Slider hitch issue - Need Help!

[Reader1]

We have a slider hitch. After moving the lever from towing to maneuvering DH holds the trailer brakes so that he can ease the truck forward and the hitch will slide back into position slowly. But it sticks in the towing position. When he applies enough throttle to break it loose it jumps foward banging all to heck and back. Is there something we should be applying to the hitch to stop the sticking or is he doing this wrong. Please help, it feels like something terrible will happen.

[wilber1]

Was the hitch just installed? Sometimes the rails are a little out of line after installation and have to settle a bit. I had this happen. I had a hitch I had been using for ten years installed in a new truck and it was very stiff in the beginning. At first I thought I would have to take it back to the installer but after some use I was able to slide it by hand as in the old truck. Yes, keeping it lubed does help.

My hitch is a Draw-Tite 16k which is basically the same as a Reece.

[TubaPete]

I frequently have the same problem. I think part of my problem is the "dogs" on the maneuvering lever hang up in the holes at each end of the slide. I haven't figured a solution yet, but dropping the legs to take some of the load off sounds like a good idea, even if inconvenient.

[ggardne2]

As others have mentioned it helps to take some weigh off the hitch before sliding. That being said, my slider is easier to get from towing to maneuvering than it is to get back into towing position. To avoid having to move from maneuvering to towing I usually use my slider hitch when backing into a campsite and then immediately unhook afterwards. If I am immediately unhooking I leave the hitch in the maneuvering position, unhook, and push the hitch by hand back into the towing position so it is ready for the next time I tow. Since I have never encountered a situation going forward where I've needed to slide the hitch the only time I have to move from maneuvering to towing is if I stay overnight in a campsite and do not unhook the trailer from the truck which is very rare (maybe once a year) and the one time this occurred this year it was faster and less stress to unhook the trailer, push the hitch back to towing position, and rehook as opposed to banging the hitch against the stops as it brook free and moved back to towing position.

[korbe]

mark5w wrote:
White lithium grease is what i used.

Yes this is what my Reese owners manual specifies.

[mark5w]

White lithium grease is what i used.

[LOON17]

I used a graphite lubricant . If you use a wd-40 type , it will be a magnet for dirt and dust . But I will bet some type of lube will do the trick .

[Reader1]

What do you use to oil or grease it?

[Halmfamily]

WD-40 on the rails, rollers, joints, pins, springs etc. I had the same issue and once I sprayed the rollers and rails it slid easily. When you don't use the slider much it needs to be kept lubed. Good luck. Travel on.

[mark5w]

Not sure about your slider but some manufactures tell you to drop the landing gear to take some weight off the hitch, then slide. You also must grease the slide tubes so they don't stick and jam..I switched to a Pullrite Superslide to avoid getting out of truck, moving arm into slide position and having to take weight off the hitch just to slide. Hope this helps.

[agesilaus]

Probably should be lightly oiled.