Did I Break Our Fifth Wheel Hitch?? Or Was it Equipment Failure?

2025-02-06
Chad

Fifth-wheel hitches are a critical part of towing safely, but what happens when things go wrong? In this week’s video, we’re sharing our recent hitching disaster, the lessons we learned, and why we made the switch to a B&W 25K Companion.

Reese Hitch Shortcomings

We’ve been using the Reese 27 Fifth-wheel hitch for over 4 years and thousands of miles of towing. Until now, we’ve never had any kind of mechanical malfunction with it. It’s been a great hitch! But, with that said, it has not held up well in other aspects.

The smooth black coating on the hitch scratches easily, inviting rust in every scratch. The rubber handle has dried, cracked, and fallen off twice. After the second time, I just wrapped it in Gorilla Tape. That handle was also bent by the pin box once on a sharp left turn. The bottom line is that it was functional but aesthetically displeasing (UGLY).

The Hitching Problems Begin

On this particular day, something was definitely off. No matter what we tried, the hitch wouldn’t latch properly onto the kingpin. First, it wouldn’t seat. Then it seated but wouldn’t latch. Then we got stuck on the hitch where it would neither latch nor release. The jaws wouldn’t open like they should, and we found ourselves in a jam—literally.

During the first stage of hitching, when it wouldn’t seat, I realized the hitch was in the LOCKED configuration. I feel this was likely the point that caused the damage that lead to the rest of my issues that day. The force of the kingpin jamming into a closed and locked jaw was likely the point of failure.

Was it MY Fault? Reviewing the Footage

One advantage to filming just about everything we do, is the ability to review the footage. Did I miss something? Did I make a mistake? We went back through our setup process step by step to see if we had done something wrong—or if the hitch was just failing us.

Turns out the truth is a bit of a mixed bag. On review, it’s clear that the first hitching attempt somehow made the hitch change itself to LOCKED mode from Ready-To-Receive mode. However, I’m not quick to blame the hitch. As the operator, it’s my responsibility to ensure the hitch is properly configured on each hitch attempt. I should have verified the hitch was still ready before subsequent hitching attempts. This one is on ME.

Finding a New Hitch (B&W 25K)

After forcefully releasing the Reese hitch and removing it from the truck, it was time to find a replacement. The selection of our replacement was easy. We’d been wanting to switch to the B&W 25K for a while anyway. Our issue was how to get one FAST, so we could get on the road in time to get to the GDRV National Rally.

While we ended up finding the hitch at a (sort of) local RV dealer, that option required six hours of driving plus fuel. On top of that the hitch was $100 more than on eTrailer.com. Clearly, if we weren’t in a time crunch, eTrailer.com was a much better option. They had the best price and very fast free 2-day shipping!

eTrailer.com – Our Go-To Hitch Source (SPONSOR)

A big thanks to eTrailer.com for sponsoring this video! They had the B&W 25K in stock and ready to ship. If you’re looking for any kind of towing gear, we highly recommend checking them out.

Their site also has an excellent fitment tool to help in find the right parts for your vehicle, and their staff of knowledgeable experts will attempt to answer any questions or concerns right from the website.

B&W 25K Companion 5th Wheel Hitch

While our experience with the new hitch is a bit limited, we are already loving it! Here are some of our favorite things about the B&W 25K Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch:

✔ American Made! – Built with high-quality American steel and manufactured in the USA, supporting American jobs and craftsmanship.
✔ Smooth and Secure Connection – The hitch jaws wrap fully around the kingpin, ensuring a tight and secure hold with minimal movement.
✔ Easy-to-Use Handle – The simple cam-action handle makes hitching and unhitching much easier compared to our previous hitch.
✔ Durable Construction – The high-quality powder-coated finish resists rust and wear better than our previous hitch.
✔ Adjustable Design – We love the adjustable height settings, making it easy to get the right clearance for different truck and trailer setups.
✔ Quiet and Stable Ride – The thick rubber bushings and tight jaw system significantly reduce chucking and movement while towing.

So far, this hitch is proving to be a rock-solid upgrade! We’ll continue testing it on the road and will report back if we find anything new to love (or not love).

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