Reese 16K slider

[Montana_1472]

When hitching up do you first open the "jaws" and when the kingpin is in push the handle in thereby locking the jaws around the kingpin --or do you drive into the hitch with the jaws closed and allow them to open and then close around the kingpin? I was shown to open first, and have done that along with the safety checks --visual and pull test.

[NJ Hillbilly]

Reese says to releasle the handle lock, keep the jaws closed (handle in) and back into the pin. You can watch the handle slide out then back in. Then gently pull foreward to make sure jaws are around the pin (pull test). I then get out and visually confirm that the jaws are around the pin and in the groove. Then I lock the handle then lift the jacks.

The handle is directly connected to the jaw in the same side and the other is spring shut. Once I was at a cg that I hitched up at a 90 degree angle and the handle went out and back but the one jaw (the opposite side of the handle) was not engaged. I backed a little more and it locked. Just check and double check and You will be fine.

John

[Montana_1472]

John,
Thank you very much for your reply and help. The "closed jaws" hookup actually happened once and I thought that I had damaged the hitch. I opened and unhitched --then did it again. You are correct that Reese has a tag instructing the way you described. I also always do the safety checks as you said. Thanks again to you and this forum.

[sreigle]

I do it same as John.

John, that's interesting about it not locking at an extreme angle. I wonder how many of those who dropped trailer on truck hitched up at a severe angle. Might be worth watching for. Thanks.