Causes for Excess Play in 5th Wheel Hitch Jaws

Question:

I noticed the last time I pulled my camper , the fifth wheel seemed to have some slack. When I started moving forward there was a clunking sound like the king pin was able to move a little within the jaw of the hitch. What would cause this? Older Reese 14000 lb fifth wheel

asked by: Dave

Helpful Expert Reply:

The reasons the jaw mechanism in a 5th wheel hitch might fail to completely close around the king pin could include a need for normal periodic lubrication, excessive wear in the jaws themselves or on the king pin, or that the jaw locking mechanism was not fully locked.

5th wheel hitches come with several types of jaw mechanisms and some simply do a better job than others when it comes to completely surrounding and gripping the notch on the king pin. An entry level hitch such as the Pro Series # PS30128 will tend to exhibit more play than a premium hitch such as a B&W Patriot # BWRVK3270 which has heavy-duty dual 3/4-inch thick jaws.

I recommend you refer to the maintenance/troubleshooting section of the owner's manual for your specific hitch. Since you say your Reese hitch is an older 14K model it may well require service. You can send along photos of your hitch head and part numbers if you like and we can then find out the correct service kit.

expert reply by: Adam R