Troubleshooting A Clunking Noise Between A Fifth Wheel Hitch And Base Rails While Towing

Expert Reply:

It's totally normal for a bit of movement between any fifth wheel hitch and the base rails. The feet on the hitch are typically a bit smaller than the slots they slide into for mounting otherwise you'd have a hard time getting your hitch in or out of the base rails. This does cause a bit of noise and would allow you to pull up on the hitch slightly. If you're getting a lot of movement then it leads me to believe that either an incorrect sized pin is being used to mount to hitch into the rails or the rail slots have been worn in leaving a larger gap than normal.

The correct pins should be 1/2" thick, so I recommend measuring the pins you're using to make sure you have the right ones. If not, you can use part # C16902 to get some replacement pins. You can also use some sound dampeners # 16900 to cushion the space between the rails and hitch to reduce the noise and slack.

If the rails just need to be replaced then I'll need to know the brand just to confirm a correct replacement.

expert reply by: Kevin C

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