Another hitch question - Montana Owners Club

mtheo · 08-22-2007, 04:59 PM

Well I have a lil'rocker 15K, It has been getting hard to open and close the slide bar. Contacted the manufacture for help. They said the bar was flaring out on the leading edge and that I needed to file it down. Sure enough that was it.
My question is does that seen right? I have only used it for a year with maybe 8,000 to 10,000 miles.
Is the hitch to light weight? rated for 15K, anybody else have this problem?

dsprik · 08-23-2007, 02:15 AM

I have a Reese 16K hitch and I also am having trouble closing the latch when hooking up... I don't have the same trouble opening it up. Not sure if this is the same problem. Not sure if any/most hitch mechanisms are the same design?

Eagle Man · 08-23-2007, 08:10 AM

My hitch instructions say to be sure to keep the mechanism lubricated.

mtheo · 08-23-2007, 02:59 PM

I do keep it well lubricated, I think the problem is the pin against the slide bar, did they use a hard enoungh material?

noneck · 08-23-2007, 04:17 PM

I have that hitch...it can be a bit tough to disengage if doing solo when its off plane surface, truck to RV. I leave mine in "rocker mode" all the time and found if I have a helper I can leave some backward load (Truck in reverse) while DW pulls on release arm.
I do like the hitch as when that bar is engaged I have no worries of an accidental release when its engaged...I can see it and feel its nothing to worry about.

sailer · 08-23-2007, 04:57 PM

We use pull rit with no problems yet we are close to 20,000 miles and it slides auto john

Fordzilla · 08-23-2007, 05:34 PM

Mine will bind once and a while when it has pressure against it. I too often back up a little bit to take the pressure off and it will release real easy. I found a product called "Slip Plate" lubricant and it works wonders on the moving parts and keeps them free for months at a time.

dsprik · 08-24-2007, 04:15 AM

My hitch mechanism is so lubricated it could run down the road ahead of the truck. Bar still sticks. Seems like something is bent, maybe. Only started doing this after about 11 months of use. Fine up until then...

richfaa · 08-24-2007, 04:45 AM

My experience is like Fordzilla's. If the handle will not disengage we raise the camper a bit to release the pressure on the hitch..that usually works, I think it is a good idea to bring the camper up a bit to release the pressure on the hitch in any case. Also a bit of a move foward or back should get it disengaged.if not you do doubt have a problem.

dsprik · 08-24-2007, 06:06 AM

I should be a little more specific. My problem is letting the bar BACK IN once it is pulled out. I can't get the bar to go back in and latch on the 5ver pin. Stuck open - can't push the bar back in on the pin. It is somewhat difficult to get it back in without the pin in it and it is extremely difficult with the pin in the hitch. Lots of yanking, pushing, lubricating, etc. Is that what everyone is talking about?

mtheo · 08-24-2007, 03:38 PM

Dsprik,
You sound like you had the same problem I had, even when the trailer is not connected the slide bar would not slide. As I said after I filed down the leading edge it works like it should, with or with out trailer.
I just seem to me that the steel might not be hard enough.
I have used mind for about 8,000 to 10,000 miles, one year.

boylanag · 08-24-2007, 04:13 PM

Like Rich, going a little forward or backward releases it to put slide in as well a pull it out with us. I tried rubber mallet, lube, etc to no avail until another camper told us to release the pressure and it has worked fine since then. As has been said before, then if still sticks there is a problem.

dsprik · 08-25-2007, 03:25 AM

Thanks, Carol & Jim. Yes it is still happening - but only when trying to release the bar back in. I don't have any problem unlatching - sometimes with a little extra movement of the truck - just trying to get the bar to go back in - even with no 5ver.

Thanks, Mark. Sounds like this may be my problem. Did you have to take the hitch apart to file that end? I have my hitch out of my truck now. I will throw it back in my bed and flip it upside down to look. Just finished raining and the hitch is all wet now. I'll let it dry a little first...

mtheo · 08-26-2007, 11:05 AM

dsprik
You could do it in the truck but I took the head out and set it on the tailgate to file it.
Good Luck

dsprik · 08-26-2007, 01:22 PM

Thanks, Mark, I'll see what I can do...

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