INSTALLATION & OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS COMFORT RIDE HITCHES (CRH) MODEL 214 AND MODEL 308 Installation This hitch is designed to be installed into standard slotted rails such as the Reese, Valley, etc. mounting system. We have designed our own underbody mount system for Ford, GM, and Dodge past and present. When you receive your new hitch, the mounting legs and the coupler will not be installed; they are shipped in a separate box. 1. If you have an existing hitch, remove the 4 pins at this time and remove your hitch. 2. Set your new CRH hitch in place and loosely install the 4 mounting legs with the 1/2' x 1-1/2 bolts and lock washers. Be sure to mount all of them with the notch in the leg facing the same way (forward or backward). 3. Install the new pins and keepers to secure the hitch to the mounting rail mounted in the truck. 4. Once the pins are in place you can now tighten the bolts holding the mounting legs to the hitch frame. Tighten to at least 80# of torque. 5. At this time set the EZ-Lock coupler in place and insert the two 1-1/8 x 1-13/16 pins thru the mounting bushings and the coupler. 6. Secure the pins with the supplied socket head cap screws (SHCS) and extra thick 5/16 washers. This completes the installation of your new hitch. A handle and an extension handle have been included with your new hitch. The handle needs to be installed on the locking mechanism with the shoulder bolt and pivot bolt and nut that are already installed on the hitch. The extension handle is used to operate the hitch without getting into your truck. To install the extension handle, slide the extension onto the handle and snap the spring clip into the key ring on the hitch. Pulling outward on the extension handle against the key rings will remove the detent pin from the sliding locking bar so you can lock your hitch.
Operation Handle positions of hitch head: The hitch head (coupler) operating handle has 3 different positions. When the trailer is hooked up and ready to tow, the handle will be in the most rearward position (8 o clock position). When you disconnect from the trailer and the handle is locked in the open position it will be in the forward most position (10 o clock position). When you are ready to hook up to the trailer the handle will be in the intermediate position, between the forward most and rearward most position (9 o clock position).
In the forward position the handle is locked in position by the spring loaded detent pin that is inserted into the locking block. This is the position the handle must be in when disconnecting from the trailer. When the handle is in the intermediate position, the hitch is now ready to hook up. To put the handle into the intermediate position it is necessary to pull the handle forward a small amount and pull on the extension handle to remove the detent pin from the locking block and then let the handle move towards the rear a small amount. This position now allows the hitch to be hooked up. When you back into your trailer, the kingpin of the trailer will close the jaws around the kingpin. At this point the handle will on its own move to the locked position, if it does not, physically move the handle towards the rear of the hitch until the detent pin moves into position in front of the locking block. This secures the hitch in place. Once the hitch is locked, a hole will appear in the lock block frame opposite the detent pin where you can install a padlock to prevent someone from unlocking the hitch while unattended. IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE HOLE, THE HITCH IS NOT LOCKED!!!!! Every time you hook up and the hitch is locked into position, try to move the handle to the forward position, if you cannot move the handle forward it is locked!
Hooking Up DO NOT USE AN ANTI-FRICTION PLATE ON YOUR TRAILER, as the hitch already has one on it. DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF OIL OR GREASE ON THE ANTI-FRICTION PLATE. Make sure the handle is in the intermediate position (9 o clock position). Back your truck to the trailer and make sure the kingpin plate is even or just above the anti-friction plate on the hitch head. When you back into the kingpin of the trailer the jaws of the hitch will wrap around the kingpin and the handle will move rearward locking the trailer in place. If the handle did not automatically move towards the rear of the hitch, (8 o clock position) move the handle manually to the rear as far as it will go. The detent pin will move inward in front of the locking block preventing the locking block from moving forward. You may install a secondary lock in the hole in the locking block frame if you wish. IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE HOLE, THE HITCH IS NOT LOCKED!!!!! We also recommend that once the hitch is locked, try to move the handle forward. If it is locked, the handle will move only a small bit before the locking block moves against the detent pin (which has moved in behind the block which stops the block movement). Once the hitch is locked, raise the legs on your trailer and you are ready to travel. While raising the legs you will notice the hitch head lowering against the cells which is normal. Please adhere to the above procedures to prevent dropping your trailer.
Disconnecting After you have positioned your trailer and chocked the trailer wheels you are ready to disconnect from your truck. Lower the trailer legs to raise the trailer so the kingpin plate just clears the anti-friction plate on the hitch head. At this time it is recommended to put your truck in the neutral gear to take any pressure away from the trailer, and then put back in Park. This will ensure easy operation of the handle of the hitch. If you are parked on in incline, it may be necessary to back the truck into the trailer to remove any stress on the jaws of the hitch. This process will ease the disconnecting of the trailer. Pull the handle extension that is attached to the detent pin to remove the pin from in front of the locking block and move the hitch handle forward to the forward most position (10 o clock) where the detent pin will lock the locking block in the open position which will open the jaws. You may now drive away from the trailer. NOTE: if the handle is locked in the forward most position and the jaws are still not open, you can still drive away from the trailer because the hitch is unlocked. As soon as you move your truck a little bit the jaws will open. It is recommended to put the hitch handle in the intermediate position (9:00 o clock) after you park your truck so the hitch is ready to use the next time you hook up. Maintenance There are no grease zerts on the hitch, thus no maintenance is required. Remember, do not use any kind of lubricant on the anti-friction plate on the hitch, use only water to keep the dirt away from your hitch.