Trouble Opening 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch
We have a Reese Elite RE18 trailer hitch. About half the time when pulling into a campground, the release arm will not let go. We have to rock the truck in drive and reverse three or four times before...
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Chock the 5er's wheels.
Lower (extend) the 5er landing gear so kingpin is in the middle.
(no trailer weight on hitch plate)
Put the truck in Park gear.
Release the truck's parking brake.
The tow vehicle will move either forward or backward
a tiny bit and remove any binding on the kingpin.
At this point, you can set the parking break again.
Pull the jaw release handle and drive away!
Don't forget to unplug the power cord from the truck. :)
P.S. Don't forget to unlatch the 5th. wheel brake cable. I drove off once and pulled the brake latch out of the electrical socket. Another time while in a RV park, some one pulled the brake cable and stole it:(. Now I carry an extra cable.
Lower (extend) the 5er landing gear so kingpin is in the middle.
(no trailer weight on hitch plate)
Put the truck in Park gear.
Release the truck's parking brake.
The tow vehicle will move either forward or backward
a tiny bit and remove any binding on the kingpin.
At this point, you can set the parking break again.
Pull the jaw release handle and drive away!
Don't forget to unplug the power cord from the truck. :)
P.S. Don't forget to unlatch the 5th. wheel brake cable. I drove off once and pulled the brake latch out of the electrical socket. Another time while in a RV park, some one pulled the brake cable and stole it:(. Now I carry an extra cable.
