Atwood 5th Wheel Hitch

[Blue74]

I have an Atwood hitch from about 1998 and for the first time it failed to latch. It has two stops or clicks and only the first would hook when I backed the trailer pin into the hitch. The pin did not move the latch far enough to catch the second click by hand we where able to move the latch to the second click and tow the trailer back to Phoenix.

I have searched the web for a manual for the hitch but it appears that Atwood no longer makes 5th wheel hitches other than a mini one. So the idea of replacement parts does not look good.

I have looked on line at Pullrite hitches and they have a kit for mounting plates/arms for a 16,000 or 18,000 lbs hitch. My trailer GVWR is around 12,000 lbs.

Does anyone have a manual for the Atwood hitch or have had the same problem and is there a safe fix for it? I pull this trailer once a year for 225 miles right now.

Thanks Paul

[JIMNLIN]

IMO it may be the old across the bed from wheel wheel to wheel well hitch. My first 5er in '94 came with the brand spanking new across the bed 12k Atwood.
As the pin came in contact with the 1st latch and it closed around the pin the sliding bar didn't slide home all the way do to binding and no proper lube.

I disassembled the jaws and latch system and de burred lubed all the parts. Put it all back together and it worked very smooth for eight years till we sold the trailer and hitch.

I would turn the hitch over and R&R why the second click doesn't work. I have no idea where a manual could be found or even if there was one. Non came with my then new '94 Atwood.

[Blue74]

Thanks for the reply have been out of town working but will do that when I get a chance. Have not had any problems with it before.

Paul