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RoyF · 11-28-2021, 02:59 PM

I have just purchased a new Reese 5th-wheel hitch on my 2021 Ford F350 with puck system. I have not yet tried to hitch the trailer because I don't want to screw up.

With the arm pulled out, the jaw remains in the closed position. (Hitches that I have used in the past all had the jaw in open position.) When the kingpin comes in contact with the jaw while backing slowly, I hope that pressure of the kingpin will open the jaw.

My real question is about unhitching. The instructions say to pull the arm out to the click position and then rotate it toward the truck. By playing with the hitch, I see that rotation of the arm opens the jaw. OK, so far. But the arm does not want to remain in the rotated position, so the jaw closes again.

Even though the jaw is closed, the instructions say that the trailer is now unhitched. Will the jaws open to release the kingpin when I drive forward? That's what I to know before I try hitching up.

Old-Biscuit · 11-28-2021, 10:19 PM

What Model is this Reese Hitch?

Unhitching.....Arm should move to unhitch position and remain there until returned to hitched position

Wileykid · 11-29-2021, 07:13 AM

There is a tab that you can see from the bottom of the hitch that is spring loaded and is depressed by the kingpin. If you press that in, hold it like you were hooked up, and pull the lever to the rear at the same time, it will lock the lever to the rear, and lock the jaw open. It is the same tab that you need to press to get the handle to retract if you pulled the handle, and wanted it to retract without the trailer. Without depressing that tab (simulating the kingpin is in the jaw), it will not lock to the rear like what is happening to you.

As long as you pull the lever out (and it stays out), the kingpin will push the jaw open when you back the trailer to it. When the pin is in, the jaw automatically close around it, and the lever will retract to the closed position, locking the jaw closed. After that, you just need to put the safety pin in. I usually can hear the jaw and the lever close with a good "clunk" sound.

I have a Reese M5 20K hitch

RoyF · 11-29-2021, 04:28 PM

from the OP:
Thanks for the good answers. The hitch is a Reese 30892.

I have now hitched and unhitched successfully. When unhitching, I see that pressure of the kingpin on the hitch will hold the arm in the rotated position and the jaws remain open until I drive forward.

This is quite different from any hitch that I have used before, and I like it.