Fifth hitch issue

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I have to tap my pins out each and every time which is fine by me.

Rather have them snug then loose.......hitch sits tight and no movement.

Same Here. I just keep an old hammer under the backseat of truck. They go in just fine but I always have to give them a little tap to get them out.

I had to do a tow or two with my hitch install. My rails were in the truck when I bought it but had a tough time settling the hitch into the rails. Loosening the bolts and using a deadblow hammer got them in. After towing a few times, all is well. I too have to tap out the pins at times.
TomC

Mine are not to tight nor to loose. Dealer installed hitch as part of 5th purchase. The rails were out last year to have bed rebuilt after a tree destroyed it and the body shop put them back in without hitch and they are just like it was when new.

Mine are tight also.

I like it that way...I'll will gladly tap them out over having a loose hitch with the rattling sounds.

I sometimes have to move my hitch around a little to get them in and out. It's like that hitch just binds on them a little. I just give it a bump or lift up on it just a bit and the pin slides right out.

Your install is fine. You really don't want the pins to easily slide out. It keeps someone from pulling the pins when you're away from the truck. I use to have to get a screw driver and hammer to tap mine out. There's nothing wrong with yours. Better left alone then to be loosening and re-tightening things.....

Ken

ryhed wrote:
I may just get a rat tail file and custom fit it so it's tight but slide a little better. I was just thinking when I went to pull the pins they might not want to go back in. That's why I asked if I did something wrong. I put it in just like e trailer and all youtube videos showed. I had my puter there for the install. :)

I would not take a file to anything. It's not a good idea, and there is an easier way to deal with it. Inspect the pin fit, and see which way it is tight. Loosen the bolts in one rail just enough, and tap it in the appropriate direction. It might need to move front, back, or sideways. There is enough freedom in the bolt holes for it to move a little. Tighten the rail back down. If you can't get it all with one rail, do the same with the other one.

If that doesn't do it, it could be the hitch base is tweaked a little. Do the same thing. Loosen the bolts between the head and base, smack it around a bit with a mallet, and retighten. There is plenty of slop in all this stuff that it should find freedom.

I may just get a rat tail file and custom fit it so it's tight but slide a little better. I was just thinking when I went to pull the pins they might not want to go back in. That's why I asked if I did something wrong. I put it in just like e trailer and all youtube videos showed. I had my puter there for the install. :)

I agree with Old-Biscuit, I have to tap my pins in also, better snug than loose.

I did tighten it down with the base of the hitch in. I just thought maybe I did something wrong. If I work them they will back out but it's real tight. maybe i'm worried over nothing. I'll try and take it out this weekend. If it won't come out i'll mark the nuts, loosen it a pinch, then adjust and re torque. I'm out of town right now and don't have a torque wrench, but i'm not pulling anything anyway so I can do it later. Thanks all. Any one know the specs? I think I set it to 100 ft. lbs. maybe I can find a mechanic before they go on lunch break to check torque and buy him/her lunch.