Closing Jaws on Curt A16 5th Wheel Hitch

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Question:

Hello, I just finished installing the A16 hitch in my 2018 Silverado with the factory puck system. I pulled the handle to check operation and it opened to the ready to couple position just fine. My question is how do I get it to reset to closed since I wont be picking up my fifth wheel for another two weeks? Thanks

asked by: Mark B

0

Expert Reply:

To get your Curt A16 5th Wheel Sliding Hitch # C16521 or A16 fixed hitch # C16520-16025 to close the jaws, you simply need to apply pressure to the back of the jaws where the king pin would connect. Do not use your hand for this as you could get injured, but you can use a section of tubing or a large wrench or screwdriver for instance to allow the pressure to close your jaws.

The only reason to close your jaws is to keep tension off the springs in the head but even in a worst case scenario leaving the jaws open for 2 weeks won't damage your hitch.

expert reply by: Jason S

0

Allen B.

4/25/2020

I cannot disconnect my fifth wheel from the hitch Curt Q16. The jaws will not open. How do I get them open

Reply

Chris R.

4/27/2020

When this type of issue comes up it's usually just a matter of adjusting the trailer's line or nose height. Make sure the trailer is as straight as possible behind the truck - if it's at any kind of angle it could make unhitching extremely difficult. Also check the nose height of the trailer. It may just be riding a bit too low (or high) preventing it from smoothly pulling out of the jaws. You might try lowering the jacks just a bit to see if it helps. Just let me know if this doesn't work and we will go from there!

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Answer 1

The Curt A16 #C16521 requires lubrication of the skid plate, center pivot point, locking pawl, jaw pivot points, and linkage pivot points. I have attached the complete maintenance schedule below for your reference.

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Answer 2

You can close the jaws on the Curt Q20 5th wheel hitch #C16130 so you can secure it with a lock. Grab a tool from your garage such as a heavy duty wrench, hammer or even a 10-12 inch pipe or something that you can grip from the top and will have a…

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Answer 3

The Q series of Curt fifth wheel hitches are considered to be the nicer Curt fifth wheel hitch when compared to the E16 hitch. Biggest difference being the jaw design. The E16 #16516 uses a slide bar jaw design that allows quite a bit more movement…

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Answer 4

For your Item #C16521 I would first start off by greasing the hitch with some White Grease Hitch Ball Lube Item #58117 and then ensure your hitch is in fully into the yellow triangle coupling mode. It sounds like you might be slightly off of that…

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Answer 5

I spoke to my contact at Curt about the issue you are having with the Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package part #C16520-16021 and they said it sounds like the trailer may be a bit too high. When you are reversing the tow…

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Answer 6

The head design is slightly different for the A16 hitch #C16120. It's the more recent version of the Q16 that you also mentioned. They made the heads strong enough to be able to be used with a Sidewinder pin box and they upgraded the warranty…

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Answer 7

The answer to your question will depend on what kind of surfaces your tow vehicle will be parked on when you hitch/unhitch the trailer. If you are going to find yourself pretty consistently on level, even pavement, then a fifth wheel hitch whose head…

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Answer 8

The 30032 fifth wheel hitch is basically the older version of the #RP30047. Basically any set of industry standard fifth wheel rails would work, but without knowing the year/make/model of your truck it is hard to give you a specific recommendation.…

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Answer 9

I have attached for you below the maintenance schedule of the Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch part #C16521 which does indeed entail greasing of the locking jaw mechanism, the pivot points in particular. The Prime Guard Wheel Bearing Hi-Temp Red…

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Answer 10

I spoke with my contact at Curt about your Curt Q16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch, part #C16120, and he said a little play is to be expected in order for the pin to rotate freely. So the jaws should not fit too tightly around the king pin. The jaws are…

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Answer 11

There is a great option for a Curt 5th wheel hitch you can use with your Lippert Turning Point pin box, but the Curt Q20 Fifth Wheel Hitch #C16130 is not compatible. The reason is the head of the Q20 has what is called a "spherical axial…

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Answer 12

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Closing Jaws on Curt A16 5th Wheel Hitch

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