My Reese 20K does the same. I'll install your spring idea ASAP. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by RustyJC:
In our case, Sandy is too short to reach over the side of the bed to tilt the hitch back.

Me, too, unless I use the step stool! Earl tilts the hitch back before he gets in the truck and starts backing up.

quote:

Originally posted by LindaH:
Earl tilts the hitch back before he gets in the truck and starts backing up.

It sounds like the difference may be that your hitch will stay in that position. Mine won't - it immediately flops forward when I take my hand off. Thus, the requirement for the spring to hold the rear of the hitch down during the hitching process.

Rusty

I've found mine varies depending on how much grease is on the hitch fore/aft pivot.

Usually it will stay tipped back, until you put the handle in the Unlocked position, and that changes the balance enough to be a problem.

Since I often hook up without having an assistant around, I would often loop a bungee cord under the base of the hitch and through it's self, then slip the hooks over the rear part of the head.

I thought about either welding on a weight to the rear of the head, or adding a spring, too...


Also, if you use one of those plastic lube-plates, trying to couple with the hitch tipped forward can munch it...

quote:

Originally posted by RustyJC:
It sounds like the difference may be that your hitch will stay in that position. Mine won't - it immediately flops forward when I take my hand off.

OK, *now* I understand the problem! Yes, our hitch does stay in place while Earl is backing the truck up.

I have the same issue with the hitch leaning forward. I took one of the kids water noodles (the long round tubes they float on), cut a 10" piece and I shove it between the hitch and base, forcing the hitch head to lean back. When hitched, I remove the noodle piece and place it inside of the base. Works fine.

When I first got the 5er, I did munch a lube plate by not tilting the hitch head far enough back.