Clunking noise while towing

[1911]

I am new to driving a fifth wheel, but not new to towing. I just got a 98 31' sea breeze fifth wheel. I am using a 15k Reese hitch with kwik sliders. Any time I accelerate from a stop, there is a loud and noticeable "clunking" sound that comes from the trailer. I used the search function, but couldn't find anything. Does anyone know what might cause this and if it is a real problem or not.

[Oaklevel]

UsualSuspect wrote:
The clunk is the play between the pins that hold the hitch to the rails and the hitch. When I had my 5'er mine did it from day 1, Reese and the place that installed it said it was normal.

Ours does it too ...........ours is where the hitch head sits on the support arms by two pins...... been doing it from day 1.......

[Cummins12V98]

oldbeek wrote:
RBW wears about 1/8 inch off the lock bar after 35,000 miles. Took the lock bar off and had a weld shop build it back up. No more clunk.

Be aware that bar can break. My Dad's broke on his towing his HH.

[REM13]

I have a Reese 18K signature slider that had a clunk. I checked out all the bolts and adjusted the donut anchor levers so that they were tight and the clunk continued. I finally determined that the right side dog that holds the hitch in place on the slider was somehow lifting causing the right side to pivot and cause the noise. I installed a bolt with a locking nut in the hole above the right side dog that holds the hitch forward and that cured the clunking noise. The locking pin above the hook on the left for some reason did not keep both sides of the slider locked down. It took me a few years to figure out what was going on. The hitch is great now that is completely tight.

[oldbeek]

RBW wears about 1/8 inch off the lock bar after 35,000 miles. Took the lock bar off and had a weld shop build it back up. No more clunk.

[WeBeFulltimers]

car2900 wrote:
Been there, done that. Had a Reese 15K w/slider, clunk, clunk, clunk. Realized I never used the slider. Got the B&W Patriot that drops right down in the standard rails. No more clunk. Great hitch. Thanks to Craigslist I sold the Reese to someone that will have clunk, clunk, clunk.

Same here except my Reese was 16k. Bought it new and hated it every day I owned it. Called it my "Rice Crispies" hitch because it snapped, crackled, and popped all the time. Love my B & W! Silence is golden.

[Beaker]

I am using a 15k Reese hitch with kwik sliders

I had one of those and clunking.

1. When you are starting and stopping, have someone look at the handle and see if there is any movement.

2, Check all bolts for torque, on both hitch and underbed.

3. Make sure handle is in locked towing position.

There is some inherent movement in the hitch. You may not be able to see or feel it when pushing by hand but 1500 lbs of pin weight is another story.

I had clunking or something of the sort on another trailer. Turns out the wheel bearing nut was not tightened properly and the wheel was making the sound when stopping or starting.

[rkortes]

Allworth wrote:
Suck it up and live with it. Consider it part of the adventure and spend the "expensive hitch money" on something you can drink.

Got my Reese 18K Elite under bed hitch on Craigslist for a hundred bucks. With a clunk clunk here and a clunk clunk there.... I can live with it. Thanks for all of the user feedback and info. Very helpful!!

[Cummins12V98]

I had a RBW with the clunk clunk option, sold it on Craig's List and have had a B&W on two different tow rigs and it is a great hitch. Extremely high quality US Made hitch!

[Allworth]

Suck it up and live with it. Consider it part of the adventure and spend the "expensive hitch money" on something you can drink.

[mguay]

Fred Korz wrote:
1911,
Yeah, all the clunk/bang when you start-up or stop is coming from your hitch. I have a Reese Pro Series 16K with slider, installed by dealer and twice checked by same. The noise is coming from SLOP in the entire assembly. I stood alongside the truck while one Tech started and stopped the truck. The other Tech pointed out how much movement there is to my entire hitch assembly. Some in the Frame Rails, some in the Slider components, and some in the Hitch Plate/locking mechanism. I went around with Reese via email and phone, and the dealer. They claim everything is installed to specs. They claim it is called "chucking" and common to all fifth wheels. I've ridden with other fifth wheelers that don't have this. I made .060" thick shims to go between my Rail and Legs and that helps remove some of the up/down slop. I am shopping for another hitch, maybe a Pull-Rite, or Demco Autoslide. Definitely not another REESE.

That's exactly what I went through with Reese...although they informed me that it was due to my trailer brakes not being adjusted properly! I put the Reese on Craigslist and bought a B&W Patriot. NO MORE CLUNKING! In the same rails I might add!

[Fred_Korz]

1911,
Yeah, all the clunk/bang when you start-up or stop is coming from your hitch. I have a Reese Pro Series 16K with slider, installed by dealer and twice checked by same. The noise is coming from SLOP in the entire assembly. I stood alongside the truck while one Tech started and stopped the truck. The other Tech pointed out how much movement there is to my entire hitch assembly. Some in the Frame Rails, some in the Slider components, and some in the Hitch Plate/locking mechanism. I went around with Reese via email and phone, and the dealer. They claim everything is installed to specs. They claim it is called "chucking" and common to all fifth wheels. I've ridden with other fifth wheelers that don't have this. I made .060" thick shims to go between my Rail and Legs and that helps remove some of the up/down slop. I am shopping for another hitch, maybe a Pull-Rite, or Demco Autoslide. Definitely not another REESE.

[1911]

Pete_k wrote:

Mike LeClair wrote:

goin2themountains wrote:
Yep, Reese clunk. However, knowing that nothing is wrong, the sound is intrinsic in the hitch design, I keep towing and ignore it as I have for the last 9 years.

Oh! I like this reply the best! This is EXACTLY what I have been and will continue to do. Sometimes I kind of wonder if the pursuit of the best of the best of the best hasn't gotten just a wee tad out of control in our first world countries. Just saying! (flame proof suit ON!)

Cheers!

Mike

x2
People expect these to drive the same as there family car.
Pete

Maybe people don't expect it to drive like a family car, but just concerned if they we doing any damage or not, because they are new to towing. But thanks for the constructive input.

[Brad_NSW]

Pete_k wrote:

Mike LeClair wrote:

goin2themountains wrote:
Yep, Reese clunk. However, knowing that nothing is wrong, the sound is intrinsic in the hitch design, I keep towing and ignore it as I have for the last 9 years.

Oh! I like this reply the best! This is EXACTLY what I have been and will continue to do. Sometimes I kind of wonder if the pursuit of the best of the best of the best hasn't gotten just a wee tad out of control in our first world countries. Just saying! (flame proof suit ON!)

Cheers!

Mike

x2
People expect these to drive the same as there family car.
Pete

x3...Reminds me trailers back there each time I start/stop;)

[Pete_k]

Mike LeClair wrote:

goin2themountains wrote:
Yep, Reese clunk. However, knowing that nothing is wrong, the sound is intrinsic in the hitch design, I keep towing and ignore it as I have for the last 9 years.

Oh! I like this reply the best! This is EXACTLY what I have been and will continue to do. Sometimes I kind of wonder if the pursuit of the best of the best of the best hasn't gotten just a wee tad out of control in our first world countries. Just saying! (flame proof suit ON!)

Cheers!

Mike

x2
People expect these to drive the same as there family car.
Pete