Dropped Trailer on Bed Rails Today

rhagfo wrote:

Farmer David wrote:
Sorry for your misfortune, sounds like you are a very careful guy. I had an 18K reese hitch and never felt comfortable with it I now have a B&W and like it very well, although a guy in my camping club also has a B&W and he dropped his trailer on his truck so it can happen to that hitch also.

Thanks for posting it keeps all of on our toes

As stated above I think the real issue with the Reese twin jaw it the design of the release handle! In a left turn depending on the sharpness the extended pin box hits the handle and forces it to release.

I believe this as I have never dropped my 5er with the Reese, BUT I have driven over 15 miles with the jaws UNLOCKED over freeways and country roads with twist and turns, stops and starts. The design of the jaws and the pivot points are like Chinese hand cuffs, the harder you pull the more they are forced closed.

I agree with Russ on this one. The more pressure put on the jaws the tighter they close. Now I could also see how a tight turn could force the handle open, that little groove isn't very deep and that quote is right, that little clasp ain't going to hold to much pressure such as a rail or RV hitting it.
I too have driven half a day forgetting to lock that little clasp, nothing happened other than me kicking myself in the rear.
I'd contact Reese and have em check it out, I'd also look for some dents or scratches in the RV and truck rails.
Sorry for your misfortune and thanks for sharing. Hitch failures are pretty rare so maybe Reese will make a change, who knows.