Troubleshooting A Ford (Reese) Factory 5th Wheel Hitch That Doesn't Want To Lock Properly  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hi Craig,

What you're experiencing is a pretty common issue for a lot of hitches and it tends to be either a lubrication issue or just an issue with the angle that the truck and trailer are sitting at preventing the jaws from fully latching. Newer 5th wheel hitches have a bit of pivot in the head to help accommodate this but it's not always enough so getting the truck and trailer on level ground will help quite a bit. With the hitch locking after you start pulling forward it sounds like the king pin of the pin box is putting too much pressure on the jaws for them to fully close so you could also be backing up just a bit too much when you're trying to couple.

I doubt Ford would hold back your truck just for a hitch but that's something you'd have to reach out to them for. The "factory" hitches are the same as the aftermarket options, just usually with some sort of different paint job to style it to the vehicle brand so there isn't a quality difference between what they sell you and what we would. If your F-450 is going to come with an OEM puck system then you can definitely use the Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP68FR instead of the factory option. The last time we talked with Reese they were working on heavier duty options but they wouldn't give us any kind of timeline so it's still up in the air on when they'll have anything on the market.

In the meantime I recommend checking the manual for your current hitch for any lubrication points and try greasing the hitch to help alleviate the bind up.

expert reply by: Kevin C

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Craig B.

3/18/2024

Hi Kevin, My current problem is not with hitching up, it is with unhitching. Connecting the trailer is not a problem, the jaws always fully engage. To unlock the hitch, you have to pull the handle out and push it to the back slightly where is supposed to lock with the jaws open. However, many times, the handle will not stay back and when I pull forward, the jaws close again. Sometimes it works perfect but other times I have to run the truck back and forth a bit and make small changes in the height of the landing jacks to get the handle to go back and stay there. The clearance between the hitch and the king pin plate seems to be critical. The angles may be a factor and it is usually better if the truck and trailer are level but some RV parks don't provide the perfect sites. As this hitch is made by Reese, I am wondering if this is a common problem and if the new 35K hitch will be similar. I am thinking about canceling the factory hitch and getting another aftermarket hitch when I get the truck. The hitch may not be the whole problem, as Ford is really backlogged on the high-end SD trucks, very few people are getting deliveries.

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Kevin C.

3/18/2024

@Craig I completely understand your difficulties when it comes to the campsites not being level. My dad's trailer is 42' long and we have to really do our research before booking a site to make sure we can fit and get the trailer coupled/uncoupled. With the added detail it sounds more like the handle isn't latching out correctly and is likely just an issue with latch mechanism instead, although if the king pin is pressing too hard on the jaws it will cause what you're describing so that falls back on getting the truck/trailer as level as possible. If the handle isn't staying latched out as it should the head of the hitch can be replaced instead of replacing the entire hitch and spending a bunch of money. As for new hitch, this is a common problem that can happen to any hitch so I wouldn't necessarily say the hitch or brand is bad. I personally would just look at what the cost would be for the factory hitch versus the aftermarket cost and go with the lower price because you really are getting the same thing either way.

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Craig B.

3/18/2024

@KevinC There is a "button" that sticks up through a hole in the hitch surface. Do you know if that button has anything to do with the latching of the handle with the jaws open? Again, the jaws do open, but if the handle doesn't latch back, they close again when the truck moves forward. I find that moving the truck back before pulling the handle is required but doesn't aways work.

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Kevin C.

3/18/2024

@CraigB The back side of the jaws sit right in the middle and pressure on this point from the king pin can cause cause the jaws to shut again and would be one explanation for why moving the truck helps release the tension and allow you to latch the handle open. I'm going to send you a separate email so you can send me some pictures of the button you're talking about.

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