Reese sidewinder pin box caution alert

[Brim1162]

Have had my unit in several times for warranty work and dealer has been awesome recently "today" I picked up our flagstaff fifth wheel after some minor repairs hooked up and left couple miles down road felt unusual pop and noise looked back every thing looked ok got home disconnected and the Reese wedge was laying in pick up bed and the fifth wheel head was bent to hell. Dealer forgot to take out pin lock bolts before they delivered to me,,,,Argggg I have never thought to check this before as one it's never happened and two there's a permanent red sticker to advise the dealers techs to know its a pivoting pin I now know what to look for after every dealer visit thank the lord they owned up and replace my whole fifth wheel and rails and pin box no cost to me,,, never get complacent


Brim & Dee Cary
Arlington Texas
Flagstaff 8528IKWS
GMC 2500

[weldon182]

Hey Brim1162 I have ordered a sidewinder airborne on our new Wildcat because I have a RAM with the rambox and you must use one or it will hit the bed rails. We have our PDI at the end of this month so I haven't seen it yet. Could you post a picture of what you are talking about. Sorry to hear about your damage.


Robert
2012 RAM 3500 Cummins
Laramie Longhorn w/rambox
2015 Wildcat 317RL

[5picker]

Weldon,

>>Revolution<<

Here is a video that explains the Revolution wedge and lock out bolts.

[5er_tom]

Happened to me in MI couple of years ago. Dealer had to come out and tow the fiver back to his shop to repair the pin box. Next day I drove TV to his shop and he replaced the Reese hitch.
All repairs at his cost. Something one needs to always be aware of with the Sidewinder/Revolution pin box.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Brim1162]

Brim & Dee Cary
Arlington Texas
Flagstaff 8528IKWS
GMC 2500

[Brim1162]

The last photo shows the lock out bolts that should not be there


Brim & Dee Cary
Arlington Texas
Flagstaff 8528IKWS
GMC 2500

[Brim1162]

Thanks Weldon for sharing that video


Brim & Dee Cary
Arlington Texas
Flagstaff 8528IKWS
GMC 2500

[weldon182]

Man Brim thanks for showing hate to see that happen. 5picker shared the video. I think that will stick with me as part of the pre trip. Thanks for sharing everyone.


Robert
2012 RAM 3500 Cummins
Laramie Longhorn w/rambox
2015 Wildcat 317RL

[5er_tom]

There is old old thread on this subject, hopefully still available, from July 2014. Has pictures of my "event". It is under this topic.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[5er_tom]

Don't Let This Happen to You!
Had the 5th wheel at an RV shop for 3 days for some service. Apparently when they moved the trailer with their forklift, the driver noticed the hitch was turning under the trailer, as well as at the king pin. So, what does he do? He got two bolts and locked the Reese Revolution Hitch. He did not bother to tell anyone as he thought it was the right thing to do. (The bolts must have falled out!)

Now I come along, hook up the 5th wheel, do the pull test, and off I go. When backing down the driveway where we are staying, and starting to make the hard turn, BANG! Very loud noises. WTF???

No wonder, as the hitch did not turn at either the king pin or under the trailer. I am suprised I did not have more trouble towing it the 10 miles out here.

I was able to unhitch the 5th wheel and drive the truck back to the dealer as I had no idea what the problem was. I was sure the hitch failed in some manner. WRONG.

So, the RV shop is coming out here to take the 5th wheel to their shop and repair the Revolution Hitch. Tomorrow I get to take the truck to the dealer for a new Reese Hitch. All at no cost to me - as it should be.

Be sure to tell RV shops about your Revolution hitch so they don't do the same thing to your unit. It was not fun.
Attached Thumbnails

__________________
Tom & Renée
Durham, NC

2015 Wildcat 295RSX
2012 Ford F-250, 4x4, 6.7 Liter Diesel

[weldon182]

Wow Tom that's awful. Stopped to check on ours at the dealer yesterday sure enough has lock out bolts in it. Will make sure to check every time now. Thanks


Robert
2012 RAM 3500 Cummins
Laramie Longhorn w/rambox
2015 Wildcat 317RL

[dlwalker]

That is why I have all my work done at the same place, every time. Its where I bought my 5th wheel, where my hitch was installed in my 2015 F150 w ecobost. They managed to screw up the bed plug, and I got an 85.00 store credit for that, it's where I am currently parked at having some warranty work done. Well the work is done we think but have to make sure with warranty that there is nothing else. Still waiting on the cabinet replacement to come in.. but that is another story all together.

[OldCoot]

Dealer's techs are human also, we all make mistakes, it is unfortunate that you had to experience the damage, but Thank God no one was hurt. We all have to be a little more vigilant about checking and re-checking things we do and have done to our campers.

[Brim1162]

Well I have a way to help remind me to always check for that set of lock bolts now when I leave it at the dealer this idea came to me from my days in the Air Force 😎


Brim & Dee Cary
Arlington Texas
Flagstaff 8528IKWS
GMC 2500