I have always been a pretty big fan of Reese products in the past. However, my confidence in them has somewhat been shaken...to the point where I am looking at other brands of towing products to fit my towing needs. Here is why.Multiple shank failuresmultiple Dual Cam failures multiple reports of fifth wheels coming unhitchedreports of poor customer servicehitch head failuresMy concern is safety #1 and I personally have not experience a Reese (or Cequent) failure of any component...but the reports I hear on this forum are pretty bad reports. Are we dealing with a dwindling level of customer service, manufacturing errors, or is it just (based on the law of large numbers) that inevitably there will be a bad batch every now and then?Anyway, these reports kind of have me leaning towards purchasing more Curt and Husky products...even though my rational mind says that they are no better or worse. What are your thoughts? Is this feeling unfounded, or is there a real PR, Customer perception issue for Reese?Thanks!Jeremiah

The only failure I've had is a cracked hitch head. I had hit a curb when I pulled out of a driveway so it was my fault. I had it welded and used it for years.My present DC is 10+ years old and still works fine. I have no complaints about the company.

No problems with my Reese 18K fifth wheel hitch so far.. Have had Reese hitches for years and never had a problem!!!! T-10

Scientific study: People with problems report them on line 93.57% of the time; people with no problems report 4.72% of the time. Actually I have no idea of the %s other than to be sure that we hear significantly more from people with problems. I have used Reese/Drawtite WD hitches for 20 years without one single problem. A year ago I switched to Reese for a fifth wheel hitch. Reese support went beyond the call of duty to get my hitch height problem fixed. I ended up with their elite hitch which is excellent, but made in China. You get more for your money from other brands, but no problems with Reese.

jerem0621 wrote: Is this feeling unfounded Sorta hard to tell if it's "unfounded" or not...can you hook us up with links to some of the "multiple failures" of Reese components that have led to this feeling of unease? And are there no such stories out there about other mfr's hitch component failures?Or is it just sort of a general perception?

I've used Reese products for as long as I can remember for towing (over 30 years). Never personally had a problem and have no idea what you are talking about on reported problems here. I certainly don't recall any of that

Does Reese = Junk? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

BenK
Explorer
May 22, 2014
Jeremiah, with the Internet, this type of 'change' is outed much sooner vs if ever

I've learned to pay heed to folks like you as my filters. There are others that
I'll not... ;)

An example is MOOG HD steering linkages/ball joints

Used to be my go to product, but after my last experience with them...found that
MOOG has been sold and the new owners cheapened their cost structure by going
off shore...China

Not to say the Chinese can't make it to the old spec...but the new owner's bean
counters also cheapened their spec

Betcha the fall out happens to line up, date wise, with them going
off shore...

Good to know and note that I'm going Blue Ox on my next WD Hitch system
hmknightnc
Explorer
May 22, 2014
I've used Reese products for as long as I can remember for towing (over 30 years). Never personally had a problem and have no idea what you are talking about on reported problems here. I certainly don't recall any of that
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 21, 2014
jerem0621 wrote:
Is this feeling unfounded

Sorta hard to tell if it's "unfounded" or not...can you hook us up with links to some of the "multiple failures" of Reese components that have led to this feeling of unease? And are there no such stories out there about other mfr's hitch component failures?

Or is it just sort of a general perception?
lenr
Explorer III
May 21, 2014
Scientific study: People with problems report them on line 93.57% of the time; people with no problems report 4.72% of the time. Actually I have no idea of the %s other than to be sure that we hear significantly more from people with problems. I have used Reese/Drawtite WD hitches for 20 years without one single problem. A year ago I switched to Reese for a fifth wheel hitch. Reese support went beyond the call of duty to get my hitch height problem fixed. I ended up with their elite hitch which is excellent, but made in China. You get more for your money from other brands, but no problems with Reese.
T-10_Parabolic
Explorer
May 21, 2014
No problems with my Reese 18K fifth wheel hitch so far.. Have had Reese hitches for years and never had a problem!!!! T-10
ScottG
Nomad
May 21, 2014
The only failure I've had is a cracked hitch head. I had hit a curb when I pulled out of a driveway so it was my fault. I had it welded and used it for years.
My present DC is 10+ years old and still works fine.
I have no complaints about the company.

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Does Reese = Junk?

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