phoenix2013 Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 The subject how to hitch and unhitch an ET comes up with regularity with the "veteran" owners and the new owners. We actually ran couple of "hands on" hitching and unhitching seminars at both the National Rally and the ECR. Gregg produced a great video that addresses the procedure in great detail and covers other related subject, about 16 minutes, here's the youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwU6ngW7Ho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 That ET looks a lot like my AirSafe. Similar head, similar locking mechanism, 4 air bags, too. I wonder if they are related? AirSafe are not rated as high as the ET. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted August 11, 2015 Report Share Posted August 11, 2015 Many hitches use that same head and locking mechanism. It is the rest of the construction that makes the ET hitch superior. Our hitch is not an ET or Airsafe and we still have that same head and locking mechanism. Only 2 bags though and no automatic leveling. When we hitch up we have top go through a slightly different process as we have to raise our trailer up much farther to keep the hitch from banging up, it would be similar to pulling out before the hissing stopped on an ET. We plan to change to an ET in the near future as we have already experienced some wearing (which we have repaired) on the pivot points on our hitch, 2005 Freightliner Century S/T, Singled, Air ride ET Jr. hitch 2019 46'+ Dune Sport Man Cave custom 5th wheel toy hauler Owner of the 1978 Custom Van "Star Dreamer" which might be seen at a local car show near you! Check out http://www.hhrvresource.com/ for much more info on HDT's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil D Posted August 12, 2015 Report Share Posted August 12, 2015 Similar head, similar locking mechanism . . . The Binkley head, made by Holland, is an off the shelf item. It wasn't originally designed for RV service, but is quite common on air-ride (and some non-air ride) fifth wheel hitches. Unless you order the optional "super" version, which is a Szymt product, the ET models come with a Binkley head. Phil 2002 Teton Royal Aspen 2003 Kenworth T2000 - Cat C12 380/430 1450/1650, FreedomLine, 3.36 - TOTO . . . he's not in Kansas anymore. ET Air Hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted August 12, 2015 Report Share Posted August 12, 2015 I thought he was putting the super Binkley on all of them now. Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted August 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2015 I thought he was putting the super Binkley on all of them now. Getting ready to do the "big switch". Getting the jaws made was quite a challenge. Still working through some ECOs, in the jaws machining process. To say that Holland was less than helpful would be an understatement, but that makes one just reach a bit deeper into one's "toolbox". Yes there is a dimension between each pair of arrows, good enough to machine them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix2013 Posted August 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2015 The Binkley head, made by Holland, is an off the shelf item. It wasn't originally designed for RV service, but is quite common on air-ride (and some non-air ride) fifth wheel hitches. Unless you order the optional "super" version, which is a Szmyt product, the ET models come with a Binkley head. As Phil mentioned Binkley head is an off the shelf product manufactured by Holland for three decades or maybe more and a mainstay for many hitches on the market including an ET. It has done relatively well in the past when the trailers were lighter and the jaw locking mechanism technology it contains is bullet proof. Incidentally B&W has also incorporated similar jaw locking mechanisms in their current heads. Binkley (or I should say Holland) has not responded to the fact that the swivel shafts exhibit increased wear as the weights of the fifths climbed dramatically higher in the recent years. That area is metal on metal and only 3/4 inches wide on each side. Hence the development of the Super Binkley (might have to change that name if Holland objects) Super Binkley, unlike Binkley is manufactured in two sections (the swivel base is removable), Note that the 3/4 inch wide swivel support ear (same as in Binkley) has a welded in bushing which is 1 5/8 inches wide (the support area has been more than doubled) and in addition the entire interior surface of the bushing is lined up with a high performance composite bearing material, which does not require greasing. The same material is utilized in the tube where the main support shaft goes through. All the shafts, in an ET and in this head are hardened, polished and nitrided. The plan is to manufacture all the ETs from this point on with the new head, the last ET shipped to Gregg (not the one he used in the video) was supplied with the Super Binkley and he already suggested a feature that could improve things further, Gregg is sharp, no doubts about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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