How Often Should I Torque The Bolts On The Curt CrossWing 5th Wheel Hitch?

Question:

I have the Curt Crosswing hitch and have a question about 20mm flange nut and 14mm bolts, instuctions say to torque to spec before each use and every 1000 miles does each use include having only used to practice backing up a few times in a parking lot? Our first trip is in 3 weeks and this is our first 5th wheel RV,Thanks and sorry if this seems like a siily question

asked by: Jim

Expert Reply:

Not a silly question at all Jim because there is definitely some grey area there. Assuming you did torque all of the bolts correctly when the hitch was installed, the next time I would check/torque them would be before your trip. In this context, I would not consider backing up a few times "using" the hitch. For sake of clarity, perhaps it would be more accurate to say "torque all bolts to spec before towing any significant distances". Generally, the shock/movement from going over the road is what can cause the bolts to back out slightly.

That said, if you were to check the torque spec more often than they specify there is really no downside. If you are worried about it and want the peace of mind, go ahead and check them again now. If all you have done is back up a few times they should be fine though.

expert reply by: Jesse M