Clunking noise while towing
I am new to driving a fifth wheel, but not new to towing. I just got a 98 31' sea breeze fifth wheel. I am using a 15k Reese hitch with kwik sliders. Any time I accelerate from a stop, there is a lou...
Forum Discussion
Fred Korz wrote:
1911,
Yeah, all the clunk/bang when you start-up or stop is coming from your hitch. I have a Reese Pro Series 16K with slider, installed by dealer and twice checked by same. The noise is coming from SLOP in the entire assembly. I stood alongside the truck while one Tech started and stopped the truck. The other Tech pointed out how much movement there is to my entire hitch assembly. Some in the Frame Rails, some in the Slider components, and some in the Hitch Plate/locking mechanism. I went around with Reese via email and phone, and the dealer. They claim everything is installed to specs. They claim it is called "chucking" and common to all fifth wheels. I've ridden with other fifth wheelers that don't have this. I made .060" thick shims to go between my Rail and Legs and that helps remove some of the up/down slop. I am shopping for another hitch, maybe a Pull-Rite, or Demco Autoslide. Definitely not another REESE.
That's exactly what I went through with Reese...although they informed me that it was due to my trailer brakes not being adjusted properly! I put the Reese on Craigslist and bought a B&W Patriot. NO MORE CLUNKING! In the same rails I might add!
