Reese Signature Series 5'er hitch opinions.

[HookMeUp]

I am looking at getting a reese signature series 18K hitch. Is this fairly easy to install? Does it engage into the holes in the bed fairly easily? Anyone having one of these, I would surely like to know your experience with it.



Thanks

 

[EZeis]

I have the 18K Reese Signature hitch. I went with the clamp on mounting hardware. I installed mine myself. It wasn't too bad of a job. You can't use the prick bolt on the front left hole due to the fuel tank. At least so on my long bed reg. cab truck. Once the hitch is adjusted, it goes in and comes out easy. You can read the install instructions on the Reese site to see if you can handle the job or not.



I had to buy a cheap 15/16" socket and grind it down so it would fit between the wheel-well and the rail bolts to be able to torque them. I used a hole saw to drill the holes. I took the teeth off the hole saw and had to buy another hole saw. I believe I had the drill going too fast. Also a drill with a side handle helps you control it better. Let the drill and hole saw do the work and don't try to get in a rush. I also recommend you lock the hitch into the pucks before you torque the rail bolts. I had trouble with the front rail tilting when I torqued it and caused the pucks to not be level and the hitch wouldn't set in them correctly.

I drilled my holes and then had my line-x sprayed in to seal the metal from rusting.

Note, if you use a lube plate, you'll need to get the signature lube plate. I believe it's 12" and the standard ones are 10"



It's a great hitch. Since there are only two hitch pins (they hold the head to the center section) the hitch doesn't bang, snap, and such during towing as the rail set-ups do which use 4 to 6 hitch pins. The head is spring loaded, so it doesn't move back and forth while driving without the trailer. But it will rock side to side and bang. I use a short bungee cord to prevent it from rocking.



Earl

 

[HookMeUp]

Thanks Earl. I should be able to handle the install. I have heard a few comments about the jaws not locking fully around the pin on the trailer, any problems like this?

 

[EZeis]

No, no problems with the hitch latching. Make sure you buy a can of spray lithium grease to lube areas they show you to. Make sure you spray lube the jaw linkage on the underside of the head. Then use chassis grease on the kingpin and on the jaw. Every time I back into my trailer, it fully latches on it's own. I do a visual check and a pull test as well. I think the 1st time you use the hitch, the latching system is a bit snug.



If you haven't bought your hitch yet, be sure to shop around. These hitches have a huge range on prices from place to place. The cheapest place including shipping was HitchFinder.com > Offering the worlds best selling hitches DrawTite Hitches. Also the same company has Reese-Hitches.com > America's most recognized Hitch! and DrawTite-Hitches.com sites. Trailer hitch, hitches and bike rack (800)298-8924 has good prices too, but hitchfinder was the cheapest even with higher shipping then etrailer at the time I bought mine. I paid $996. 39 for shipping, hitch (30847), mounting kit (30074), the correct lube plate (83001), and the plug and play 7-way 5th wheel harness (20111).



I couldn't mount the 7-way where they show you in the install instructions due to not having enough depth space. Also I don't like a 7-way at the end of the bed. So I put mine just above the well-wheel on that flat embossment. I can access my 7-way with the trailer hitched up without putting my body between the truck and trailer or trying to reach up and around the tailgate. I can send you pics of the 7-way if you'd like.



Earl

 

[EZeis]

Just noticed you have a 2002 truck. You'd need mounting kit 30069 which is drill install to the frame. The 30074 kit is drill or clamp and is for the 03 to 07 trucks and 02 1500 trucks. The 30069 kit is cheaper as well. The 30069 kit fits 1994-2002 2500/3500 trucks.



Earl

 

[Bertram65]

I put a 18k signature series in my '03, here is the thread with a couple pictures, https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-forum/110068-reese-signature-series-18k.html

FYI there is only 1 jaw on the signature series that wraps around the pin, I think when people talk about the jaws not closing on Reese hitches they are talking about Reese's lower line of hitches that have two jaws that come together around the pin.

 

[CUMMINZ]

24k signature

I put a 24k Signature on my 06' 3500. I questioned installer why the frame mount was marked 16k. I contacted Reese about it. They said it was OK. When I purchased my 07. 5' I had installer order a new frame mount. It was much heavier and was "no drill". Even though it was installed correctly it has a little movement. I will have to fix that. Other than that it is a great hitch. :-laf