Bed of the Truck into brackets which in turn are fastened to the Truck
Chassis. DO NOT INSTALL HITCH BY FASTENING TO THE FLOOR
OF THE PICKUP BOX. The Pickup Box Floor is not strong enough to
carry the loads imposed by the trailer
•This 5th Wheel Hitch is rated for a MAXIMUM Pin Weight of 6,500 lbs
and a MAXIMUM Trailer GVW of 26,000 lbs. Exceeding Maximum
ratings may result in death, serious injury or property damage.
The distance from the back of the truck cab to the center of the King Pin (Dim
X) should be 4” greater than one-half the trailer width (Dim Y)
Do Not Install this 5
th
Wheel Hitch in a Pickup truck that has a bed
shorter than 6ft. The result of towing with this combination of short bed
and 5
th
Wheel Hitch could be damage to the truck and/or trailer, Serious
Injury or Death.
WARNING

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Assembly & Installation
Procedures
1. Upright and Cross Beam Assembly
a) If using pre-existing base rails ensure that the center to center (fore and aft) distance is 22” and that there are
two pairs of slots in the base rails that are 20-5/8"” apart (side to side) Otherwise contact your local dealer
for proper base rail selection and installation.
b) Place the uprights into the base rails with the decals facing the rear of the truck. Secure the uprights to the
base rails using the 1/2 inch diameter clevis pins and secure using the large hairclips in the hardware
bag.

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c) Install the Cross Beam.
d) Find the center line of the rear axle and mark on the upright. Measure 2” forward of the mark and put a
2nd mark on the upright. Find a set of bolt holes in the upright and cross beam which positions the center
of the cross beam as close as possible to this 2nd mark, while always keeping the center of the cross beam
forward of the rear axle.
e) Having found the horizontal position for the cross beam next find the vertical position for the cross beam.
IMPORTANT:- The Center of the 5thWheel Hitch should be positioned between 1” and 3”
forward of the Center of the Rear Axle.
NOTE: - The Cross Beam is adjustable in both the Vertical and the Fore & Aft directions.
4 Sets of holes in the ends of the cross beam provides 3-9/16” of vertical adjustment in 3
steps of 1-3/16”. 3 Sets of holes in the Upright (item 17) provides 2-1/2” fore and aft
movement from the center line of the Uprights.

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f) Put the cross beam in the highest position using the pattern of holes on the end of the cross beam. Place a
flat washer & nylon lock nut on each bolt & finger tighten. Snug down the four nuts using an "X" pattern.
Torque the nuts to 75 ft-lbs. Note: Be sure that the Cross Beam straddles the uprights. Do not over
tighten,as this will cause the uprights to fit improperly in the base rails.
2. Head and Yoke Assembly
a) Install Head & Yoke with pivot pin and castle nut. Tighten the castle nut until all the fore and aft movement
is eliminated in the pivot pin and in the head and yoke assembly. This may require 2 ¼” wrench or pipe
wrench. Continue to tighten the castle nut until the safety pin can be inserted. Close the clip on the safety
pin to secure the nut.
b) Using a grease gun, grease Zerk fitting on the plate side of the pivot pin.
3. Handle Assembly
a) Attach the handle with the 3/8” Carriage Bolts, lock washers and nuts. Torque the nuts to 23 ft-lbs. Ensure
the padlock hasp points down as per the sketch.
NOTE: - If the Trailer is available for measuring follow the instructions in the section
“Operating Instructions” sub section “Preparing For First Use”. Otherwise put the Cross
Beam in the highest position per instruction (f).
Zerk Fitting.

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Understanding The Safety Features
Of your New HUSKY 5
th
Wheel.
This Husky 5th Wheel Hitch has new features which add to the safety and ease of operation. The most important
feature to understand is that the Hitch will only fully close when the King Pin of the 5th Wheel Trailer is located
correctly inside the Hitch.
Before using this 5th Wheel Hitch for the first time, the Operator needs to understand the operation of the safety
features of this Hitch.
Pull the Handle fully out, and then let it slide back while pushing it gently forward towards the cab of the truck to
miss the latch. The Hitch should partially close.
lock hasp indicator
showing jaw open
lock hasp indicator
showing jaw open
Looking on the back of the Hitch, the indicator should be as shown in the sketch.
Using a Stick, (Keep fingers out of Jaw area) press on the Trigger Plate located underneath the Jaw. Pressing on the
Trigger Plate will release the jaw mechanism and it will fully close. The Lock Hasp Indicator should now show that
the Jaw is closed.
After the test, pull on the handle all the way out to reset the Latch Mechanism
WARNING
CLOSING THE HITCH BY TRIPPING THE TRIGGER PLATE SHOULD ONLY BE
DONE AS A TEST. IN NORMAL OPERATION LEAVE THE HITCH OPEN UNLESS
IT IS COUPLED TO A TRAILER.
ALWAYS PULL HANDLE OUT TO ENSURE HITCH IS OPEN BEFORE COUPLING
THE TRAILER.
TRIGGER PLATE

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Operating Instructions
About Your Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch
The Husky 26K W 5th Wheel Hitch System is designed to tow 5th WheelTrailers with a Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating up to 26,000 lbs. Do not exceed the rated GVWR of your vehicle as it will create an unsafe towing condition. It
has a 4-way swivel head, its height is adjustable from 15.75 to 19.25 inches in 1-3/16 inch increments, and is
removed from the bed of the truck by pulling 4 retaining pins.
Preparing For First Use
Your Husky 26K W 5th wheel system is now installed and you're anxious to be on your way down the road. You're almost
there, but take a few minutes to ensure your hitch is set up properly for your particular truck/coach combination by
following the steps below.
1. Verify that the cross member is set at the proper height to provide a minimum of 6" clearance between the bottom
of the trailer nose and the top of the truck bedsides, and allows for a level-towing attitude of the 5th Wheel Trailer
(See Figure 1 below).
Figure 1
With top face of head level measure up to top of pickup box (dimension Y in Figure 1). On the trailer measure up from
the face of the pin box to the underneath of the trailer (dimension X in Figure 1). Measurement X less measurement Y
gives the amount of clearance between the top of the pickup box and the underneath of the trailer.
At a minimum this should be 6”, if the trailer and tow vehicle are going off-road then this needs to be 8” to 10”.
2. If necessary, adjust the cross member to the proper height, ensuring the fasteners are re-torqued to 75 ft. lbs.
If this dimension is less than 6” DO NOT USE THIS TRAILER
WITH THIS TOW VEHICLE. Severe damage may occur to both the
pickup box and the trailer.

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Coupling Your Trailer
1. Ensure the 5th Wheel Trailer wheels are blocked front & rear & that the rear stabilizer jacks are fully retracted.
2. Also make sure the 5th Wheel Trailer landing leg feet are on a stable surface.
3. Pull handle fully out, then while pulling it to the rear of the truck let it slide back in until it catches on the latch.
4. Check Orange indicator is not obscured by Lock Hasp. This shows the Hitch is unlocked.
5. With hitch head level, set trailer king pin box ½” to 1” below hitch so trailer will ride up and onto hitch. Back Up
the truck under the trailer so the king pin enters the hitch.
6. When the king pin is correctly seated in the hitch it will trip the latch. This will allow the jaw to close. The handle
will then move to the closed position and cover the indicator.
lock hasp indicator
showing jaw open
lock hasp indicator
showing jaw open