Reese Pro Series 20K "clunk"

[hyattjlbb]

Just bought a new Reese Pro Series 20K hitch. I painted the jaws white to ensure proper seating of the jaws visually and got it set up, installed and all seems fine. However, during starts and stops (not even hard) I hear a "clunking". My previous hitch had the draw bar and not the jaws and while it did clunk a bit it didn't seem to clunk like this one. Is this normal or do I need to adjust something? TIA

[C_B_]

WeBeFulltimers wrote:
I had one of those Reese but was a 16k. I called it my "Rice Krispys" hitch because it snapped, crackled, and popped so much. Changed to B & W and grinned every time I saw it.

My Son had the same hitch as you. I had to pull his 5th wheel one
day. We.re going down the interstate and he asks why his F-250 chucked ,bucked ,and rattled down the highway and mine didn't pulling his 40 ft.Cedar Creek.

The answer was simple "PULLRITE"


C.B.


PS He now pulls with an 18K Superglide.

[dapperdan]

I know the "big truck" fifth wheel hitches have jaw adjustments that can be made. Perhaps your Reese has a way to adjust the jaws too. As other have stated you'd be well advised to make sure it's the jaws that are "cluncking" in the first place and not another component. :E

BTW, I'm another "fan club" member of the B & W! Best hitch I ever owned! :B

Dan

[JIMNLIN]

hyattjlbb wrote:
Just bought a new Reese Pro Series 20K hitch. I painted the jaws white to ensure proper seating of the jaws visually and got it set up, installed and all seems fine. However, during starts and stops (not even hard) I hear a "clunking". My previous hitch had the draw bar and not the jaws and while it did clunk a bit it didn't seem to clunk like this one. Is this normal or do I need to adjust something? TIA

I'll repost your question for you.
JMO but I would contact Reese for their input but first you need to find the source of the clunk ie;....jaws....bedrail pins or other style attach points.....hard driving style.....even loose pin box bolts....etc.

[WeBeFulltimers]

I had one of those Reese but was a 16k. I called it my "Rice Krispys" hitch because it snapped, crackled, and popped so much. Changed to B & W and grinned every time I saw it.

[Mike_LeClair]

OMG, you guys never cease to amaze me!

Edited to remove the rant.

Cheers! and enjoy that new hitch!

Mike

[hyattjlbb]

Thanks all!

[lee_worsdell]

Mine is the same thing its the pegs going into the rails. They don't sit tight

[MFL]

I would say normal for the hitch you purchased. I agree with Cummins, if you can take it back, and you have the rail system, I'd get the Patriot hitch. It's well made, no noise/slop, and likely not much more cost.

Jerry

[Durb]

If it mounts on standard rails there could be some looseness where the hitch pins to the rails. Starting and stopping will cause a clunking sound as it did on my hitch. Reese or Curt (can't remember which) makes some rubber pads that mount between the hitch and the rails which are very effective at stopping the noise. They are cheap, less than five bucks as I recall, and will only last a couple of seasons. They can be found at Amazon.

Found them: Curt 5th wheel sound dampening pads #16900 or #16901

[BB_TX]

That is the lower priced line of Reese hitches. So it may not have the tightest of tolerances. It may be that the top part of the hitch has some play where it attaches to the center side to side pivot pin allowing the top to slide backward and forward slightly on that pin as you start and stop.

Unhitched, see if you can push/pull the top of the hitch and feel it move a little. Even a very small amount can "clunk" when starting and stopping. You might be able to press a plastic spacer down onto the pivot pin to close the gap, if there is one.

[Cummins12V98]

Simply return it and get the model with this brand that fits your application. NO clank, slop and you don't need to paint anything white.

You WILL thank me!!!