5th wheel hitch sticking

[Cooper2002]

I have an older 20,000 lb Reese pivot hitch. There are times where it simply will not unlock for me. I raise the hitch to the just above plate height and the jaws will not unlock. Lower, nope, higher nope. Twice I have asked for assistance and two kind fellows got it to work. They had me raise the trailer (higher than I thought it should ever go) then with the gear down give a gentle back up. Seems to work. My question is what is this all about why is it hanging up? Is there something that I can do to prevent this situation?

[Jmooney]

Mine is not old, but I frequently have to allow the truck back or forward to release the pressure on the jaws to allow me to pull the release arm.

[wwsmith111]

If there is any pressure in any direction on a fifth wheel it may not release. Even the TV not level with the 5er. Hit it with some grease.

[tinlizzie23]

X2. Particularly if the pressure is against the jaws. I always back the truck after raising the 5er, which puts the pressure on the forward part of the hitch, away from the jaws. My Reese then releases with no problem.

[Ela1948]

Put your legs down and start to raise your 5th wheel but stop before you start taking pressure off your truck. Put your truck in neutral. It should release!! After it has released, now go ahead and raise it up in prep for pulling away!!! The problem is that by raising your lift, you have put tension on the jaws.

[UPCamper]

Just to be clear, it is sticking when you go to unhook? If that is the case, realize it often gets bound up when you jack up the front of the trailer, so as som have suggested you can move the truck slightly forward, or sometimes backward and it will release. But what I find easier, MAKE SURE THE WHEELS ARE CHOCKED and you're jacks are on the groun, is the unlock it before I start to raise the trailer. That allows the pin to move freely during the lift process.

If that situation is not the case, usually a good coating of grease will help.

UPC