Forum Discussion

RoyF's avatar
RoyF
Explorer
Mar 31, 2021

Question about removing hitch with puck-system.

I picked up my 2021 Ford with factory-installed hitch just three weeks ago and am still learning about it. Yesterday, I removed the puck-system hitch in order to do some hauling. The hitch legs are held in place by four bolts (which the manual calls "T-pins".) Three of the T-pins stayed in place, but the fourth one dropped through to the ground. There are metal plates below three T-pins to prevent them from falling, but there is only air below the fourth.

This problem with one T-pin made it a bit tricky to re-attach the hitch.

Is my truck missing a plate below the fourth T-pin, or was the puck system designed so that one T-pin can fall to the ground when the hitch is removed?
  • RoyF's avatar
    RoyF
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2021
    From OP: Ok, thanks, guys. As I said, I have a lot to learn. I was beginning to get the hang of my 2008 truck and setup when I traded it in.
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Mar 31, 2021
    ford truck guy wrote:
    AGREE with Michelle...

    My B&W has castle nuts (held in place with cotter pins) holding the handle onto the locking pin.. I really never looked down that hole to see what is there, juts insert the hitch, turn the handle and lock in place....


    Don't forget the padlock!
  • GIB2's avatar
    GIB2
    Explorer
    Mar 31, 2021
    I believe you are calling the T pins bolts because you see threads. There should be a lever which turns that T pin 90 degrees. There should be a castle nut which needs to be tightened so it snuggly turns by hand and secured from backing off with a cotter pin. It sounds to me like someone just threw it in the truck to get it out the door. There should be virtually no movement between truck and hitch. I would suggest going on line for hitch manufacturer
    and printing out the assembly instructions as there may be torque specifications in properly setting up the hitch including height adjustment.
    This system is great but needs proper adjustment and only needs to be done once.
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    Mar 31, 2021
    AGREE with Michelle...

    My B&W has castle nuts (held in place with cotter pins) holding the handle onto the locking pin.. I really never looked down that hole to see what is there, juts insert the hitch, turn the handle and lock in place....
  • Michelle_S's avatar
    Michelle_S
    Explorer III
    Mar 31, 2021
    Sounds like to OP removed the adjustment nut from the pins vs turning the latching lever 90 degrees.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Mar 31, 2021
    RoyF wrote:
    I picked up my 2021 Ford with factory-installed hitch just three weeks ago and am still learning about it. Yesterday, I removed the puck-system hitch in order to do some hauling.The hitch legs are held in place by four bolts (which the manual calls "T-pins".) Three of the T-pins stayed in place, but the fourth one dropped through to the ground. There are metal plates below three T-pins to prevent them from falling, but there is only air below the fourth.

    This problem with one T-pin made it a bit tricky to re-attach the hitch.

    Is my truck missing a plate below the fourth T-pin, or was the puck system designed so that one T-pin can fall to the ground when the hitch is removed?


    Well if you removed the nuts from the bolts, then all bets are off. As mentioned earlier the puck locks unlock with a simple 1/4 turn. Now you will need to reassemble the pucks and adjust play.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Mar 31, 2021
    This sounds like more of a hitch issue to me. I'm not sure if Ford is still using the Reese Elite, as their factory supplied hitch. In any case, if the hitch needs replacing, and you can get reimbursed from Ford, I'd take a good look at the 3300 from B&W.

    Jerry
  • StirCrazy's avatar
    StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Mar 31, 2021
    RoyF wrote:
    I picked up my 2021 Ford with factory-installed hitch just three weeks ago and am still learning about it. Yesterday, I removed the puck-system hitch in order to do some hauling. The hitch legs are held in place by four bolts (which the manual calls "T-pins".) Three of the T-pins stayed in place, but the fourth one dropped through to the ground. There are metal plates below three T-pins to prevent them from falling, but there is only air below the fourth.

    This problem with one T-pin made it a bit tricky to re-attach the hitch.

    Is my truck missing a plate below the fourth T-pin, or was the puck system designed so that one T-pin can fall to the ground when the hitch is removed?


    you can look right through the mount, there is nothing there to hold the pins. but what concerns me is that thoes pins should be physiclay attached to the hitch and not repmain in the mount.

    Steve
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Mar 31, 2021
    The pins are supposed to remain attached to your hitch. You just turn them 90 degrees and lift them out with the hitch.
    What hitch do you have?

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