Reese 30081 User Manual

INSTRUCTION & OPERATION MANUAL

You can take it with you.

20K - Fifth Wheel Hitch

DEALER/INSTALLER:

(1) Provide this Manual to end user. (2) Physically demonstrate hitching and unhitching

procedures in this Manual to end user.

(3) Have end user demonstrate that he/she

understands procedures.

HANDLE

RAMP

END USER:

(1) Read and follow this Manual every time you use hitch. (2) Save this Manual and Hitch Warning Hang Tag for future reference. (3) Pass on copies of Manual and Hitch Warning Hang Tag to any other

user or owner of hitch.

(4) Never remove hitch warning decals as shown on the cover of this

manual. If damaged, contact Cequent Performance Products (1-

800-632-3290) for free replacement.

JAW TO HOLD KING PIN

SKID PLATE

HEAD ASSEMBLY

CENTER SECTION

SIDE BRACKETS

WARNING:

Failure to follow all of these instructions may result in death or serious injury

INDEX

1. ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

2. BEFORE EACH TRIP P. 2

3. HITCHING PROCEDURE P. 3

4. PULL TEST P. 6

5. UNHITCHING PROCEDURE P. 6

6. MAINTENANCE P. 7

7. FIVE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY P. 9

8. APPENDIX A (Guidelines for matching hitch, truck, and trailer) P. 10

9. APPENDIX B (Guideline for center section orientation) P. 14

For Installation Assistance or Technical Help, Call 1-888-521-0510

FOR KITS: 30081, 40261 & 50181

WARNING:

Do Not use this hitch for towing a trailer with a pin box that could come into contact with or interfere with the latch for the hitch handle when turning! (See Fig. A) If the pin box contacts the hitch handle or its latch when turning, the trailer may become unhitched.

KING PIN

LATCH

Fig. A

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

BOTTOM OF PIN BOX

WARNING:

Connection for trailer wiring should be in the side of the truck bed between the driver’s

seat and the wheel well for the back truck axle Installation of connection rearward of the wheel well may result in user placing body between truck and trailer. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AVOID PUTTING BODY UNDER TRAILER OR BETWEEN TRUCK AND TRAILER!

If you need to place any part of your body under trailer or between truck and trailer:

 All trailer tires MUST be blocked in front and behind each tire AND  Trailer landing gear MUST be resting on firm ground AND  Truck MUST be stationary, in park, with emergency brake on!

1. Reference Fig. 11 on page 8.

2. 5th Wheel Kit is contained in three cartons. Unpack and become familiar with parts on parts list. Base rails, brackets and hardware are in separate kit (part no. 30035) with separate Installation Instructions for Fifth Wheel Rail Mounting Kit.

3. Place two base rails across bed of truck (See Fig. B). Select one side bracket and place tabs through the centermost rectangular slot in the base rails. Slip long pull pins through holes in base rails. Repeat. Secure pull pins with spring retaining

clips.

BASERAILS

Fig. B

4. Select 20K Center Section and install on leg aligning holes for hitch height desired. (Lowest position 13" highest 17").

Install four 1/2-13 x 4.5" Hex bolts, (with heads toward inside as shown) and lock nuts. (See Appendix B for center section orientation)

5. Torque 1/2" nuts to 75 lb. ft.

6. Install base rails and mounting brackets as described in "Installation Instructions for 5th Wheel Rail Mounting Kit,” Part #

30035.

WARNING

Base rails must be bolted through the floor of the pickup to the brackets that attach to the truck frame. DO NOT INSTALL BY FASTENING TO THE FLOOR OF THE PICKUP BOX

ONLY. The floor alone is not strong enough to carry the loads imposed by the trailer.

FOR KITS: 30081, 40261 & 50181

SUPPLEMENT TO 30095N

INSTALL BOLT IN EITHER POSITION WHICHEVER

IS CLOSER TO UNDER BED SUPPORT

SPACER (30)

SERRATED WASHER (31)

LOCK WASHER (32)

½” CARRIAGE BOLT (29)

½” HEX NUT (33)

ADDITIONAL MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Install base rails as instructed in base rail instructions. The instruction below is for the addition of the 2 center bolts for applications using 30095.

1. Place base rails in accordance with base rail mounting instructions.

2. BEFORE DRILLING ANY HOLES, CHECK FOR CLEARANCE AROUND THE GAS TANK.

3. Using the center hole in the base rail as a guide, drill a ½” hole through the truck bed.

4. Insert ½” carriage bolt (29) into the hole. Install ½” serrated washer (31), ½” lock washer (32) and ½”

nut (33).

5. Insert spacer (30) between the truck bed and the base rail. It will go in between at the corrugation of the bed. To keep bed from crushing when the bolt is tightened.

6. Repeat for the other base rail.

7. Torque the ½” nuts to 75 ft/lbs.

FOR KITS: 30081, 40261 & 50181

GUIDELINES FOR MATCHING HITCH TRUCK AND TRAILER

If preparing to tow a 5th wheel trailer which you have not rating checked previously, please consult Appendix A of 5th Wheel Kit assembly instructions.

BEFORE EACH TRIP:

1.Lubricate skid plate surface of the hitch and pivot pin grease fitting (see Figure on cover of Manual) with automotive type chassis grease or use a plastic lube plate to provide a lubricated surface. Use lithium grease to lubricate pivot points of moving parts within the hitch.

2. Plastic lube plates (Performance Products No. 83001/40001) 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 12 inches in

diameter or larger to properly distribute king pin weight.

3. Before each trip or maneuver, operate the handle and check that the jaw opens and closes freely.

4. See that all hitch pull pins (#7 (P/N 30434) & #12 (P/N 110974), Figure 11) are in place and the spring retaining clips (#4, Figure 11) are installed (Figure 1). Note that hitch pull pins used to attach the head assembly to the center section for the 5th

Wheel Kit Hitch are 90 degree bent pins and if replacements are needed, please contact Customer Service at (800) 632-

3290. Check that all four anchor assembly pins are pinned and have the retaining clips attached.

Sight Hole

Lube Skid Plate

(With No Lube Plate)

Lube Jaw

Pull Pin 90°

Pull Pin

Retaining Clip

Figure 1 : Pin and Clip (Skid Plate cut away view)

Pull Pin

Grease Fitting

Pull Pin

Lube Plate

(Optional)

WARNING:

To prevent tilting head detachment and or separation of hitch you must make sure that the anchor assemblies are properly installed and pinned, and the spring retaining clip is properly installed onto the ½” pull pin before towing. The spring retaining clip can

easily be seen through the

site holes in the top of the head.

FOR KITS: 30081, 40261 & 50181

HITCHING PROCEDURE:

IMPORTANT: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFE HITCHING AND UNHITCHING OPERATIONS. DO NOT RELY ON

OTHERS TO PERFORM THESE DUTIES. YOU MUST PERSONALLY MAKE SURE THE FOLLOWING STEPS ARE PERFORMED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER!

WARNING:

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.

1. Place blocks (sometimes called “chocks”) firmly against front and rear of each trailer wheel to prevent any possible

forward or rearward motion. DO NOT REMOVE BLOCKS UNTIL EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS AND THE PULL TEST HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. Lower tailgate if necessary. Clearance of the lowered tailgate to the trailer needs to be monitored during hookups as some manufacturer combinations of truck and trailer have little or no clearance.

2. Using trailer jacks, adjust trailer height following the directions in the trailer manual so that bottom of trailer pin box (“A” in

Figure 2) is ½ to 1 inch below skid plate (See “B” in Figure 2). During the hitching maneuver, the bottom of the trailer pin

box should come in contact with skid plate ramp (“C” in Figure 2).

Hitch Skid Plate (B)

Figure 2

CORRECT

Bottom of Pin Box (A) 1/2 To 1 Inch Below Hitch Skid Plate (B)

Bottom of Pin Box (A)

Skid Plate Ramp (C)

Figure 3 WRONG

Bottom of

Box Above

Hitch Skid

Plate

WARNING:

Failure to follow this instruction may result in king pin being too high and coming to rest on top of the closed jaw

or not completely inside jaw. (See Figure 6 & 7). This could result in trailer separating from hitch. Trailer separation may result in death or serious injury if anyone is under the trailer or between truck and trailer when separation occurs.

3. Remove bail pin from bail pin hole (see Figure 4). Then pull handle out and rearward to hold open

NOTE: Hitch jaw must be in the open position for king pin to enter the hitch.

Handle

Pull handle out and latch to the rear to open hitch jaw

4. With handle in the open position (See Figure 4), back truck slowly into trailer. As king pin completely enters head, jaw will spring closed around king pin and handle will return to the closed position. If the handle does not return to the

closed position, then

try to push the handle back to the closed position. If handle does not return to the closed position then move the truck slightly forward or rearward until the handle returns to the closed position. (See Figure 5)

Bail Pin Hole

Figure 4

Hitch Jaw (Shown in open position)

King pin

Handle

Bail Pin Hole

Hitch Jaw

King pin

5. Use only the method described above for hitching.

FOR KITS: 30081, 40261 & 50181

Figure 5

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