Jaws Will Not Release on Reese 16K 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch

Question:

First thank you Micheal H for your response to my question. Before I got you reply I was on the road. I had asked at the RV park I was staying to recommend a Rv repair shop in Pocatella, ID. State Trailer was recommended. I stopped at this business and explained my problem to a tech. We went outside to the truck and trailer. The tech had me lower the legs. Pulling on the handle did not release the jaws. We tried going very slightly back and forth but this did not work. Next we extended the 5th wheel legs and raised the the 5th wheel off the hitch slightly until we could see the Teflon disk the handle then released the jaws very easily.

asked by: Guy G

Expert Reply:

Ah, so the lube plate was causing some issues. Either it is time for a new one or you may want to switch to grease. I have heard of this issue on some of the Reese R-Series hitches but not the regular 16K hitches.

For a lube plate for a regular hitch, like # RP30047, you can use lube plate # RP83002.

For grease I recommend # L11390.

expert reply by: Michael H