5th wheel popped out of hitch

bpounds wrote:
Larry, even in your pic, you've got a washer or two in there. Hard to tell how many, and yours are painted, but they are keeping the latch from rubbing the side of the hitch head. I think Reese may use more or less washers, as needed to fine tune position, which might vary due to manufacturing tolerances in the linkage components.

If someone actuates the release lever a bit, and observe the jaws, it will be clear that the lever has to move a long way before the jaws move much. And even then, the pin pulling rearward will slam the jaws shut again.

I see something different from my picture and the OP's picture. My shaft slot is closer to the head and his is at an angle and not in the slot. My thinking is the hitch is not locked for the OP. I would not trade our hitch for any other brand.

chevman

bpounds wrote:
Your image:


That hitch looks pretty beat up. More than I would expect from 20 outings. Did you pick it up second hand?

Not sure why the jaws are not level. And not sure if that means much. But it could indicate looseness from wear. No grease???

Needs some new springs and it would be good to go.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Your image:


That hitch looks pretty beat up. More than I would expect from 20 outings. Did you pick it up second hand?

Not sure why the jaws are not level. And not sure if that means much. But it could indicate looseness from wear. No grease???

[img][/img]

bfast54 wrote:

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

Careful you will be called out for being a "FanBoy", or several other things!

Notice my sig? "HeavyWeight" B&W that is for the whiners.

Larry, even in your pic, you've got a washer or two in there. Hard to tell how many, and yours are painted, but they are keeping the latch from rubbing the side of the hitch head. I think Reese may use more or less washers, as needed to fine tune position, which might vary due to manufacturing tolerances in the linkage components.

If someone actuates the release lever a bit, and observe the jaws, it will be clear that the lever has to move a long way before the jaws move much. And even then, the pin pulling rearward will slam the jaws shut again.

I will be spray painting the claws on the new hitch.

Any hitch can be high pinned. I've seen just about every brand of pro grade SAF-Hollands/Fontaine/etc hitch on tractors that the operator caught with the tug test. And a few that didn't make it out of the yard.

One company even recommended painting the jaws white..... and the pins flange yellow.
During night time hook ups its hard to tell if the jaws are closed around the pin or just closed and siting on top of the jaws (high pin).

Do a tug and visual regardless of hitch brand as part of your safety program.

Figured the bashers would make their appearances with no helpful input other than just bash. RV folks are a hoot.

These things happen. Even with the gimmick hitches. I've hopped back out and checked the latch on ours only to find that I'd been distracted and didn't lock the arm in place. I got lucky. I've caught our friends' travel trailers with the lever up on the coupler while they were pulling out to leave. All it takes is a minor distraction. Seen many pickups with arc shaped damage on the tailgate where it appears a trailer has come off the ball and hit the tailgate while the chains kept it from escaping. I watched a utility trailer come off of a tow truck and slam into the side of a parked Volvo station wagon just seconds after a mom and daughter got out and walked into the store. Hopefully this was just an oops. That's the easiest to fix and prevent in the future. Good luck with the repairs and wishing you many miles and years of safe, happy travels.

chevman

Me Again wrote:
Fixed link to image:

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

this is different from your picture. 20K reese/easyrider airhitch. The washers are a new deal to me and ours lets the handle go into the hitch farther. I hope my picture shows.

chevman