Troubleshooting A Ford (Reese) Factory 5th Wheel Hitch That Doesn't Want To Lock Properly
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Question:
I have a 2020 Ford F450 with the factory 32.5K 5th wheel hitch. I understand that it is a Reese hitch rebranded. I sometimes have a lot of trouble unhitching the trailer and need pull back and forth a lot with small changes in the height of the hitch pin. The problem is that when I pull the handle, it will not go back slightly and lock, so when I pull forward, the hitch locks again. I have a new 2024 Ford F450 Limited on order with the Ford 35K hitch option, is this a Reese hitch? The truck has been on order since August 2023 and I still dont have a delivery date. I wonder if the hitch is causing the delay? If I change my order to the factory hitch and have a Reese M5 hitch installed, will that be the same hitch? Is Reese working on a 35K hitch? My trailer is a Luxe 42MD with a GVW of 24K, so I could use a lower rated hitch. Does the new hitch unhitch easier than the older ones?
asked by: Craig B
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.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ford Towing Prep Package - Single Jaw - 32,000 lbs
- 5th Wheel Hitch
- Fixed Fifth Wheel
- Aftermarket Below Bed Rails
- 32000 lbs GTW
- Premium - Single-Hook Jaw
- Reese
more information >
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on 5th Wheel Hitch
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.