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Old 08-16-2020, 02:45 PM   #1
Alan & Jan
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M.O.C. #25833
Mopar 30K 5th wheel hitch sticks on unhitch-ideas?

Our 2019 Ram 3500 Mopar factory 30K# puck hitch has started sticking when we attempt to unhitch the 5ver. Try as we might, we can't get the lever to release the jaws. We jack the trailer up, down, back, forth and battle to force the release lever to turn the jaws loose. I have lubed things and can find nothing binding. It hitches fine with no issues. Its a pain especially since its only been used less than 2 dozen times since we bought the rig new.

Any ideas welcome!
 
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Old 08-16-2020, 03:25 PM   #2
jsb5717
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I don't know what your locking mechanism looks like but on previous hitches, after setting the landing gear and taking the weight off of the hitch, I would have to back the truck up a smidge to take the pressure off of the jaws so it would open easily.
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Old 08-16-2020, 04:41 PM   #3
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That's the same thing I have to do. Sometimes because of the angle of the truck I have to set the emergency brake after I back up that little bit.
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Old 09-01-2020, 01:59 PM   #4
Alan & Jan
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We finally got to use the 5ver (once, it broke again) and did as you suggested. That little bit of tension to the rear does the trick, thanks guys!
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Old 09-01-2020, 02:19 PM   #5
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Glad to hear it...tricks of the trade!
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Old 09-01-2020, 04:28 PM   #6
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That sucks. You have to outsmart the hitch.
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Old 09-03-2020, 06:09 AM   #7
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Hi,

on light angled spots with a slope I did run into same issues.
Either back or forth movement does the trick.
Lately I found lowering the airbags on my rear axle does the trick as well.

Mike
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Old 09-03-2020, 06:46 AM   #8
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So far my B&W hitch doesn't care what angle I am at. It always hooks and unhooks without issue. There has to be something wrong with this hitch. You should never have to rock the truck back and forth for the jaws to open. On the bright side you don't have to worry about the trailer becoming unhitched.
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Old 09-03-2020, 09:36 PM   #9
rohrmann
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Our Pullrite does the same thing and has since new. Unless my last movement was in reverse, I have to land the front, get in the truck and slightly move in reverse, and then the release operates easy. Like what was said, I’d rather have to do this than worry about the hitch opening too easy.
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Old 09-04-2020, 06:04 AM   #10
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With the B&W you never have to worry about being hooked up or if the jaws will open on there own. Now will stiff brake sure nothing is perfect.
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:53 AM   #11
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On mine, when the jaws won't open, I'll have the wife pull the truck forward while I pull the release lever at the same time. It always works and the jaws let the pin release when we do that.
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Old 09-04-2020, 07:56 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
Our Pullrite does the same thing and has since new. Unless my last movement was in reverse, I have to land the front, get in the truck and slightly move in reverse, and then the release operates easy. Like what was said, I’d rather have to do this than worry about the hitch opening too easy.
I've noticed that with our Pullrite - the previous B&W every now and then was the same
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Old 09-04-2020, 08:03 AM   #13
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I also have to back slightly into my Reese Elite hitch. Don't know about the Mopar factory hitch, but the Reese Elite and Pulrite hitches have a wrap around locking latch that encircles the king pin and that pressure against the latch prevents the latch from rotating to release the pin when the handle is pulled. Simple to solve when you understand the issue.
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Old 09-04-2020, 09:39 AM   #14
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We have the same OEM Mopar hitch (built by Curt by the way). Like you, I found if I made sure the truck was backed against the king pin it will release no problem. The hitch will not release if it has even slight forward pressure. Remember that sometimes the trailer will roll backwards a bit when you put the front jacks down (one reason to keep jack stroke short so you don't put excessive pressure on the jacks and be sure you chock the wheels good).


As others have mentioned that is actually a good thing from a safety perspective.


I really like the hitch a lot. It is very solid although heavy. The puck system leaves a clean bed with no obstructions which allows me to haul lumber and such in the 8' bed. Granted the weight is an issue if I need to remove hitch when my tractor is not readily available.
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Old 09-04-2020, 09:55 AM   #15
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My Comfort Ride Hitch jaws fit so tight I have to make sure there is back pressure on the King Pin before it will release and the same when hitching, need the same back pressure before the locking bar will lock the jaws.
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