Fifth wheel Hitch troubleshooting

[JediDZL]

Hello
My Patriot 16k hitch is not locking the jaws all the way around the pin. I have to force the handle in to lock it.. I never had this issue before. Any thoughts on what could be causing this ? Thanks

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Just concerned for your safety. 😉

And I do appreciate your concern , and save travels to you .

[Cummins12V98]

Just concerned for your safety. 😉

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Don't the bolts on the hitch itself need to be checked periodically, as you would any retaining bolt? And also the bolts on the king pin block, don't they need to be checked for tightness? This would come under the heading of maintenance, at lest in my mind.

Here again , no maintenance, no checking tightness on mine . Nothing , there are no bolts to check , the lugs on the adapter are pinned , as well as the hitch . The ones that have the steel Andersen know this . As said you have to have one to know what goes on .

As far as the adapter on the kingpin , never checked it . Again if you had one you’d know why . I’ve had it off several times , and seen why there is no need , if you had one and wanted to check it that’s great , I have no problem with that if you think you need too . Some grease their bearings every year , I don’t . As with all things I do look at it periodically for anything obviously wrong with it .

NEVER checking something you hav bolted on that carries so much is IMHO dangerous.

Come now , been around machinery hitches etc my entire adult life . I know how that adapter is bolted ,,and what to check, and I don’t let anything slide , nor the hitch , don’t you fret that I’m doing something dangerous 🙂

[Cummins12V98]

"And to tell you the truth, I'll never own an Andersen."

Things are not always as GOLDEN as they may seem.

[Cummins12V98]

cummins2014 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Don't the bolts on the hitch itself need to be checked periodically, as you would any retaining bolt? And also the bolts on the king pin block, don't they need to be checked for tightness? This would come under the heading of maintenance, at lest in my mind.

Here again , no maintenance, no checking tightness on mine . Nothing , there are no bolts to check , the lugs on the adapter are pinned , as well as the hitch . The ones that have the steel Andersen know this . As said you have to have one to know what goes on .

As far as the adapter on the kingpin , never checked it . Again if you had one you’d know why . I’ve had it off several times , and seen why there is no need , if you had one and wanted to check it that’s great , I have no problem with that if you think you need too . Some grease their bearings every year , I don’t . As with all things I do look at it periodically for anything obviously wrong with it .

NEVER checking something you hav bolted on that carries so much is IMHO dangerous.

[Cummins12V98]

cummins2014 wrote:

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

Yep that's what I mean - if you have not owned one you would not understand.

Could not of said it better , many have no understanding of the Andersen ,but continue with opinions of it. I wouldn't tow with anything else after having one now for a few years, and I have towed with as good a conventional hitch as there is ,with no issues that I keep reading about the most popular conventional hitch , the adjustments ,bolt replacements etc . I will stick with the Andersen ,no maintenance, replacing any parts etc etc .

You don't have the bed deflecting/folding Ultimate now do you?

I would not have a problem using YOUR hitch for a lighter RV, say 14k and under.

[TXiceman]

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

Yep that's what I mean - if you have not owned one you would not understand.

Nope but I have had to assist people in the park with the Andersen get then to release and unhook. Wound up putting blocks under the front jacks and lifting the ball and shank out of the hitch....that is a high lift to clear the hitch. The other lifted the whole hitch out of the bed and then literally beat the thing to make it release the ball. In both cases, the release cable was corroded.....due to NO MAINTENANCE.

And to tell you the truth, I'll never own an Andersen.

Ken

[cummins2014]

fj12ryder wrote:
Don't the bolts on the hitch itself need to be checked periodically, as you would any retaining bolt? And also the bolts on the king pin block, don't they need to be checked for tightness? This would come under the heading of maintenance, at lest in my mind.

Here again , no maintenance, no checking tightness on mine . Nothing , there are no bolts to check , the lugs on the adapter are pinned , as well as the hitch . The ones that have the steel Andersen know this . As said you have to have one to know what goes on .

As far as the adapter on the kingpin , never checked it . Again if you had one you’d know why . I’ve had it off several times , and seen why there is no need , if you had one and wanted to check it that’s great , I have no problem with that if you think you need too . Some grease their bearings every year , I don’t . As with all things I do look at it periodically for anything obviously wrong with it .

[fj12ryder]

Don't the bolts on the hitch itself need to be checked periodically, as you would any retaining bolt? And also the bolts on the king pin block, don't they need to be checked for tightness? This would come under the heading of maintenance, at lest in my mind.

[cummins2014]

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

Yep that's what I mean - if you have not owned one you would not understand.

Could not of said it better , many have no understanding of the Andersen ,but continue with opinions of it. I wouldn't tow with anything else after having one now for a few years, and I have towed with as good a conventional hitch as there is ,with no issues that I keep reading about the most popular conventional hitch , the adjustments ,bolt replacements etc . I will stick with the Andersen ,no maintenance, replacing any parts etc etc .

[Flashman]

TXiceman wrote:

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

Yep that's what I mean - if you have not owned one you would not understand.

[cummins2014]

TXiceman wrote:

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

At a glance is all , no tightness to check . Just to make sure no one has messed with any pins .

[TXiceman]

Flashman wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
Look in the owners manual for the hitch. All hitches do require periodic cleaning and maintenance.

Ken

Wrong - not my Andersen.

You mean it never requires any cleaning or checking for tightness and mounting....Good Luck.

Ken

[rhagfo]

przao wrote:
..............

On an aside, he uses a portable electric grease gun to generously lube the hitch plate every time he hitches his semis, and told me to do the same because he noticed what he called high pressure wear on my hitch head even though I was using a lube plate.

What a mess!!! This is why I use a lube plate, no way would I use grease, except the pin contact points with the hitch jaws.