Last year we bought our first trailer and it is a FW. When we went to hook it up, the salesman noticed a gap between the two plates, so he pulled the hitch that was stored in the trailer and we put it on the rails and when it hooked up, the gap was gone. The question I have is, was it possible that we high hitched? Was it possible the pin was too long for the hitch? Something else?Working hitch: Reese 20kGap hitch: Curt Q20Trailer: 1999 Mckenzie MonacoI'd like to use the Q20 since it looks nicer, is brand new and has the rubber bushings to smooth out the haul.We installed the teflon disk before either hitch was attempted. The gap was close to the height of another disk. It wasn't funny business by the salesman/owner because the hitch that worked didn't cost anything.

Most likely a high pin. I've caught more than a couple when hooking up on a construction worksite or a primitive camp ground. In all cases the trailer was leaning one way and the trailer the other which also can lead to a wedged pin. They can be a bitzh to get un stuck. Was your gap caused by the landing gear being too high ??

Honestly, I don't remember - but it was in a parking lot so everything would have been virtually level. If I'm told that basically all pins are the same distance from end of pin to plate, then that's pretty much the only explanation I can think of. When we attempted the couple, it was the very first I'd ever witnessed so I would have had no idea if it'd been done incorrectly.I'm likely going to have to pull the current hitch and install the other which will be a pain attempting solo.

If I had your problem, while unhooked I would measure the pin length and also the clear distance below the hitch plate - and see what made sense.

I would try the curt again now that you are more familiar with hitching a 5th wheel.Most like was a high hitch error.

If you like the Curt, I would install it again and do some testing.A high hitch should leave more gap than the 1/8"-1/4" thickness of a plastic disk. Or the jaws wouldn't close. Can't really say from here, but lucky for you the salesman noticed something was amiss. Sounds like he didn't want to take any time to figure out the real reason. Now you know what to keep an eye out for, so you won't make that very common mistake.That Reese is a good hitch too. A little paint on it, and you might find it to your liking.Just don't listen to the noisy folks around here that tell you how their certain brand is so much better.

Plate to plate gap | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

bpounds
Nomad
Apr 11, 2016
EDIT: I just noticed I misread which hitch had the gap, so the below does not explain the issue. I'll just leave it here anyway, as food for thought.
**********

The below pic is my Reese. See how it has the fifth plate sandwiched on top of the hitch body?

Here is a pic of the Curt Q20. See how it does not have a separate fifth plate?

I think that is what the salesman was looking at. Completely normal, and you can see that gap in the pic of my Reese.
bpounds
Nomad
Apr 11, 2016
If you like the Curt, I would install it again and do some testing.

A high hitch should leave more gap than the 1/8"-1/4" thickness of a plastic disk. Or the jaws wouldn't close. Can't really say from here, but lucky for you the salesman noticed something was amiss. Sounds like he didn't want to take any time to figure out the real reason. Now you know what to keep an eye out for, so you won't make that very common mistake.

That Reese is a good hitch too. A little paint on it, and you might find it to your liking.

Just don't listen to the noisy folks around here that tell you how their certain brand is so much better.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Apr 11, 2016
I would try the curt again now that you are more familiar with hitching a 5th wheel.

Most like was a high hitch error.
korbe
Explorer
Apr 11, 2016
If I had your problem, while unhooked I would measure the pin length and also the clear distance below the hitch plate - and see what made sense.
Billzo
Explorer
Apr 11, 2016
Honestly, I don't remember - but it was in a parking lot so everything would have been virtually level.

If I'm told that basically all pins are the same distance from end of pin to plate, then that's pretty much the only explanation I can think of. When we attempted the couple, it was the very first I'd ever witnessed so I would have had no idea if it'd been done incorrectly.

I'm likely going to have to pull the current hitch and install the other which will be a pain attempting solo.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Apr 11, 2016
Most likely a high pin.
I've caught more than a couple when hooking up on a construction worksite or a primitive camp ground. In all cases the trailer was leaning one way and the trailer the other which also can lead to a wedged pin.
They can be a bitzh to get un stuck.

Was your gap caused by the landing gear being too high ??

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Plate to plate gap

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