5th wheel popped out of hitch

jimmyfred wrote:

Pholman90 wrote:
Made a right turn on a high with high incline pulling out slowly. Trailer pops out of hitch drops on trailer. Main question. We have a 16k Reese hitch. There are four washers on the handle bar next to where you latch. Is there a reason for the washers?

...........Maybe the four washers prevented the engagement handle from closing the dogs completely and thus locking around the pin !

I was thinking something along those lines except when you let go of the handle you would have to pull it out if that were the case. I'm leaning more towards something is not letting the dogs close correctly in the first place and people are just shimming that latch out so it lines up. That might also explain why the jaws are not lined up correctly.

Pholman90 wrote:
Made a right turn on a high with high incline pulling out slowly. Trailer pops out of hitch drops on trailer. Main question. We have a 16k Reese hitch. There are four washers on the handle bar next to where you latch. Is there a reason for the washers?

...........Maybe the four washers prevented the engagement handle from closing the dogs completely and thus locking around the pin !

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???

man...how new are we talking on that hitch? Nothing "new" looking about that to me. Those jaws being offset looks really suspect to me. I use a snapper pin on mine or a small padlock if I'm going to be stopping anywhere with the trailer unattended. One of the first things I did to my hitch was tape it off and pain the backs of the jaws yellow so I can see them better. I also put a 1" wide yellow strip on the pin box above the pin and the front of the head so I can line them up when hooking up. I will be giving my hitch another once over after reading this thread. I've never really given any thought to the handle height but it's nothing that's jumped out at me. I think my handle is about bed rail height and my camper is a solid 6" above that. I will be looking at that though the next time I'm hooked up which will be this week. I also want to look at my jaws to see if they're offset like those. That doesn't look right to me.

If you rock the hitch head fully to the left, a long shank lock can hit the legs and push the locking lever up. We did this once, we now use a short shank lock. The lower the hitch is adjusted the more likely this is.
I think the tech that installed the hitch lost the factory black spacer, then just spaced it out with washers.
We've used a 16K Reese hitch for 11 years now. Most times it hitches just fine, some times not. No there are times when I just don't like the way is sounded and will rehitch. Always do pull test, just drop it in drive before raising the legs. If it's not latched you'll drive right out, you don't have to pull hard.

bfast54 wrote:
.Cummins 12 V 98 --- I know I'm used to that --I'm a big boy I can take it ---and I also have the heavy weight hitch so we're in the same camp--- but you know Let them play their games.



Facts. Confuse. The Doubtful.

Trying to help here..is. pretty pointless..but...I. still will try.

And..I know.-- You have. Hauled your share of Rigs..

Thanks!

The dealer gave us a new one. They have this one I refused to try and pull our trailer with it. The new hitch has three washers. I have sent Reese an email regarding the washers.

I am sure it is new looking at the picture. But the 4 washers concern me. Mine looks like Larry's with 1 washer which was painted. On yours the washers are not painted which tells me they may have been added afterward. Things happen sometimes in shipment and this hitch may have some issue that the dealer tried to fix. I'd have it looked at by the dealer. My 20000lb Reese has been fine for 18 years with only periodic maintenance and 2 new jaw springs last year.

Supposed to be brand new hitch Dealer installed.

.Cummins 12 V 98 --- I know I'm used to that --I'm a big boy I can take it ---and I also have the heavy weight hitch so we're in the same camp--- but you know Let them play their games.



Facts. Confuse. The Doubtful.

Trying to help here..is. pretty pointless..but...I. still will try.

And..I know.-- You have. Hauled your share of Rigs..

larry barnhart wrote:

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

Yes, hers is definitely shimmed out farther than yours. I was just saying that some shim washers are normal. Doesn't the latch in her first pic look bent outward? Like maybe the release lever moved outward while the latch was closed? I dunno, hard to tell from that photo angle.