Check your Draw-Tite

[Radshooter]

I had a new 20 K Drawtite fiver hitch installed a few weeks ago. We tried to hook up to the trailer for the first time Monday night, and the jaws would not close completely around the kingpin. I lacked about 1/2 inch of being able to push the handle in far enough to latch the hitch. Turns out, the jaws are mis-aligned from the factory. We took it back to the dealer the next morning and he tried to order another head from a store across town. They looked at it before they shipped it, and it too was mis-aligned!!! The dealer says there is another guy in town with the same problem. They are having 3 new heads drop-shipped from Texas. Should be here this afternoon. Apparently something got whacky at the factory and nobody caught it. Good thing we did a test fit because we have to pull out of town for a new contract Friday!!

Hopefully the new head will be a better fit. Will let you know when I can.



This is my first Draw-Tite hitch. Anyone else have problems with them?



Steve

 

[CPG]

Have the 16k on our 04. 5 2500 . This one is very fussy to lock, not like my old RBW. On several occasions I have backed with my 5vr and the jaws have not locked all the way.



One must be very sure that the brass flag is out and the locking holes are both lined up. Otherwise it seems to be a good hitch but not as sure locking that the old one was. Just be sure that both holes are lined up. Will check into this with the dealer soon. These hitches have been out a long time, but not the Signature Series. The Draw/Tite Co. has been in bussiness @ 40 years.



Chuck

 

[Radshooter]

Well, I have to say Kudos to Draw-tite and Croft Trailer Supply in Olathe, KS. The new hitch head got here today and it works much better than the other one did. It is still very tight to get the latch into place as CPG said, but at least it fits and latches. I think it will "wear in" with use. The other hitch was a good half inch shy of latching.



Happy trails y'all



Steve

 

[CPG]

Radshooter, glad you got the problem fixed. They ARE very close around the hitching area, very little if no slack. You will be fine. Happy trailering.



Chuck

 

[surfbeetle]

Drawtite and Reese are one and the same so make sure you guys check Reese as well. I just had my 15k head unit rebuilt. After 8 years, the jaws had a little slack in it. The shop could not order a new bar from the factory so they fabricated one and welded in a sleeve into the receiver part of the head around where the kingpin rests. This took up the slack and all is well again.