Troubleshooting Use of 5th Wheel Wedge for Revolution Pin Box and Curt A16 Hitch

Question:

I have a Curt A16/Q16 hitch with a REESE Revolution hitch, I was pulling the trailer and the large nut on the underside of the revolution hitch with the carter pin sheared off. I tried installing the Q16 wedge 16992 that I purchased from you however it appears to hit the hitch not allowing the jaws to close. I uninstalled it and installed the universal wedge to get the unit home but it appears to have movement on the hitch plate and has caused some rubbing marks any ideas why the large nut sheared off and the kin pin assembly does not move I did remove the two bolts in the back first. One came off by hand the other required two guys and a 3 foot wrench to remove. Is there a way to lube the pivot point? Or is there something I am missing? Any guidance would be appreciated.

asked by: Steve W

Expert Reply:

5th wheel wedge # C16992 is the correct one for your Curt A16 hitch to allow use of a Revolution pivoting pin box. Since one of the two bolts sheared off it sounds like the initial installation left one of the bolts too loose (the one that did not break). This would have placed all of the force on the other bolt, resulting in it breaking.

Custom wedges like C16992 will provide a better fit than universal wedges, if adjusted to the correct position. There is a small adjustment range in the front-to-back position of the wedge. This is the oval slot in the bottom surface of the wedge, where the bolt heads fit. If the wedge was in the wrong spot this could have caused the marks on the capture plate.

What you can do is remove the Curt wedge and hitch the trailer. Lock the hitch jaws around the king pin and then hold the wedge up to mark its position. Then unhitch the trailer and bolt on the wedge at the mark you made.

There is no need to lubricate the king pin in your application since it ceases to be the pivot point. When you're using a Revolution pin box the actual pivot point moves rearward by 22-inches. The turret at the rear of the Revolution pin box becomes the actual pivot point once the wedge is in place. The turret uses a wear plate so it does not require lubrication.

expert reply by: Adam R