CPC
San Fernando Valley, USA
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A week or so ago I posted about my friend helping me to change a tire and install my hitch in the truck. Well, when he installed the hitch (it's a Reese 16K which mounts on two rails mounted in the truck bed) he installed the holding pins on the front rail backwards from what I normally do. This made it impossible to put my locks on the pins. Since I did not have these locks for the first 2-3 years I had the 5er I did'nt worry about it (bad decision). We started the trip and everything seemed O.K. until we decided to stop for lunch in Bakersfield. We pulled off the ramp and, at the bottom, when we started to merge with the traffic I felt the 5er sway/lean considerabley and there was a loud thumping noise. We pulled into the parking lot (at In and Out of course) and looked at the hitch and found the front pins (the ones I didn't bother to reinsert and lock) had come out and the front end of the hitch had come out of the mounting rail. At first it looked like the hitch had become warped and we could not get it reinstalled. I had to drop the trailer, dismantle the hitch and reinstall it. I couldn't get it to sit in the rail properly. I hooked up the trailer thinking that the hitch weight would force the hitch down into the rail....but it didn't. I finally gave my son a 3# hammer and told him to pound on the hitch to force it into position. That worked! By this time I was sweating like a... well let's just say that I was very, very hot and my back was hurting. I got in the truck and pulled around the corner to get gas and ran over something that blew my tire out (the one that my friend had switched for the spare). So I asked the gas station attendent if he could help me since I couldn't lift anything. He changed the tire and wouldn't take any payment for it. So if you're on hwy 99 heading into Bakersfield and you have to stop for gas. I reccomend the Texaco station that is next to the In and Out and across from Camping World. Very, very nice gentleman works there.
P.S. The rest of the trip went with out a hitch (pun intended). 
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sdagro
Independence,LA
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I can't beleive you've been mounting hitch that way for that long and it hasn't come loose before now. I'm not one to be critical of someone else's action but this was a dumb move, however luck prevailed. There are too many things that can go wrong that you can't control, I'll be damned if I'll leave anything to chance. Guess you can look at this as a learning experience and luckily not much damage. Could have been a disaster. JMOA Steve A. Dagro
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newsomer
Seven Miles South of the Cheddar Curtain
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Don't bother buying any lottery tickets for a while, you've used up a good amount of luck.
Glad to hear it turned out well though.
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Jrebhun
Western Pa
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Could you explain further how the pins could be inserted backwards. I have a Reese 16K as well and I'm concerned that I could be setting the pins wrong. And when you say "locks" for the pins, do you mean the heavy wire fasteners that push on the end of the pins? Thanks
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texasjayco
Texas Hill Country - west of Austin
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sdagro wrote:I can't beleive you've been mounting hitch that way for that long and it hasn't come loose before now. I'm not one to be critical of someone else's action but this was a dumb move, however luck prevailed. There are too many things that can go wrong that you can't control, I'll be damned if I'll leave anything to chance. Guess you can look at this as a learning experience and luckily not much damage. Could have been a disaster. JMOA Steve A. Dagro
That will make someone want to post their experiences here!! 
I'm glad to hear that you or nobody else got hurt.
We live and learn. Sometimes literally!!
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yardsale1
Orange County, California
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It sounds like the pins that mount the hitch to the hitch rails were inserted, but not clipped in. Personally, I always put zip ties or safety wire on the clips after I put them on the pins. I do the same with a pull hitch. I dont use locking hitch pins, I do not trust the lock to not fail while towing.
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donawilcox
Taylor TX
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Could you explain further how the pins could be inserted backwards. I have a Reese 16K as well and I'm concerned that I could be setting the pins wrong. And when you say "locks" for the pins, do you mean the heavy wire fasteners that push on the end of the pins? Thanks
As stated above. I would like to hear which way. I always have put pins in from on the inside to out and use the wire lock on the end. I typicall have to tap out with a hammer so what is the difference and any one suggest a better locking pin.
Don Wilcox
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ezrider6298
Conyers, Ga. Rockdale
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Describe what you mean by "backwards". I have the same hitch/rails, and I can't see where it would make a difference which way the pin was placed, from front to rear or rear to front, as long as the proper retaining clip was used, UNLESS you have a slider hitch, (I do), and you place the pins from front to rear, and if you move the slider to the rear position, then there is a possibility that the slider could hit the retainer clip knocking them off of the pin, allowing it to work loose.
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CPC
San Fernando Valley, USA
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I guess that I could have been a little clearer in my description. First of all let me explain that when I bought the hitch it did not come with any clips for the ends of the pins, and being the observant fool that I am I never gave it a thought. I bought some luggage locks that fit in the grooves of the pins. I bought the locks because I read (in this forum) about people having their pins pulled out as a prank and I did not want that to happen to me. When I say the pins were in backwards, I meant that I could not put the locks on because the end with the groove was under the hitch and I could not easily reach them. When the grooved ends point toward the front of the truck for the front pins and toward the rear for the rear pins it is easy to clip on the locks. In hindsight (I have great hindsight by the way) I should have noticed the grooves in the pins and went back to the dealer and asked where the locking devices were. We were indeed lucky, the trailer could have broken loose or we could have rolled over since I was executing a sharp turn at the time.
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KSadler1
Albuquerque, NM
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CPC wrote:I bought some luggage locks that fit in the grooves of the pins. I bought the locks because I read (in this forum) about people having their pins pulled out as a prank and I did not want that to happen to me.
Actually, I don't think they meant that the pins for the base of the hitch were pulled. I think they were talking about the locking jaws arm being pulled so the 5er would fall when pulling away. As far as what you are talking about, I don't think it makes a difference how the pins are inserted as long as you have safety clips or locks on them. My pins do have to be installed a certain way because I have a Reese 16k slider and it will not lock forward if the pins are installed wrong. The slotted ends have to be sticking out on all sides just like yours need to be in order to lock them.
I'm guessing that you didnt have safety clips or locks on yours at all, correct? If that's the case, you were very fortunate. Glad everything came out okay.....
Ken
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