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Old 06-11-2015, 02:49 AM   #1
2Shays20
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Any way to rotate or fold a hitch release lever?

I am looking for a way to lower my Reese hitch release lever so it rides below the truck bed. I currently have an ARE tonneau cover that we put over the bed when we are not camping, but have injured my back and need to replace with a rolling cover, but need a way to rotate the release lever 90 degrees or be able to fold it downward and out of the way to slide the new cover over the hitch. Any ideas? The change could be permanent as I am tall enough to reach over the bed rail in either 90 or 180 degrees to release the hitch. Also need to sell the old cover if anyone is interested.
 
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Old 06-11-2015, 03:25 AM   #2
rafisch
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Look at the handle and there should be a cotter pin or two bolts (depending on model), remove them rotate handle and replace. I have done this on both my Reese 16K and 26K hitches. I also have a rolling cover and it works great.
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Old 06-11-2015, 04:01 AM   #3
BB_TX
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Assuming yours has the bend that turns the handle upward, I have seen pictures of someone simply cutting off the end at the bend, drilling a new hole for the bolt, and leaving a handle with a straight shaft.

I have a hard roll type tonneau cover. But I can use a bungee to hold the hitch head tilted down on the handle side so that the cover will pass over the handle without touching it.
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Old 06-11-2015, 05:52 AM   #4
racerjoe
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I used a piece of conduit. It is just the right size to slip over the shaft. I bent it to fit under cover and drilled a hole for the cotter pin. worked perfect.
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Old 06-11-2015, 04:31 PM   #5
mhs4771
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I pulled the pin and rotated my release lever 180 degrees.
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Old 06-11-2015, 05:16 PM   #6
Rondo
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I take a short bungee cord with hooks on both ends, hook one end in the handle tube, run the cord under the slide handle base tube and back up and hook the other end of the bungee cord into the handle tube again. It holds the handle down and I can slide the hard rolling cover over it to the tailgate. You do have to remove the rubber tube end. When I'm ready to hook up again, I just unhook the bungee cord and store in under the back seat of the crew cab TV.
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Old 06-11-2015, 05:49 PM   #7
2Shays20
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Thanks for the ideas, don't really want to get rid of the hard cover because it looks great, but DW says it must go as she will no longer help me take it off or put back on. All my neighbors are older than I am and retired so I really can't ask them for help and there are no kids in the neighborhood to pay to do it. The rolling cover looks like a great option.
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Old 06-12-2015, 01:37 AM   #8
WeBeFulltime
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I didn't like the Reese anyway because it was so NOISY (popping, cracking, creaking, etc) so I just sold it and bought a B & W. No more problems handle or otherwise.
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Old 06-12-2015, 02:23 AM   #9
1retired06
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Rondo

I take a short bungee cord with hooks on both ends, hook one end in the handle tube, run the cord under the slide handle base tube and back up and hook the other end of the bungee cord into the handle tube again. It holds the handle down and I can slide the hard rolling cover over it to the tailgate. You do have to remove the rubber tube end. When I'm ready to hook up again, I just unhook the bungee cord and store in under the back seat of the crew cab TV.
that is exactly what we did with our Reese. Recently moved up to a Curt Q24K and handle clears easily without having to do anything.
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Old 06-12-2015, 02:52 AM   #10
vangoes
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I cut the existing handle right behind the first bend and re-drilled the pin hole so the handle sits parallel with hitch head. Cover now clears handle and the handle will also clear the slider handle if you have one.
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Old 06-12-2015, 10:51 AM   #11
richfaa
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Reese hitch with cotter pin in handle. Remove cotter pin, move handle, replace cotter pin. No problems .
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