Reese Revolution pin box

[Witch Doctor]

Well after 4 years, I found the bolt holding my wedge laying in the bed of my truck, it was the back bolt. I took it apart and found that the threads were stripped out. I hooked back up to the non revolution hitch. Now I'm glad I kept my Husky 16K slider. I guess when I take it to the repair shop I will see if they can recut the threads? I have always kept the correct torque on them so I don't know how that could have happened. When I took it apart there is a welded nut in front but threads only cut in less then a 1/8" plate in the rear, I can see part of the threads left on the rear whole. I suggest that everyone check your two bolts if you are using a wedge. If a nut was welded on I can't find it or hear it inside. I guess I'm lucky that I made it home from Goshen, or it just happened backing into my driveway. Just a caution note to everyone....

[OldCoot]

We found out what was wrong with Glenn's wedge bolt. It is my estimation that his wedge bolts were never torqued and the pressure being on the rear bolt came loose and broke the tack welds on the nut and eventually the nut just came off. I got the nut back in place and we re-installed the wedge and TORQUED the bolts to 150lb/ft. This was all due to the dealer not torqueing the wedge bolts in the initial installation.

If you look close to the pictures into the back of the pinbox, you can see the shiny hole where the nut broke loose.

[bob caldwell]

Loose nuts....lug nuts....dipsticks.....slow day on forum!!

[5picker]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

We found out what was wrong with Glenn's wedge bolt. It is my estimation that his wedge bolts were never torqued and the pressure being on the rear bolt came loose and broke the tack welds on the nut and eventually the nut just came off. I got the nut back in place and we re-installed the wedge and TORQUED the bolts to 150lb/ft. This was all due to the dealer not torqueing the wedge bolts in the initial installation.

I'm confused (?) cause Glenn said...

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

I have always kept the correct torque on them so I don't know how that could have happened.

Sure glad you found the nut and it wasn't just thin hitch metal being tapped and holding such a critical mounting bolt.
Also glad no one was hurt!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I'm confused (?) cause Glenn said...



Sure glad you found the nut and it wasn't just thin hitch metal being tapped and holding such a critical mounting bolt.
Also glad no one was hurt!

It's a miracle that he made it home from Goshen, it could have been disastrous if the front bolt had come loose or dropped out also.

[bob caldwell]

How often do these need to be checked?

[5picker]

With all the stress put on that front bolt maybe it's a good idea to replace them both?

[OldCoot]

[QUOTE=5picker;1029705]I'm confused (?) cause Glenn said...
I have always kept the correct torque on them so I don't know how that could have happened....QUOTE]

That's because the bolt was not even there and he didn't see it in the bed of the truck. It probably fell out after his first trip after picking it up from his dealer.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

How often do these need to be checked?

If you have slots, re-torque them before every trip. Slots and lock washers don't mix. I made my own and have holes not slots. I check torque about other trip and they've never come loose.

[5picker]

If they have slots shouldn't there be a flat washer under the lock washer?

[bob caldwell]

Why are the bolt holes slotted in the first place?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

Why are the bolt holes slotted in the first place?

So the wedge has enough 'adjustment' to fit the various hitch plate tapers.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by 5picker

If they have slots shouldn't there be a flat washer under the lock washer?

The best thing to do with the slots is cut a pc of steel and fill the slots front & back and then just use the lock washer. The flat washer over a slot with a lock washer just defeats the design of a lock washer as the flat washer can and does turn under a lock washer. Best thing to use on a slot is a serrated flange bolt like a Whiz bolt.

[5picker]

Or use flat washers like these...

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Or use flat washers like these...

ONLY if they are serrated on both sides.

[bob caldwell]

Is the wedge there to compansate for how the pin mates up to hitch head angle.....height differances of tv's?

[bob caldwell]

The reason I'm ask'n, if that hitch set-up moves the turn radius back what it does, it would improve my situation over my slider, asit only moves back about 7" on a hard turn. Had to do a lot of height chang'n of truck and pin box to stay level....so, to know what I'd be look'n at, I'd to know some ones bed to ground height and bed to level plate height that pin plate sits on.

[leefl]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

Is the wedge there to compansate for how the pin mates up to hitch head angle.....height differances of tv's?

The wedge is there to stop the king-pin, and the entire pin arm (right term ?), from turning in the hitch. The wedge sits right behind the king-pin and slots into the slot in the hitch head (that the king pin goes through when hitching up).
This is so the rotation is at the pin box on the 5th wheel, rather than at the king-pin/hitch
The offset of the sidewinder/revolution moves the rotation point 22" behind the king pin.
In a 6'9" bed, with the truck at 90 deg to the camper (which I've never actually had to do), I have about 9" clearance between the rear of the cab and the front/side of the trailer.

A regular non-slider hitch (like the Reese Titan 16K that I use) is height adjustable (5" height range, over 4 stops, iirc)

P.S. Does anyone know if any of the Reese Airborne Sidewinders (which have the shock absorption of the Airborne, with the rotation offset of the Sidewinder), are compatible with the pin-box of the Rockwood ultralites ?
Reese - 5th Airborne Sidewinder

I'm also wondering if it's worth getting the custom-fit wedge, like this one: -
Reese Titan Wedge!
instead of using the generic one. (I have a Reese Titan 16K hitch)

P.P.S. I keep a large torque wrench (rated to 250lb/ft) under the back seat of my truck, so I can always check and re-torque both the bolts on the revolution, and the bolts on the hitch frame. I visually inspect every trip, but only check torque every couple of trips.

[5picker]

Bob,
As mentioned, the wedge mounts under the pin box and contacts the 'V' in your hitch plate to 'lock' the pin box to the hitch plate. This moves the pivot point from the hitch pin back to a pin point directly under where the pin box typically bolts to the frame of the RV.

The wedge has nothing to do with changing the height of your pin plate or the pin box.
I understand you asking for measurements but with every truck having a slightly different ride height due to spring rate, timbrens, air bags, etc., I'm not sure anyone else's measurements would help.

[bob caldwell]

Your right. ..the pull-right is 17and1/4" above bed, so really depends on heigth or Reese hitch height.