I moved my 5t wheel camper at my home today because I noticed the Wheel Masters level on the King pin tongue was a bubble and a half off to the left. We've had a lot of rain and the gravel drive is not completely level. Well I hooked it up and the coupler on the hitch closed. But apparently not completely because the handle that opens and closed the receiver latch is completely returning to the closed position and not matching up with the hole on the hitch to place the locking pin through it. I am very new to fivers coming from a TAG and still getting use to the hitching and unhitching. What should I do to get the locking coupler to completely close so the handle will seat properly. I hope I have explained the issue clearly. Apologies if I sound clumsy. Thanks

Could be as simple as it is gummed up, time for some spray graphite, and a little elbow grease. It maybe mechanical issue but always start with the basics first.

What type of hitch? Most of the time if the hitch does not latch it is due to the jaws not being complety engaged or in a bind.If you are connecting up, I'd reverse what you've done, pull away and start over. You may be high hitched or off side to side. When you connect, are you following the manufacturer's instructions? Most have you starting off with the jaws open and the kingpin about an inch below the platform?Jim

I suspect that the truck has rolled forward a bit when you put it in park. Make sure the truck is lightly pushing against the kingpin when putting in park. I have seen a few times where the truck would roll forward a bit each time is was put in park and required me to have the wife hold it against the kingpin while I locked the hitch. If you have clam jaws instead of a bar, you can close the jaws first and then back in. They will spring open and close without assistance.

Hard to help without knowing what brand and model of your hitch. I had that problem once with my SuperGlide wrap around jaws. Found out that the plate was a very tiny bit distorted. this did not allow the jaw to completely wrap around the pin. Thus a less secure hold on the pin. I had to remove the hitch plate and straighten the are that was deformed. Only about a .015" deformity. But those hitches are pretty close tolerances.In you case it could be a matter of high pinning, a burr somewhere, a mis-alignment, a lack of lubrication, or something else.

Knowing the brand of the hitch would help. I've used about 5 different hitches and they all work different. One basic thing to do is never high hitch. This will cause you to drop the trailer. I now have a B&W and as long as instructions are followed it will hitch perfect. Pull the handle and place pin through hole and you know it is hitched correctly. Man that installed the hitch told me he sold one to a couple and warned them not to high hitch. They did, and pulled off and down it came Most hitches are this way. I let the hitch pick up the trailer and it usually slides right in. Don't pull until you figure out the problem.

5th wheel receiver hitch latch not completly closing

WyoTraveler
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
luggage wrote:
I moved my 5t wheel camper at my home today because I noticed the Wheel Masters level on the King pin tongue was a bubble and a half off to the left. We've had a lot of rain and the gravel drive is not completely level. Well I hooked it up and the coupler on the hitch closed. But apparently not completely because the handle that opens and closed the receiver latch is completely returning to the closed position and not matching up with the hole on the hitch to place the locking pin through it. I am very new to fivers coming from a TAG and still getting use to the hitching and unhitching. What should I do to get the locking coupler to completely close so the handle will seat properly. I hope I have explained the issue clearly. Apologies if I sound clumsy. Thanks

Some of the 5er hitches don't rotate side to side very much. If your 5er was off level a lot it may be the reason. I had the Reese Pro 20K hitch. It was on a pivot and I could hook up and it didn't matter how level the 5er was. JMHO
kennethwooster
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
Knowing the brand of the hitch would help. I've used about 5 different hitches and they all work different. One basic thing to do is never high hitch. This will cause you to drop the trailer. I now have a B&W and as long as instructions are followed it will hitch perfect. Pull the handle and place pin through hole and you know it is hitched correctly. Man that installed the hitch told me he sold one to a couple and warned them not to high hitch. They did, and pulled off and down it came Most hitches are this way. I let the hitch pick up the trailer and it usually slides right in. Don't pull until you figure out the problem.
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
Hard to help without knowing what brand and model of your hitch. I had that problem once with my SuperGlide wrap around jaws. Found out that the plate was a very tiny bit distorted. this did not allow the jaw to completely wrap around the pin. Thus a less secure hold on the pin. I had to remove the hitch plate and straighten the are that was deformed. Only about a .015" deformity. But those hitches are pretty close tolerances.

In you case it could be a matter of high pinning, a burr somewhere, a mis-alignment, a lack of lubrication, or something else.
powderman426
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
I suspect that the truck has rolled forward a bit when you put it in park. Make sure the truck is lightly pushing against the kingpin when putting in park. I have seen a few times where the truck would roll forward a bit each time is was put in park and required me to have the wife hold it against the kingpin while I locked the hitch. If you have clam jaws instead of a bar, you can close the jaws first and then back in. They will spring open and close without assistance.
Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
What type of hitch? Most of the time if the hitch does not latch it is due to the jaws not being complety engaged or in a bind.
If you are connecting up, I'd reverse what you've done, pull away and start over. You may be high hitched or off side to side.
When you connect, are you following the manufacturer's instructions? Most have you starting off with the jaws open and the kingpin about an inch below the platform?
Jim
Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
Could be as simple as it is gummed up, time for some spray graphite, and a little elbow grease. It maybe mechanical issue but always start with the basics first.

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5th wheel receiver hitch latch not completly closing

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