5th wheel popped out of hitch

The lock was just hanging there... We did use a lock going to a clip. We have learned a lot through this expensive process. I appreciate all the comments and help. Learning more every day. Our friends have the same hitch no washers. No one could give me an answer that is why I went searching. My husband does the outside work but I wanted to learn everything so after he is done we go through the process again so I can learn. So now I have more steps in the process to make sure that everything is set properly. We have a checklist for inside and out. The trailer is at the dealers now getting an estimate. We have called three days in a row with no return message. So I guess tomorrow I will be calling every hour. I am trying to make sure that they have done the estimate and if I can't get any help then we will pick it up and take elsewhere. I think it is rude not to return a phone call even if you have no information.

Fixed link to image:

"This is a locked position." I do not see the lock traveling through the latch? Chris

[img][/img]

This is a locked position.


The jaws were around the pin. I will be spray painting the claws on the new hitch. And I printed out the Instruction. No the king pin is not hitting the latch. It didn't pop out right away he went up two inclines and approximately 1/2 mile turned left at the stop sign to go up the Mountain and that is when it happened.

And on a funny note wasn't high... ha ha

The angle of the photo above makes it difficult to be sure, but it looks like the locking lever is in the notch. But there is a lock hasp between the hitch head and the latch. That hasp should be through the hitch head and the lever. That prevents the lever from disengaging by accident or malice.

A lock isn't necessary at all, but if you use one, you don't want it positioned as shown in that pic.

For example, I use a clip like this. I have also shortened my release handle, as others mentioned.

Here is your image:

[img][/img]

I just purchased the Reese 16K as in the picture in May when we bought our fiver. On pickup at the dealer the salesman told me to visually check the jaws around the pin and paint them for ease of viewing. I told him I would also do a pull test (per the Reese manual) and he didn't think it was necessary. Needless to say I do both. I must say going from a travel trailer with the ball and safety chains it will take a little time for me to totally relax about the hitch when towing the fifth wheel. My hitch has 3 washers on the latch.

Pholman90 wrote:
He hitched back up and brought back to campsite. We drove into town and had a hitch guy look at. He said there was too much play and would not recommend putting the trailer back on. Also questioned the washers. I can't figure how to download a picture. So we drove to the dealer. I have pictures they gave us a new hitch this one has three washer. I asked them about the washers they didn't have an answer.

I have those same spacers. They are just to position the latch so that it aligns with the notch in the lever.

Sorry, but there is no way your jaws opened up unless that lever was not latched, AND the lever slid out. And slid out a lot, as in inches. The thickness of a few washers is irrelevant. Can't happen. Doesn't matter if the springs are broken. Doesn't matter if there are washers. Unless the linkage itself is broken, the jaws didn't open.

This was just another operator error. Probably high hitched. Operator believes, in hindsight, that it was properly hitched. But it wasn't. Simple truth.

Have you ever noticed, hitches only open, and trailers only get dropped, in campgrounds or driveway? You never hear of a hitch opening out on the highway. Not counting roll-overs or jackknifes of course. If there was a design issue, you could expect a hitch to fail anywhere, anytime. But that doesn't happen. It happens right after the operator improperly operated his hitch.

Hannibal wrote:


If the latch isn't down and secured, a turn "can" walk the jaws open and release the trailer.


The Reese two jaw hitch is one of the best and most popular on the market. Probably why there are more reports of user error than other heavy, over priced, bulky, downright ugly, less popular gimmick hitches.

Hmmmmm Very Interesting....I used to have a REESE HITCH....Nothing but Problems...I have Hauled MANY TRAILERS. (One of the guys that Haul trailers Cross country for Manufacturers)...

Since I switched to THE"" Heavy overpriced -Bulky-downright ugly -Less popular -Gimmick Hitches"" (B&W ,U.S.A. MADE -COMPANION)
Smooth as Silk, and Darn NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to do it wrong.:W

So.....lets look at facts...The "Most Popular" Reese, can MALFUNCTION.. unless you do it ABSOLUTLY CORRECT ---in a CERTAIN WAY. EVERY TIME.:E:E


While the "Heavy overpriced bulky downright ugly less popular gimmick hitch.."--has an almost ZERO failure rate, for even the most Novice user.:W


Yup.....Cannot Imagine why ANYONE would want the ALLMOST ZERO FAILURE hitch:h

Pholman90 wrote:
He hitched back up and brought back to campsite. We drove into town and had a hitch guy look at. He said there was too much play and would not recommend putting the trailer back on. Also questioned the washers. I can't figure how to download a picture. So we drove to the dealer. I have pictures they gave us a new hitch this one has three washer. I asked them about the washers they didn't have an answer.

"RV.NET: Photo Upload & Post"

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