Forum Discussion

shadows4's avatar
shadows4
Explorer III
Oct 10, 2015

Slider came undone!!!

I hesitate to tell this but here goes. Two weeks ago a few blocks from home we had the slide on the 5th wheel hitch release. Holy ****!!!! Thought someone had rear ended us. We were on the way home from the lake about a 15 mile pull. I turned left off of a 4 lane road onto a side street that was up hill. Press the go pedal and WHAM!!! Scared the **** out of us.

We tried to lock the slide mechanism back in but I could only get it to lock in the manuver position. Ended up towing the 5er home, unloaded it and pulled it to the storage lot with it slid back.

After we got home I pulled the hitch out of the truck and partially disassembled it. Ended up lubing the locking mechanism and it seemed to help.

Pulled back to the lake yesterday no problems. I am not sure I trust this hitch now. I have lubed the jaws and the slide rails before but never the locking mechanism for the slider.

My question is, has anyone else had this happen??
Oh the hitch is an older model Reese 15K. Thanks, John
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Oct 10, 2015
    Mike LeClair wrote:
    WOW! Only took two posts before someone tried to up-sell you to one of the vastly more expensive units on the market - impressive indeed! I would suspect that something happened to knock the release lever out of Lock Tow mode. Check it all out, have a wrench monkey that you trust check it out and if you are satisfied that all is well carry on with what you have. Otherwise be prepared to grease up the billfold, put a couple of Viagra tabs into it and buy into the hype of the latest technology on the market.

    Cheers!

    Mike


    I think I would be VERY concerned just look at all the others that have had problems on such a short topic.

    I would recommend a B&W also. :B
  • Mike_LeClair's avatar
    Mike_LeClair
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    WOW! Only took two posts before someone tried to up-sell you to one of the vastly more expensive units on the market - impressive indeed! I would suspect that something happened to knock the release lever out of Lock Tow mode. Check it all out, have a wrench monkey that you trust check it out and if you are satisfied that all is well carry on with what you have. Otherwise be prepared to grease up the billfold, put a couple of Viagra tabs into it and buy into the hype of the latest technology on the market.

    Cheers!

    Mike
  • Memphisdoug's avatar
    Memphisdoug
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    I had my hitch to that to me too. I don't know what pulled the release handle out to cause it. I haven't had a repeat of the problem
  • Halmfamily's avatar
    Halmfamily
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    Had our Reese 16K slider do that on our old truck going up our driveway, yes it wakes you up. I think it was my fault for not ensuring the handle was fully set in the tow position. The hitch also was very noisy with lots of wind up when coming to a stop on an off ramp. Also always had problems switching from tow to maneuver position unless I sprayed the rails each time.

    New truck and new B&W hitch. Sold the Reese for $450. B&W is a much more solid hitch, it is not a slider. Very quite and stable.
    New
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    Oct 10, 2015
    shadows4 wrote:
    newman fulltimer wrote:
    Do you use the hitch in the slide position


    Very rarely. Used it in May was the time I recall.

    OK what sounds like to me is the cable got caught around the handle and when you turned it pulled the handle back and released it.

    Once it harshly slide back it wedged into place
  • Gsport's avatar
    Gsport
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    I've got a Reese 16K. Just had it happen to me about 3,000 miles from home. I went to the hardware store and bought a 12" piece of chain and a turn buckle. Mounted it to the end of the handle on the slider and the other end to the rail of the hitch, tightened it down and finished my 10,000+ mile trip with no other incidence..
  • shadows4's avatar
    shadows4
    Explorer III
    Oct 10, 2015
    newman fulltimer wrote:
    Do you use the hitch in the slide position


    Very rarely. Used it in May was the time I recall.
  • Learjet's avatar
    Learjet
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2015
    WOW!...I would check the rails and all bolts really good. Make sure that shock of it hitting didn't crack or break something. Maybe it is time for a hitch upgrade. Take a look at the B&W Patriot 18k with slider.

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