What type of receiver (hitch) can I use with my vehicle?

Use the chart below to determine which class of hitch you can use with your vehicle. The capabilities of each class are defined in the following question. For a better understanding of exactly what you can tow with your vehicle please read Selecting the Right Hitch, under Towing Tips in the Info section.

		Compact Cars		Mid-Size Cars		Full-Size Cars, Mini-Trucks & Vans		Full-Size Trucks, Vans & SUVs
Class I		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes
Class II		No		Yes		Yes		Yes
Class III		No		No		Yes		Yes
Class IV		No		No		Yes		Yes
Class V		No		No		No		Yes

What are the different types or classes of receivers (hitches)?

The chart below shows the major class differences:

Receiver Class		Receiver Type		Tongue Weight		Gross Towing Weight
Class I		Weight Carrying Only		Up to 200 lbs.		Up to 2,000 lbs.
Class II		Weight Carrying Only		Up to 350 lbs.		Up to 3,500 lbs.
Class III		Weight Carrying Only		Up to 500 lbs.		Up to 5,000 lbs.
Class IV		Weight Carrying Weight Distributing		Up to 1,200 lbs. Up to 1,500 lbs.		Up to 12,000 lbs. Up to 15,000 lbs.
Class V		Weight Carrying Weight Distributing		Up to 1,300 lbs. Up to 1,700 lbs.		Up to 13,000 lbs. Up to 17,000 lbs.

What capacity can I pull with my vehicle?

Different vehicles have different towing ratings or capacities. Please refer to your vehicle owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer to find your vehicle's capacity.

When do I need to use weight distributing? / What is weight distributing?

Anytime you are above the Weight Carrying (WC) rating of your Class III/IV Receiver or you want to improve the ride quality and "towability" of your tow vehicle and trailer combination.

What is the difference between a Class III and a Class IV?

Class III receivers are rated for up to 5,000 lbs. total trailer weight and up to 500 lbs. tongue weight. The Class III receivers are weight carrying only. Class IV receivers are rated for up to 15,000 lbs. total trailer weight and up to 1,500 lbs. tongue weight when using weight distribution.

Can I tow with a short bed? / What is a Kwik-Slide?

If a short bed pickup (less than 8 ft. but longer than 6 ft.) is to be used for towing, Reese recommends the trailer be equipped with an extended pin box to help gain additional truck - trailer turning clearance (See trailer manufacturer for options). It also may be helpful to add a Reese Kwik-Slide (Part # 30048) for increased turning clearance for low speed, non-highway maneuvering. Long bed tow vehicles are generally recommended to pull fifth wheel trailers.

Where should I position the hitch in the bed?

Specific instructions for most commonly used vehicles are included. If these instructions do not apply to your vehicle, be sure that all four corners are tied to the vehicle frame. Each frame bracket must be bolted to the vehicle frame with two bolts, unless optional weld is used. These instructions are guidelines only, actual installation is the responsibility of the installer and the owner. Always measure truck and trailer before installing hitch to be sure that there is clearance at the cab and at the bumper to allow for turns.

Reese has provided complete instructions with every base rail and installation kit to act as a guideline for the installation. The instructions included in the rail and installation kit provide you with the exact location to provide for the correct amount of turning clearance. Reese recommends a minimum of 52" clearance from the center of the hitch to the rear of the cab. This can be achieved on a normal long bed truck (8' bed). These positions are all based on a normal eight foot wide trailer. Short bed trucks will not be able to maintain the 52" clearance and can pull only trailers with the minimum 13.5" extended pin box.

Can I install over a bed liner?

Do not install mounting rails over plastic bed liners. Plastic bed liners must be cut out of the way. Base rails may be installed on spray in liner. Note: Consult installer for recommended curing time.

What is the largest size trailer I can tow with my truck?

Trailer and its contents together must not exceed truck, hitch and/or trailer tow ratings. Towing vehicle must have a manufacturer's rated towing capacity equal to or greater than the gross trailer weight (dry weight of the trailer plus payload of the trailer).

What kind of maintenance needs to be done to the 5th Wheel Hitch?

1. Lubricate skid plate surface of the hitch with automotive type chassis grease or use a plastic lube plate to provide a lubricated surface. Use white lithium spray lube or engine oil to lubricate pivot points of moving parts within the hitch.



2. Plastic lube plates can be used to avoid messy grease. The plastic lube plate must not exceed 3/16 of an inch in thickness to ensure hitch will operate properly. Lube plates must be 10 inches in diameter or larger to properly distribute king pin weight.



3. Before each trip or maneuver, operate the handle and check that the jaws open and close freely.



4. See that all hitch pull pins are in place and the spring retaining pins are installed.



5. Recheck tightness of all hardware every 1000 miles of use.



6. Lubrication to the hitch is essential to provide for a good long service life. Any pivoting point inside the head should be lubricated with a white lithium spray lube. The pivoting points outside the head need to be lubricated with a high pressure lube, such as 80/90 gear lube or grease. Reese offers the high pressure lube. This will allow for easier operation of the hitch. The skid plate can use either grease or a minimum of a 10" lube plate. When lubricating you should always remove the old lubricant to remove any road grim that has collected to prevent excessive wearing of components. All hardware should be inspected and torqued periodically per the recommended torque specification in the instruction manual.

Why do I need side to side tilt?

The side to side tilt will assist you in hooking up and unhooking on mildly unlevel ground. This will also provide a smoother ride with less stress to the ruck and trailer.

Is it better to weld the brackets to the frame or bolt them?

Be sure that all four corners are tied to the vehicle frame. Each frame bracket must be bolted to the vehicle frame with two bolts, unless optional weld is used. These instructions are guidelines only, actual installation is the responsibility of the installer and the owner.

Either way is acceptable. If the you choose to have the brackets welded to the frame, Reese requires the brackets to be welded by a certified welder. When bolting the brackets to the frame, you will need to install two bolts per bracket to the side of the frame to prevent any movement. Please refer to the vehicle's owners manual before welding to any frame.

What is a lube plate or a slip disk?

Plastic lube plates can be used to avoid messy grease. The plastic lube plate must not exceed 3/16 of an inch in thickness to ensure hitch will operate properly. Lube plates must be 10 inches in diameter or larger to properly distribute king pin weight.

Lube plate, provides a greaseless lubricant between the skid plates of the fifth wheel hitch and the pin box. When using a lube plate it should be a minimum of a ten inch diameter to prevent any damage from occurring to the hitch.

What kind of lubricant should I use?

Use white lithium spray lube or engine oil to lubricate pivot points of moving parts within the hitch. The pivoting points inside the hitch head should be lubricated with a white lithium spray lube. You will also want to lubricate the length of the interior handle and the coils of the springs. This will allow for easier operation of hitch. The pivoting points outside should be lubricated with a high pressure lubricant such as a 80/90 gear lube or a grease. Which ever lubricant you use, you will want to remove and clean the old lubricant before applying new. These steps will help to provide many years of service to your hitch.

What is an extended pin box?

The extended pin boxes are measured from the center of the pin box on the overhang of the trailer to the center of the kingpin.

How do I attach safety chains to the Reese Goose?

When safety chains are used, place chain link in slot and install additional pull pins (not furnished) and lock in place with spring cotter pins (not furnished).

What is weight distributing, and how does it work?

Weight distributing hitches apply leverage between the towing vehicle and trailer causing the TW to be carried by all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. When TW is distributed in this way, trailers with greater TWs can be towed, resulting in a more level ride which reduces stress on the rear of the tow vehicle and provides greater steering and brake control.

What size weight distributing do I need?

Weight distributing is based on the amount of loaded tongue weight the trailer has. To purchase the correct size weight distributing hitch (WDH), you will need to first load the trailer as you would tow it down the road and then have the tongue weighed. You can weigh the trailer tongue by using a bathroom scale or taking it to your trailer dealer to have the tongue placed on a tongue scale.

What type of sway control can I use?

There are two popular methods of sway control. The older, more common form of sway control is a friction device called Friction Sway Control.

A more contemporary approach is the Reese developed device controlled by cam action. Known as Dual Cam Sway Control, it is an innovative and effective technique to help control trailer sway before it starts.

What kind of maintenance do I need to do to the weight distributing hitch
WDH and sway controls?

Lubricate the ballmount sockets and spring bar trunnions to prevent rapid wear. When hooking-up, place one drop of oil on the top and a second drop on forward side of upper trunnion. Place a third drop on the rear side of lower trunnion before inserting trunnion into ballmount. Use a heavy oil such as "REESE ON THE BALL". Don't forget to lubricate the hitch ball with one or two drops also. Trunnion should be lubricated each towing day. It is not necessary to unhook the spring bars however, as there are two oil holes in the ballmount top plate for upper trunnion lubrication. Lubricate lower trunnions with one drop at contact point between trunnion and lower socket. Excess oil, dirt, and grit should be wiped out whenever trailer is uncoupled.

Can I grease the Dual Cam Sway Control (DCSC)?

Do not grease the cam and cam arms. The Dual Cam was designed to use metal-to-metal friction. Heavy greasing of the cam and cam arm surfaces with affect performance. If noise is offensive, a very light coating of lubricant, such as Vaseline, may be used. Tongue weights over 1,200 lbs. may require a light coating of grease to reduce friction and prevent excessive wear. The Dual Cam Sway Control DCSC is not to be lubricated on the cam arms when the tongue weight is under 1,200 lbs. Instead you will want to apply a thin coat of a petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline. This will act as a poor lubricant, but works well to dampen the sound. For trailers with over 1,200 lbs. tongue weight you should apply a couple of drops of an 80/90 gear lube to the cam arm to prevent excessive wear caused by the increased tongue weight.