Community Forums

PennyPA · 10-16-2005, 07:39 AM

Well, after reading about the Reese hitches coming "unhitched" and then the comments about greasing, etc., I guess I'd better ask just what should I be doing to make sure my Reese keeps on holdin'. I DO use the padlock (that's where my breakaway loop is connected) and I painted the outer edge of the jaws AND the back edge of my kingpin pin so it's quite obvious when I'm properly hitched. But, what do I grease, oil, lube, sand, paint, etc. and when and how often?

PennyPA · 10-16-2005, 07:39 AM

Well, after reading about the Reese hitches coming "unhitched" and then the comments about greasing, etc., I guess I'd better ask just what should I be doing to make sure my Reese keeps on holdin'. I DO use the padlock (that's where my breakaway loop is connected) and I painted the outer edge of the jaws AND the back edge of my kingpin pin so it's quite obvious when I'm properly hitched. But, what do I grease, oil, lube, sand, paint, etc. and when and how often?

Half Dimes · 10-16-2005, 07:45 AM

Penny,
Go to the Reese website, http://www.reeseprod.com and look for your hitch. You can download the full instruction manual there.

Dave
2002 Titanium 32E37DS

PennyPA · 10-16-2005, 08:21 AM

Thank you, Dave. I shall do.

Moby Bill · 10-17-2005, 04:41 PM

If you have the 16k rocker hitch most of us use, pull the big pin and lift off the head. Turn it over and you will see all the moving parts that hinge. Inspect for rust and clean them. Check that the slip on washers at the hinge points are not corroded and turn freely. Then lube liberally with a good grease such as white lithium or an axle grease that will last. I do that twice a year, spring and fall since. My manual calls for lubing all the moving parts with oil before each trip. I guess that would be better, but cinsidering how hard they are to access I do as above. I neglected mine for a while and learned the hard way. Bill

PennyPA · 10-17-2005, 05:13 PM

Sounds logical. Uh, by "big pin", are we talking about the one that we pull to open the jaws? On the driver's side? If so, how do we get that out?

Moby Bill · 10-19-2005, 11:11 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PennyPA:
Sounds logical. Uh, by "big pin", are we talking about the one that we pull to open the jaws? On the driver's side? If so, how do we get that out? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm talking about the one that hold the whole top portion fo the hitch to the base. The one that lets the hitch rock back and forth sideways. It is below the jaws and is about an inch in diameter. Pulling it out lets you lift the whole top half of the hitch off the base so you can get easy access to the moving parts.