I have read some posts on other sites that say the Reese 5W hitch is prone to both jaws not locking, leaving your trailer on the bed rails. Is this a true concern? If yes why, design flaw, user error, or inadequate maintenance?
My Reese 16k has a little locking lever you must get in the right place to put the padlock in the hitch. The lever must be fully seated or the padlock won't go in. And if that lever is fully seated so the padlock will go in, then you know the jaws of the hitch are are locked around the kingpin, and won't be unlocking until you remove the padlock and rotate the lever.
So if someone claims their 16k came undone, then I'll claim they never locked it in the first place. Or at least they didn't do it right.
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My Sierra Blanca is a '99.5 PSD CrewCab hot-rod Towing Machine! BTS tranny; TurboRamAir intake and 4" stainless turbo-back exhaust; DP-Tuner tunes flashed into an Edge Evolution tuner; ISSPRO EV gauges and TTM; AIC; SP-Diesel exhaust brake and torque converter controller. I special-ordered it new and plan to drive it until it quits.
I searched the web and think the Reese "not hooking" is from the same school as bringing your boat up the ramp with the drive down. If not paying attention it can and will happen...at least once!
Same here, I have had mine for about 6 years with out any issues, I have the slider unit also and some say they have problems with that, but I have not. Good Luck
Frank
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1997 F-250 H.D 4X4 CREW CAB SHORT BED, MBRP 4" TURBO BACK, 16K REESE, 3:55, Auto Meter Sport Comp gauges, tri pillar, 11\16\05 BDP STAGE 1 INJECTORS, TS 6 POSITION CHIP, TYMAR INTAKE 3/27/06 B.T.S. , SIRIUS RADIO, BDP IDM, 4" 350 BLOCKS,160,000 SP Exhaust Brake, 7/4/07 6.0 Intercooler, 7/29/07 Blackbirds Customs rear disc 9/11/07 King Pin Dana 60, SKY 3" RSK, V code 5200 lbs SD springs, 10/17/07 Pro Comp Xtreme's 315x75x16 on Pro Comp 1059's 8"x16" 1/27/08 DIY Fuel System, Running on DSE since March 2008
2004 Pitbull Motorsports rigid chopper
121 TP 130rwh 250 avon
04 CRF250 mine
02 CR80 sons
03 XR100 daughters
425 Polaris magnum
500 Polaris sportsman and 300 lakota everyones
1998 27.5 Wilderness 5th wheel
I have a slider/rocker unit. The only problem I had was that the spring inside the unit broke and you had to push the handle in to make sure it was locked--then you positioned the rotating lever in and put a padlock in it.Even with the broken spring it would NOT come out. I replaced the spring with a stronger one and have not had any problems since.I guarantee if the handle is properly LOCKED the hitch will NOT open up.
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Stock -- 2004 F350, Oxford White, 4WD, Torqshift Auto, Short Bed, Crewcab,6.0 PSD, Dual Alts., TT Mirrors, Lariat,Parchment Int.,Kenwood Stero w/ XM Satellite Radio, Custom full length running boards, Handy Tool/Fuel, Ultimat, Banks Gauges & A-Pillar, ,Fumoto Valve with Nipple [Ham (KC7QJZ), ---- pullin a 30' Starwood 5er at 10.5K (and often with a 2.5K tandem trailer with GYRO or ATV's ,OR ,a 2006 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmokeyWren</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Reese 16k has a little locking lever you must get in the right place to put the padlock in the hitch. The lever must be fully seated or the padlock won't go in. And if that lever is fully seated so the padlock will go in, then you know the jaws of the hitch are are locked around the kingpin, and won't be unlocking until you remove the padlock and rotate the lever.
So if someone claims their 16k came undone, then I'll claim they never locked it in the first place. Or at least they didn't do it right. </div></div>
I would go further and suggest that if the preceeding was acomplished then the kingpin was probably set on TOP of the locking jaws, which resulted in the trailer resting on the bed rails when the truck moved forward. You gotta get under there and look. One of these days I am going to paint the bottom of my kingpin white, along with the trailing edge of the locking jaws to make it easier to see a proper attatchment at a glance.
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"I just want to be free, free to ride my machine, and not get hassled by The Man"
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DezRacer</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmokeyWren</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My Reese 16k has a little locking lever you must get in the right place to put the padlock in the hitch. The lever must be fully seated or the padlock won't go in. And if that lever is fully seated so the padlock will go in, then you know the jaws of the hitch are are locked around the kingpin, and won't be unlocking until you remove the padlock and rotate the lever.
So if someone claims their 16k came undone, then I'll claim they never locked it in the first place. Or at least they didn't do it right. </div></div>
I would go further and suggest that if the preceeding was acomplished then the kingpin was probably set on TOP of the locking jaws, which resulted in the trailer resting on the bed rails when the truck moved forward. You gotta get under there and look. One of these days I am going to paint the bottom of my kingpin white, along with the trailing edge of the locking jaws to make it easier to see a proper attatchment at a glance. </div></div>
Ding Ding We have a winner ....
The only time that I've seen bed rails smashed was because of that. If someone is telling you it was because of the hitch I'd say they are mistaken...
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O5 F-250 SuperDuty CC SWR 4x4 Lariat
8' box 6.0 PSD Tow Comand new 04/05
2001 40' Alfa Toyhouse
Pulls better stock than my 01 with a programmer
New engine at 42k . Hope my luck with this 6.0 is changed .
I also have the Reese 16k and agree with the previous posters. I always double check the pin to be sure I am not high hitched. Have never heard of one actually failing.
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2005 F-250 6.0 King Ranch
1 Injector, 2 EGR valves, EGR cooler, Oil cooler, HPOP replaced
4" Cat Back MBRP with muffler delete.
I have been there for the bed rail thing. Wasn't my truck, wasn't me and wasn't high hitched. Also, it was not a Reese hitch.
I always try to pick my trailer up with the ramp. No high hitch that way. I always use a padlock. It is locked without the tab in place when the trailer is not hitched. I don't know how many times I bent that tab hooking up. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]
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Here is most of what you need to know on getting your 7.3L started and how to operate it in the cold winter months. These posts use to readily available, but they've been hid in a subforum top of the 7.3 Power Stroke Engine and Drivetrain forum. Winter Operation (How I Do It) Hard/No Start? Check here first
I use this hitch and find it very reliable...But I always do a visual check to make sure the pin is properly secured inside the jaws. First time out with my first fiver I learned that lesson.lol
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2005 f250PSD,lariat,fx4,cc,lb,60gal titan fuel tank
2005 Jayco 27.5bhs 5'er
I work for a jayco dealership and all we install is reese hitches. The only problems I have seen are customer error. We always tell customers before they get out of the truck to put it in forward and pull a little on the hitch to ensure a proper hook up. Then also check the jaws before lowering the weight on the truck.
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2008 F350 4x4 V10 C.C. 8' box. Black lariat with chrome pkg.
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Here is most of what you need to know on getting your 7.3L started and how to operate it in the cold winter months. These posts use to readily available, but they've been hid in a subforum top of the 7.3 Power Stroke Engine and Drivetrain forum. Winter Operation (How I Do It) Hard/No Start? Check here first
I agree with the others. Yes, Reese has a reputation for errors, but they also seem to be far more popular and there are many, many on the road.
I have 'never' heard of anyone dropping their 5th wheel while driving down the road. They always seem to happen within 100 feet of where they hooked up. This suggests to me it was an improper hookup.
Many still believe the proper way to connect is raise the 5th wheel high enough to drive the hitch under the pin and drop the 5th wheel onto the hitch <<< THIS IS WRONG!!!
The hitch plate and kingpin plate should scrub slightly when connecting and the pin slid into the hitch slot forcing the release arm to be pushed out and snap back. Once I see the arm snap back, I feel pretty safe that it is connected properly. I still do a visual check for the pin in the jaws.
Enjoy the hitch...
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Bruce & Carolyn Wittmeier bruce.wittmeier@cox.net
2001 Ford F250 PSD, Ext cab, Shortbed, Island Blue/Silver, 4X4 Off-road, SOF Auto, Alum Wheels, Chrome Step, Line-X bedliner, Reese 16K slider, Jordan Ultima 2020, AirLift Airbags, Sunnybrook Are you over weight?
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