Hello My Patriot 16k hitch is not locking the jaws all the way around the pin. I have to force the handle in to lock it.. I never had this issue before. Any thoughts on what could be causing this ? Thanks

Just a thought...are you backing under the kingpin and then lowering it? Or are you backing into the kingpin, lowered so that your TV raises the 5er slightly when you back? I found that backing into the kingpin will cause the hitch to completely snap shut securely. Think about it...that is how truckers do it. I would back until the pin was about to engage, hook up my power connector and set the brake on the 5er, along with wheel chocks to hold it steady while engaging the kingpin. Hope this helps.

Might try a good cleaning and relubing. The jaws could be getting gummed/gooked up and not able to move freely.

fj12ryder wrote:Might try a good cleaning and relubing. The jaws could be getting gummed/gooked up and not able to move freely.I agree I'm pushing 90,000 miles on my Companion it's getting a little sticky looking at a complete cleaning.

I have a different hitch but have the same issue if I have the nose of the trailer too high. I walk that fine line of having it low enough that the kingpin slides up the hitch without it feeling like I am jamming the hitch onto the kingpin causing the trailer getting knocked around a bit. (that is an over simplified explanation). I know I am not hitting it hard or anything, it just feels wrong to have it jar the trailer. I also think you may want to try to check the lubrication. Could be a combination of both things---too high and too dry. Let us know your outcome.

A Patriot hitch can not be too old (less than 10 yrs). I think a possible issue, the truck may move ahead, a tiny bit, after backing into hitch, and you are using the locking arm to pull truck back.If you block the FW tires, you can back in, leave truck running in reverse, if you feel comfortable doing this, while getting out to close arm/jaws.Jerry

Fifth wheel Hitch troubleshooting | Good Sam Community

Flashman
Explorer II
Jun 23, 2021
TXiceman wrote:
Flashman wrote:
TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

Yep that's what I mean - if you have not owned one you would not understand.
cummins2014
Explorer
Jun 22, 2021
TXiceman wrote:
Flashman wrote:
TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

At a glance is all , no tightness to check . Just to make sure no one has messed with any pins .
TXiceman
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2021
Flashman wrote:
TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jun 22, 2021
przao wrote:
..............

On an aside, he uses a portable electric grease gun to generously lube the hitch plate every time he hitches his semis, and told me to do the same because he noticed what he called high pressure wear on my hitch head even though I was using a lube plate.

What a mess!!! This is why I use a lube plate, no way would I use grease, except the pin contact points with the hitch jaws.
Campinfan
Explorer III
Jun 22, 2021
I wish the original posters would update us on how things went. I am not trying to be mean but many never update us. It would benefit all of us to know what worked, again not just in this post, but in others.
Flashman
Explorer II
Jun 21, 2021
TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.
ACZL
Explorer
Jun 16, 2021
Cummins12V98 wrote:
ACZL wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
You will have a mess if you grease the head.

Exactly. All the grease will get pushed off and either end up on edges of the hitch, on the floor of truck or on the rest of the hitch in front part of it.. Plus not to mention that the king pin/hitch on RV will be coated w/ grease and be a "B" if ya run into it.

I assume there is some sort ofd dry lube that can be sprayed on the hitch head?

Dunno. Just going by how the grease ends up on our semis.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jun 15, 2021
ACZL wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
You will have a mess if you grease the head.

Exactly. All the grease will get pushed off and either end up on edges of the hitch, on the floor of truck or on the rest of the hitch in front part of it.. Plus not to mention that the king pin/hitch on RV will be coated w/ grease and be a "B" if ya run into it.

I assume there is some sort ofd dry lube that can be sprayed on the hitch head?
ACZL
Explorer
Jun 15, 2021
Cummins12V98 wrote:
You will have a mess if you grease the head.

Exactly. All the grease will get pushed off and either end up on edges of the hitch, on the floor of truck or on the rest of the hitch in front part of it.. Plus not to mention that the king pin/hitch on RV will be coated w/ grease and be a "B" if ya run into it.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jun 15, 2021
You will have a mess if you grease the head.