5th wheel hitch problem... Will not release

[ramyankee]

Finished our 24 day adventure. Went to unhook but the hitch will not release. It had given a couple of small problem earlier but had always released.
Don't know all lingo but the handle will only pull out maybe two inches and then stops.
Should I raise the 5th Wheel after pulling the two pins to take off any pressure off the hitch? I am baffled here.

[RustyJC]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Well score minus one for B&W, and that would be a plus on for a Reese!"

Not so sure but if you back into the B&W and the handle closes and don't pin it I have been told the jaws won't come open. Not going to try that. I lock my handle closed that's part of my routine.

I've towed 200+ miles with the handle closed but not pinned on a B&W Companion without a problem, other than my shorts when I found it when I started to unhitch.

On the other hand, I ALWAYS pin the handle open to unhitch as recommended by B&W. If you don't remove the pin, the handle won't move to the closed position, but I would certainly notice that.

Rusty

[Cummins12V98]

stetwood wrote:
I have a RBW Lil Rocker that is about 16 years old. A number of years ago I had the same problem as OP. After getting it unhitched I looked closely at the sliding bar hitch. It had developed a ridge from the pin and a slight cupping in that area. I took a file to the ridge and it slide very nicely. I have had to do that probably about every 15K miles. Soon I will put some hard surfacing on the cupped area, maybe that will stop the cupping.

My Dad's slide bar actually broke on his RBW.

[stetwood]

I have a RBW Lil Rocker that is about 16 years old. A number of years ago I had the same problem as OP. After getting it unhitched I looked closely at the sliding bar hitch. It had developed a ridge from the pin and a slight cupping in that area. I took a file to the ridge and it slide very nicely. I have had to do that probably about every 15K miles. Soon I will put some hard surfacing on the cupped area, maybe that will stop the cupping.

[Cummins12V98]

"Well score minus one for B&W, and that would be a plus on for a Reese!"

Not so sure but if you back into the B&W and the handle closes and don't pin it I have been told the jaws won't come open. Not going to try that. I lock my handle closed that's part of my routine.

[Cummins12V98]

"with the safety pin holding jaws open"

That's a BUMMER! That's why I always advise against pinning the jaws open.

[garyp4951]

I wish they would just make them like the big rigs, pop the handle out and unhitch, and back in and it locks. My B&W pretty much locks itself, but I have to remember to pin it.

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

laknox wrote:
Or, get a B&W Companion hitch that can still be released with a =lot= of tension on the king pin...if you're brave enough. 😮 I chock the FW (not "chalk"), put the truck in neutral, then set the parking brake. Unpin the locking handle and move it to the open position and pin in in place. Sometimes, it takes a bit of effort, but it's usually (in my case) due more to =side= stresses from uneven ground than anything else. YMMV... Needless to say, I love my Companion.

Lyle

Just remember to pull that PIN from the locked open position. Only B&W hitch drop I have heard of and have WITNESSED both people had their handle locked open.

"IF" they would have done a "visual test" to see the handle was closed/locked, kingpin and hitch plate touching and 1" thick jaws fully wrapped around the kingpin neither would have dropped their 5er!

Well score minus one for B&W, and that would be a plus on for a Reese!

Towed over twenty miles with handle unlocked!! The same reason a Reese twin jaw can be hard to release, is exactly why I prefer it over a B&W. When a rearward force is applied to the jaws they shut harder, unlike the B&W where rearward pressure is always trying to force the jaws open.

[MFL]

Ron, I am not giving encouragement, but if you did drop your MS, and did post pics of it, my request is that your wife take the pic, so you can be in the pic with truck and trailer. 🙂

My neighbor dropped his fifth on his 12 Chev, with new B&W installed at seasons end last year. Yep, he got in a hurry, backed into pin, with the safety pin holding jaws open. He was picking up at dealers after a repair, talking with service guy, got in pulled ahead, bammm!

BTW, the look twice visual test works for me! If neighbor would have LOOKED, it could easily be seen, jaws not closed, arm not closed.

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

cummins2014 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"A pull test is even better:B "

I think you know "MY" position on that. 😉

Yes I know ,it will NEVER happen to YOU, so no need for a pull test. 🙂

It won't happen "IF" I do my "visual test" it's a "TEST" no different than a pull test.

If I drop my RV I will post with pictures.

The guy that I witnessed drop his RV with a B&W had an older AutoMate. The kingpin plate was fairly large. He backed up and thought he was far enough back, closed the handle and pinned it then did a "PULL TEST" the RV came down on the bed. If he had done a "visual test" the drop would not have happened. Really felt bad for him, of course he was cussing the B&W as he had only just gotten it and the RAM truck. After he calmed down I explained to him that he was not latched and to LOOK to see the jaws are closed around the kingpin. Then he can do his pull test if he wants to. Amazingly the truck did not look damaged. Yes he should have had the landing gear down close to the ground.

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"A pull test is even better:B "

I think you know "MY" position on that. 😉

Yes I know ,it will NEVER happen to YOU, so no need for a pull test. 🙂

[Cummins12V98]

"A pull test is even better:B "

I think you know "MY" position on that. 😉

[mr__ed]

steadfastrock wrote:
You need to tell us what hitch you have. In general, you should lift the weight off of the hitch before pulling pins.

I agree, and you may need to move the truck ever so slightly fwd or backwards. I found that usually worked for me. When I mentioned moving the truck, I meant doing so without moving the fiver. If you have the emergency brake engaged, you might try releasing it and letting the vehicle find its own point when the pressure is released. That has often worked for me, also,

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"This is one thing that I do not let myself get distracted doing, to the point where the DW has got a "shut the f up and don't distract me"."


THAT's too funny!!! I agree, my wife and I both have politely asked people to let us setup or finish tearing down before talking to us. I got distracted out of my routine ONCE and tore the power pole down and water pipe along with ripping the power cord from our RV. Water and power on the ground are NOT a good thing.

Actually we BOTH LOOK at the jaws to make sure the hitch is latched. We both take this seriously.

Many take it seriously, but accidents do happen. I agree two sets of eyes are better. A pull test is even better :B

[Cummins12V98]

"This is one thing that I do not let myself get distracted doing, to the point where the DW has got a "shut the f up and don't distract me"."


THAT's too funny!!! I agree, my wife and I both have politely asked people to let us setup or finish tearing down before talking to us. I got distracted out of my routine ONCE and tore the power pole down and water pipe along with ripping the power cord from our RV. Water and power on the ground are NOT a good thing.

Actually we BOTH LOOK at the jaws to make sure the hitch is latched. We both take this seriously.