Second post - the bad stuff
Ok, so I'm hooked up to my newly elevated 5th wheel trailer that I just picked up from the shop, and I'm heading home. Left turn out of the parking lot into traffic, merge into traffic, and head up the road.
Let me stop you right there....I didn't get into an accident.
I'm driving up a mostly straight highway. Make a right turn into my neighbor, and then a right turn into my drive. Why is it making so much noise when I turn?
Did I mention I can't really see the hitch in the new truck?
I start pulling around in my cul-de-sac and hear a loud BANG! What? I'm looking out the back window when I notice something odd - the Reese Revolution hitch is at an angle, instead of straight back like it's supposed to be.
oh no...
The guys at Magnum had bolted the kingpin arm down so that it didn't pivot so they could move the trailer around with their fork lift. They didn't tell me this, and they didn't remove the bolts.
(For those not familiar with these, look up Reese Sidewinder or Reese Revolution - these 5th wheel arms have wedges that lock them into the hitch reciever, and they pivot back at the trailer, so you can do 90 degree turns with a short bed truck without hitting your cab - nifty invention)
So I ended up warping my hitch, and bending the Revolution underside a bit. The wedge is mangled. Thankfully I had made it home, the trailer hadn't popped off the hitch with the three big turns. I ended up cutting the locking bolts they'd put in off with a saws all, because they were pinched tight in the arm. This freed the arm up to move properly. I had my wife watch as I slowly, carefully pulled the trailer around the cul-del-sac and back into the drive.
Holy. Cow.
Magnum apologized, they'll cover the damages. Trailer and truck are ok.
Pics, of course, because you guys are demanding and like pics:
This is my first view of it...what the heck?
Warped plate
Warped back
Shot of the underside back of the arm, showing the twisted wedge.
Side view
Lesson learned. Never, EVER, will I drop off my trailer for work again and NOT check the arm to make sure it hasn't been pinned. As for the trailer company, they will never ever again pin a Reese hitch a) not tell the customer and b) they'll hang a sign on it stating it's been pinned.
It could have been much much worse, gang. Now I need to get some replacement parts before my upcoming camping trip!