Destroyed a Reese 16K

[csamayfield55x]

So my inlaws showed up last week for a couple days. We had a project to do before a 2 week trip for them so they brought their 5er. He wanted me to install the JT strongarm kit for him and of course I agreed. When they got to my house he had a slight emergency (restroom) and asked me to back his trailer in. I jumped in his truck and started backing up. Noticed a lot of front to back motion and then heard a loud BANG!!! Didn't see any issue's so parked the trailer and went about getting him set.
After the weekend we went to hook him up and he noticed a piece of steel laying in the bed of the truck. I didn't recognize it so I pulled the hitch head off and immediately found both front and back frames bent AND a big weld broked in half right at the jaws.


My first thought was to just weld it in and get them going. Next was to call Reese. Once I sent them some pics we decided that this head was junk and time to figure out plan B. That piece of steel is what stops the jaws from shifting back and forth in the hitch head. Reese said it looked like he high hitched at some point and bent that bracket causing front and back motion that just got worse. It weakened it enough that if finally snapped.

The good news is the RV dealer about 30 miles a way had a nice shiny new Anderson Ultimate that I talked him into and he is now a VERY happy man!! He couldn't believe how much slop was in that Reese!!

Here are a couple more pics



Hope this helps someone else

Chris

[csamayfield55x]

christopherglenn wrote:
Anyone else notice it is not a 5th wheel hitch? It is now riding on a ball, which makes it some form of gooseneck, which now requires safety chains. For those 10-15k California people, the RV endorsement no longer applies, as it is now a gooseneck RV not a 5th wheel RV trailer.

What are you talking about? It is a 16K reese slider 5th wheel hitch. I tow a gooseneck, but this was a kingpin style normal 5er.

This was not a lubrication issue, the hitch is slimy with grease. It was a screw up on his part plain and simple and He in no way tried to pass on blame. That is why he ponied up for a new hitch without hesitation.

Chris

[christopherglen]

Anyone else notice it is not a 5th wheel hitch? It is now riding on a ball, which makes it some form of gooseneck, which now requires safety chains. For those 10-15k California people, the RV endorsement no longer applies, as it is now a gooseneck RV not a 5th wheel RV trailer.

[Hannibal]

WeBeFulltimers wrote:

RAS43 wrote:
No, they are a good hitch. My Reese 20k hitch is 19 years old and is still tight and works well. The hitch shown has obviously not been maintained as evidenced by the rust and no sign of any lube. No hitch can stand up to that.

I am not a fan of Reese hitches but this comment is right on the spot. The hitch in the OPs picture was CLEARLY neglected! :E

My 17 year old 15k Reese still works like new. It gets lubed before every trip. Even the mighty Cummins won't last without lubrication.

[rhagfo]

enblethen wrote:
Yes, I believe it was damaged sometime before or had defect. I would have called Reese to see if this is an on going problem.

Only if you continually high hitch!
Looked at my 16K and that plate and the one above it are there to limit the up and down movement of the tip of jaws. To break like the picture has most likely several high hitches!

[WeBeFulltimers]

RAS43 wrote:
No, they are a good hitch. My Reese 20k hitch is 19 years old and is still tight and works well. The hitch shown has obviously not been maintained as evidenced by the rust and no sign of any lube. No hitch can stand up to that.

I am not a fan of Reese hitches but this comment is right on the spot. The hitch in the OPs picture was CLEARLY neglected! :E

[csamayfield55x]

jerem0621 wrote:
Going back and looking at the pictures.. doesn't look like there is much if any rust in the break...

Wouldn't that indicate a sudden failure as opposed to a crack...that became an eventual failure?

OP.. Can you confirm if this was a clean break (all shiny) or was there rust where the break was indicating that this was a crack that over time let go?

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Break was clean. IT was for sure bent at the weld though. This hitch had had some damage from him before. HE is notoriously in a big hurry and does stupid stuff!! If I could use expletives you would understand how much this man frustrates me!!! That is why he has 4 dents on his cab from turning too hard.

I really believe that he had bent that bracket back before. The off camber entry into my drive put the hitch jaws below the bracket and when I came up straight it popped it right off. I talked to Reese and they knew exactly why it happened (High Hitching) and told me not to weld it. If I took the hitch all the way apart and bent the frame I am sure i could fix it. I don't think I would want to sell it to anyone though. He gave me all the parts to get rid of.
I do have a barely used set of slide rails now to go onto craigslist HAHA!!

Chris

[jerem0621]

Going back and looking at the pictures.. doesn't look like there is much if any rust in the break...

Wouldn't that indicate a sudden failure as opposed to a crack...that became an eventual failure?

OP.. Can you confirm if this was a clean break (all shiny) or was there rust where the break was indicating that this was a crack that over time let go?

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[john_bet]

My 16K Reese has been trouble free for 10+ years. It gets looked at and lubed every year.

[enblethen]

Yes, I believe it was damaged sometime before or had defect. I would have called Reese to see if this is an on going problem.

[csamayfield55x]

He never blamed me at all, just happened to be me driving when it let go. HE is extremely happy with his new Anderson. He said the tow between it and the Mor-Ryde pin box was better than it had ever been. I am wondering if this head had been bent for a very long time allowing it to shift back and forth. He has been thinking about and auto slider for some time so I actaully saved him about 1300.00!!

We will see how happy he is when he has to hook up though

Chris

[NC_Hauler]

RAS43 wrote:
No, they are a good hitch. My Reese 20k hitch is 19 years old and is still tight and works well. The hitch shown has obviously not been maintained as evidenced by the rust and no sign of any lube. No hitch can stand up to that.

Agreed... I had a 16K Reese slider hitch for about 7 yrs, then went to 20K Reese Signature hitch for approx 8 yrs, never the first issue with either.

[RAS43]

No, they are a good hitch. My Reese 20k hitch is 19 years old and is still tight and works well. The hitch shown has obviously not been maintained as evidenced by the rust and no sign of any lube. No hitch can stand up to that.

[wandering1]

Reese makes a great hitch as long as you use it properly.

[1jeep]

Are the reese 16k hitches that bad? I have one came with my 5th when I bought it in may....am I towing with a accident waiting to happen?