hitch is moving up and down 5th wheel on trailer

[TFlesner]

My 5th wheel hitch is moving up and down. I my have over loaded it when I was backing my jeep off the trailer I was towing behind the trailer.

The weight transfered to the hitch when the jeep was backing off.

Has anyone ever had to fix this problem. The trailer is a Montana 29 ft. unit.

I will be tearing into it next week and will fix it, but some info sure would help so I'm not going at this totally blind.

 

[Slow Six]

Are you talking about the fifth wheel hitch in the truck bed or the pin box on the trailer? Some pin boxes have up and down movement for shock absorption but if it is a fixed pin box than I'd say you have loose hardware or a break.

 

[TFlesner]

It is the pin box on the trailer. The front part of the pin box stays in the same place but the back part is what is moving. When the front ( where the pin is ) goes up the back drops.

I will be cutting back the cover to inspect, so I can see where the failure is at. I hope to be able to make it stronger with out to much trouble but I have never seen how it all is built under there.

 

[HBarlow]

I'd like to help you but we don't have enough information to understand what you are seeing.

 

[RCorbeil]

It is normal for the pin box to flex about 1" up and downbut if more than that better have a look see.



Ron

 

[HBarlow]

I have never seen a hitch flexing an inch.

I would bet the original poster has a stress broken frame or king pin box.

 

[mwilson]

I wouldn't tow that thing another foot until I took all the pretty covers and panels down so I could see what is going on in there... ... ... .



Mike.

 

[Ram4Sam]

It is normal for the pin box to flex about 1" up and downbut if more than that better have a look see.



Ron

Say what?? is this where the Lippert frame bashing starts..... ?



Sam

 

[jimdl]

I had something like that happen to an older(93) Hitchiker . The wood frame in the front section had rotted out and broke loose, letting the hitch appear to be moving when the actual problem was the entire front end was moving. Good luck!

 

[RonD]

Keystone has had some problems with what you have, I can tell you right now you have cracked welds in the rails, contact Keystone and find a shop who has done them before, also if you go to the Montana Owners Forum you will be able to get more information, the fix requires pulling the front cap, not a do it yourself repair,

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have never seen a hitch flexing an inch.



I would bet the original poster has a stress broken frame or king pin box.

What Barlow said...

 

[HBarlow]

Say what?? is this where the Lippert frame bashing starts..... ?

Sam

No, of course not. We won't say a word about the poor quality of Lippert frames.

Lippert frame owners don't like reading that their trailers are built on flimsy frames prone to failure.

 

[TFlesner]

I have Goggled the problem and it seem that I am not the first with this problem. I did find someone that had a repair done by someone on the road that must of just bought his stick welder the day before then called himself a welder. Bob and Gob must of been his teacher.

The gentleman posted a few pictures ( before, during, and after ) which seem to be what my problem might be.

I will be getting into it this weekend. If it is over my head I may look elsewhere for a better welder. I do think I can handle most everyting because I have built several typs of trailers, truck beds, street rods, and I've been welding for 40 years for myself.

I will keep you posted on my progress. Thanks for your input.

 

[RCorbeil]

Not the hitch, the pin box.

 

[TLane]

... Bob and Gob must of been his teacher.

...

I learned to weld by watching Star Wars! :-laf



(If you don't get it, have a welder watch the movie where repairs are being made to the Millennium Falcon and he can explain it to you).

 

[DGamelin]

How about some pictures.

 

[TFlesner]

Well, R. Corbeil was correct. Before I got to far into the fix I called a recommended tech from a friend that works at a RV sales that sells Montana's.

He said, that the flex is normal. If the fiberglass on the front of the trailer gets cracked the more than likely is a problem. Mine only flexed 5/8 to 3/4 of an inch, which is normal.

I measured by putting a piece of pipe over the pin and on a floor jack. Lifting it up till it came off the landing gear.

I would of never seen the movement if I had not put a leveling gauge close to the fiberglass on the hitch assembly. I wanted it to be a clean instalation. It sure made me over react, but better safe than sorry.

Thanks you for everyone's input and hope this helps someone else. Todd

 

[Jetson]

There is 1x1" box steel spot welded to the side rails of the 5th wheel section of the trailer on the older Montanas. The side walls of the camper are supported by this 1x1. If you go inside the front of the camper before unhooking from the truck, you may find separation in the cabinets and trim if some of those welds have broken.

 

[surfbeetle]

KeystoneRV.org



Unless it's under warranty, from what I read over on this site, there's not too much hope it will be resolved on Keystone's dime.

 

[HBarlow]

With an unapproved hitch installed on the rear of the OP's trailer and a history of towing a Jeep behind the fifthwheel warranty coverage is unlikely even if the trailer is still technically under warranty.