Custom Sidewinder Wedge for a Curt Q16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch  

What is the proper Wedge for the Reese 5th Airborne Turret Pin Box GREAT product by the way with a Curt Q16 5th Wheel Hitch? Is the standard wedge that comes with the 5th Airborne Elite the right wedge for the Curt Q16? OBSERVATION: Initially my installation mechanic told me he was done installing the Reese 5th Airborne but I quickly noted that he had not installed the very critical wedge! I thank God that I had religiously reviewed and marked up the critical installation steps and assisted with his permission in the installation! After pointing this out he seemed to properly install the standard wedge that came with the Airborne: - According to the BandW style 5th wheel hitches diagram seems to show it as the closest match to the Curt Q16 5th Wheel with the wider end of the wedge oriented towards the pin. - We made sure the wedge was parked lightly bolted in place, hooked up the trailer, and then as per instructions hammered forward as far as it could go in towards the pin. NOTE: It APPEARED to be tight on both sides of the receiver plate but I could be wrong so maybe this is where the problem lies? - He then torqued the two bolts to the recommended 150 ft/lbs each. - As per instructions, we unhooked and rehooked the trailer to make sure the wedge was properly placed and that the jaws would properly open and close. PROBLEM - On my first venture towing my semi-loaded trailer with this arrangement today I noticed that my trailer was slowly and slightly swinging hang out slightly, stopping with a soft bump either left or right after I went around a corner. Then on the straight I could see through my rear-view mirror to the trailer mirror that the back trailer end of the 5th Airborne was angled either slightly left or right of center. Going up hills caused it to gently center. Obviously this should not be happening. I carefully returned home and quickly inspected the wedge. It appears to have about a maximum 1/4inch side-to-side gap between the wedge and the sides of the pin receiver on the 5th wheel plate. Lighting was bad so I was unable to see if the wedge was as close as it could/should have been to the pin tighter to the sides of the pin opening on the 5th Wheel plate. Due to the minimal towing less than 40 miles total since the 5th Airborne was installed and knowing the wedge was properly torqued, I am disinclined to think that the wedge moved. BUT if this is the correct wedge, then we didnt get it in far enough before torqueing. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS! Having viewed you installation videos and getting a perfectly timely question answered by support staff before I am convinced that ETRAILER IS GREAT!

asked by: Mike D

0