How to Fix Ride Quality Issues with My Curt Poweride 5th Wheel Hitch  

Ive got the new Poweride 30K 5th wheel hitch and the combined jaw thickness is 1-3/16inch but the kingpin recess for the jaws is 1-15/16inch so theres basically 1/2inch gap to allow the pin to bounce up and down on certain roads or during certain maneuvers when the weight transfers. No thicker jaws are available according to the site, so whats the solution? Ive already dealt with the sloppy fitment for the hitch pins that hold the base legs to the adapter, Curt part 16027. I was able to run a 9/16inch end mill thru the holes and replaced the 1/2inch pins they supply with the hitch with a new 9/16-18 cap bolt and nylon locknut, all Grade 8 for strength, in the four previous pin locations, then applied red thread-loc on assembly and torqued to 160 ftlb. No more play, no more movement from any part except the pivoting head unit. Now Ive got to find a solution to this hitch jaw thickness vs. kingpin recess. Ill probably go with a nylon hitch plate til I can figure out a better way to go. That will at least fill part of that gap. I tried to contact Curt to run all of this past someone there but I wasnt able to find any link or department to send it to. Its almost as if they dont care if their products work together smoothly or not. I wont buy Curt stuff again. Its turned out to be poor quality control type issues Ive encountered, which is tough to believe but Ive been living it, and fixing the booboos they made that eventually found their way to me. I still cant believe Ive paid $2,000+ for these frigginfoot headaches, when I should be getting paid to fix the compatibility issues Ive encountered. I wasnt supposed to have to modify, repair or fab this stuff. eTrailer is gonna end up getting a bad rap for their nonsense, because I know its not a one time thing nor am I an isolated customer with these issues due to manufacturing. Their quality control people mustve been off the day this stuff came off the assembly line. I dont know anyone who wouldve put their stamp of approval on these parts. Alone they look good, but as they say, beauty is only skin deep.

asked by: Kevin H