Forum Discussion

SDM's avatar
SDM
Explorer
Nov 08, 2015

Reece hitch rebuild

I have a 16k Reece hitch that has never gave a problems for 12 years. Upon my annual inspection and lube I found some looseness in the bars and pins in the jaw area.Has anyone rebuilt one of these and where did you get the parts. Reece probably has them but at a premium. I does not look like a hard job to replace all the parts in the jaw area. Pins, bars, and springs. Would appreciate any input on the rebuilding and not bashing the hitch.
  • B_O__Plenty's avatar
    B_O__Plenty
    Explorer II
    Nov 10, 2015
    Cummins12V98 wrote:
    GraystoneHD wrote:
    I had a REESE 16k manual slider that was part of a deal with my new 5th wheel. When I was doing my walk through and being shown the hitch setup, it was binding up between the tow and maneuver positions. It took the tech about 30 minutes to free it up. When I hooked up to the trailer and used the trailer breaks to slide between the two positions, I was actually sliding the 5th wheel which was about 9k dry....When I got home and pulled on the lever to release the jaws, I heard a snap inside the mechanism. The handle was extremely loose and rotated 180 degrees. When I got the 5th wheel off the truck and tried to slide the slider back to the tow position, it bound up again between the two positions and wouldn't budge. I took a trip down to my dealer and told them to get my paper weight out of my truck, when doing so the handle to release the jaws fell off. REESE is junk and I will never own another REESE product again.
    Part of the new wave of outsourcing and building everything overseas.

    B.O.

    I think the older ones are probably fine but it sounds like many are having problems with their REESE hitches. Really sad when a company builds a great reputation then rides the wave with poor quality.
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Nov 10, 2015
    GraystoneHD wrote:
    I had a REESE 16k manual slider that was part of a deal with my new 5th wheel. When I was doing my walk through and being shown the hitch setup, it was binding up between the tow and maneuver positions. It took the tech about 30 minutes to free it up. When I hooked up to the trailer and used the trailer breaks to slide between the two positions, I was actually sliding the 5th wheel which was about 9k dry....When I got home and pulled on the lever to release the jaws, I heard a snap inside the mechanism. The handle was extremely loose and rotated 180 degrees. When I got the 5th wheel off the truck and tried to slide the slider back to the tow position, it bound up again between the two positions and wouldn't budge. I took a trip down to my dealer and told them to get my paper weight out of my truck, when doing so the handle to release the jaws fell off. REESE is junk and I will never own another REESE product again.


    I think the older ones are probably fine but it sounds like many are having problems with their REESE hitches. Really sad when a company builds a great reputation then rides the wave with poor quality.
  • GraystoneHD's avatar
    GraystoneHD
    Explorer
    Nov 10, 2015
    I had a REESE 16k manual slider that was part of a deal with my new 5th wheel. When I was doing my walk through and being shown the hitch setup, it was binding up between the tow and maneuver positions. It took the tech about 30 minutes to free it up. When I hooked up to the trailer and used the trailer breaks to slide between the two positions, I was actually sliding the 5th wheel which was about 9k dry....When I got home and pulled on the lever to release the jaws, I heard a snap inside the mechanism. The handle was extremely loose and rotated 180 degrees. When I got the 5th wheel off the truck and tried to slide the slider back to the tow position, it bound up again between the two positions and wouldn't budge. I took a trip down to my dealer and told them to get my paper weight out of my truck, when doing so the handle to release the jaws fell off. REESE is junk and I will never own another REESE product again.
  • lynndiwagon's avatar
    lynndiwagon
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    I've got a barely used one setting in the garage. Wish you were in Oklahoma City.
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2015
    I would call/email Reese...they are pretty responsive. A few years ago when I got Dual Cam with the u-bolts I had the wrong size. They sent me the correct size u-bolts no questions asked.

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    Nov 09, 2015
    All the parts should be available from a hitch dealer but will probably be Reese parts. I have replaced the springs in my hitch and they were reasonably priced. The hitch is not hard to take apart and assemble but if you want to replace everything then a new head may be cheaper. I don't believe warranty would cover what could be considered normal maintenance.
  • SDM's avatar
    SDM
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    The hitch shows were in areas that move. No rust, no broken welds so hitch is solid. Will check on waranty.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Nov 08, 2015
    Others may not agree, but if I had a hitch, that has seen 12 years of good use, but is showing wear, I would replace the hitch, rather than rebuild it.
    There are many good hitches for 1K or less. I just had a tooth capped last week, for just under 1K.

    Just saying,
    Jerry
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Nov 08, 2015
    What kind of warranty does it have? Pullrite and I assume B&W have lifetime warranties. So maybe Reese does too.

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