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Reese
Always the correct part
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Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
The name you know and the brand you trust brings you the latest in fifth wheel towing: the REESE M5. Whether youre a novice or youve been towing for years, REESE has the hitch you need to connect your truck and trailer safely and securely. Designed with state-of-the-art equipment by top-of-the-line engineers, REESEs complete line of M5 fifth wheel hitches is built to last! Featuring a three-part modular design, with wider stance legs, tighter tolerances, and the industrys best shock absorption system! Plus, an exclusive Talon Jaw that is always ready to receive, gripping the pin to eliminate lateral chucking and reduce sway and noise.
The REESE M5 fifth wheel hitch line combines the latest in technology, rugged endurance, and a sleek design for a quick hook-up and strong performance while on the road, with a clear tow/no tow indicator so you know when your connection is secure, and an ergonomic, easy-reach handle that requires less force to operate. When youre done towing, REESEs fifth wheel hitches are easy to remove, giving you access to the bed of your truck in no time. So tow with the confidence that only REESE can provide and make the journey as enjoyable as the destination.
| BRAND: | REESE |
| PART NUMBER: | 30918 |
| WARRANTY: | LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY |
| WEIGHT: | 180 LBS |
| CAPACITY: | 20,000 LBS. |
| PIN WEIGHT CAPACITY: | 5,000 LBS. |
| GROSS TOWING WEIGHT: | 20,000 LBS. |
| BASE LENGTH: | 43.42 IN. |
| BASE WIDTH: | 33.32 IN. |
| BASE HEIGHT: | 19.99 IN. |
| VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT: | 14 IN. TO 18 IN. |
| WELDING REQUIRED: | NO |
| LOCKABLE: | YES |
| WIRING HARNESS INCLUDED: | NO |
| JAW TYPE: | SINGLE |
| FORE AND AFT PIVOT: | 15 DEGREE |
| DRILLING REQUIRED: | NO |
| MOUNTING HARDWARE INCLUDED: | NO |
| MOUNTING HOLE QUANTITY: | 4 |
| HITCH TYPE: | STATIONARY |
| MATERIAL: | STEEL |
| SIDE TO SIDE PIVOT: | 15 DEGREES |
| BOLT GRADE: | METRIC 10.9 |
| COLOR: | BLACK/BLUE |
Reese has designed towing equipment since 1952 and remains a benchmark for heavy-duty towing. The line covers fifth wheel hitches such as the modular M5, gooseneck couplers including the Goose Box, air-ride and short-bed pin boxes, weight distribution systems with active sway control, and the accessories that connect them, all built to exceed published industry standards.
Reese has been pioneering towing performance since 1952, when Margaret Reese asked her husband TJ to stop travel trailers rocking every time somebody walked through them. His answer, the first pair of stabilising jacks, was simple and effective enough to change the RV industry. From that starting point Reese grew into a designer and manufacturer of complete towing systems, and today it anchors the heavy-duty end of the Horizon Global towing portfolio.
Fifth wheel towing is where the brand's engineering is most visible. The M5 fifth wheel hitch uses a modular design that breaks into manageable sections for assembly, with a wider stance, tighter tolerances and a shock absorption system aimed at the jolts that travel up through a truck bed. For owners who would rather tow from a gooseneck coupler and keep the bed clear, the Goose Box 20K replaces the trailer's king pin with a gooseneck connection carrying its own air-ride cushioning.
Pin boxes are a Reese speciality. The 5th Airborne uses air-ride technology to dampen road shock and reduce the chucking motion that makes fifth wheel towing tiring, while the Sidewinder was designed for short-bed pickups, pivoting the connection point so the trailer can turn sharply without the front cap meeting the cab.
For conventional towing, Reese weight distribution systems restore load to the tow vehicle's front axle and control sway. The Pro Round Bar distributes weight evenly while damping sway, and the Pro Dual Cam II uses active cam-based sway control that works harder the stronger the sway force becomes. Complete kits pair bars, head and shank to a rated tongue weight, and dedicated sway control kits can be added to existing setups. The products suit RV owners, horse and livestock haulers and anyone towing near the upper end of a vehicle's rating.
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On The Ball | REESE M5 fifth wheel hitch
You must purchase the M5 Head (part number 30892) and M5 Center Section (part number 30884) separately. The RAM Legs are designed to work only with these components as a complete system.
Yes. You must ensure a minimum of 6 inches of clearance between the truck bed rail and the bottom of the trailer. The unit has 4 inches of vertical adjustment to help achieve this. Refer to the M5 Head and Center Section instructions for detailed matching guidelines.
You will need: M24 wrenches, M13 wrenches, pliers, and a torque wrench. The M24 wrench is used for the castle nuts on the legs; the M13 wrench is for the handle assembly bolts on the head unit.
No. There is a left-hand leg and a right-hand leg. You must place the legs correctly onto the center box with the small T-Pin/T-Bushing in the front on both sides and the large T-Pin/T-Bushing at the rear.
Each M16 center section hex-head bolt must be tightened to 220 ft-lb of torque. This is done after all final adjustments are made and the lynch pins are locked in place.
Every 1,000 miles, check the M16 hex bolts that connect the center section to the legs to ensure they are still torqued to 220 ft-lb.
Before any trip, verify that lynch pins, foot bracket, and castle nut are undamaged and securely locked. Ensure lynch pins are securely locked in place with little to no vertical play. The lynch pin should be in the properly closed position with the loop not reversed to the other side of the pin.
The M5 system is rated for 20,000 lbs towing capacity with a maximum pin weight of 5,000 lbs. However, you must never exceed your towing vehicle manufacturer's recommended towing capacity or the lowest rated component of your system.
Yes. The M5 RAM Legs come ready to install. However, you must ensure you have the correct left and right hand legs and that they are positioned correctly on the center box with the small T-Pin/T-Bushing in front and the large T-Pin/T-Bushing at the rear.
The kit includes: 1 left-hand RAM leg, 1 right-hand RAM leg, 4 M16 x 2 x 40mm CL10.9 hex-head bolts, 4 5/8-inch conical washers, 4 handle T-pin locking pins, 4 lynch pin handle locks, 4 castle nuts, 8 M5 lynch pins, 2 front T-pins, 2 rear T-pins, and 4 T-bushings.
Using the 4 M16 x 2 x 40mm hex-head bolts and conical washers, attach the legs to the center section structure by threading the bolts from the inside of the center section into the threaded portion of the legs. Finger tighten the bolts initially until final adjustments are made. Ensure the collars on each leg are completely seated in the corresponding holes in the center section.
Each leg should have one small T-Pin/T-Bushing for the front mounting location and one large T-Pin/T-Bushing for the rear. When positioning the legs over the pucks, the handles should be in the OPEN position. Once the unit is placed in the pucks, rotate the handles to the CLOSED position and insert the lynch pins back into the leg to prevent the handles from opening during operation.
The unit has 4 inches of vertical adjustment. Determine which center section mounting holes to use to ensure a minimum of 6 inches of clearance between the truck bed rail and the bottom of the trailer. Legs must be attached at the same height on both sides of the unit. Refer to the guidelines in the M5 Head and Center Section instruction sheet for detailed matching information.
If a handle appears loose and rattles or cannot be closed fully, remove the lynch pin and adjust the castle nut by hand to a position where the handle does not rattle or is able to close. Once the handle adjustment is satisfactory, re-insert the lynch pin and close the loop over the castle nut to hold it in place. Additional cotter pins are provided in the hardware kit.
After tightening each M16 center section hex-head bolt to 220 ft-lb of torque, verify that the hitch is tight to the truck bed by lifting each side of the hitch. Then assemble the head to the center section per the instructions included with the M5 Center Section and Head.
Initially, finger tighten the M16 bolts until final adjustments are made. Only after all adjustments are complete and the lynch pins are locked in place should you tighten each M16 center section hex-head bolt to 220 ft-lb of torque.
The lynch pin should be in the properly closed position. Do not reverse the loop to the other side of the pin. The image in the maintenance section shows the correct orientation of the lynch pin in relation to the foot bracket.
Before any trip, verify that lynch pins, foot bracket, and castle nut are undamaged and securely locked with little to no vertical play. Every 1,000 miles, check the M16 hex bolts connecting the center section to the legs to ensure they are still torqued to 220 ft-lb. For general maintenance of the entire 5th wheel hitch assembly, refer to the M5 Head and Center Section instruction sheet.
Yes. When placing the head unit on top of the center section, avoid putting any body parts in pinch points. When removing the head, a slight push down on the head will help, but avoid getting fingers pinched. When re-installing the head, place hands or fingers on either side of the pivot interface to prevent pinching.
The indicator shows RED when the head is in the Ready-to-Receive position (when delivered, not in use, or coupling to trailer) or the Unhitching position. The indicator shows GREEN only when the head is in the Locked position, which occurs when the head is coupled to the trailer and the handle is positioned so holes align for bail pin insertion.
1) Ensure truck and trailer are in position with tailgate lowered if necessary, blocks/chocks firmly against trailer wheels, pin box at correct height, and head in Ready-to-Receive position. 2) Back truck slowly into trailer so the trailer king pin and 5th wheel funnel align. When the indicator turns completely green, the trailer king pin is securely held. 3) Perform a pull test with trailer wheels blocked, landing gears on ground, and trailer brake on—try to pull the trailer slowly forward to verify proper hitching. 4) Insert bail pin into lock hole. 5) Connect electrical and breakaway switch cables, raise tailgate if necessary. 6) Remove chocks/blocks and lift trailer jacks.
1) Ensure trailer is secure with blocks/chocks firmly against each trailer wheel and trailer jacks lowered and firmly on the ground. 2) Ensure truck is ready by lowering tailgate if necessary and disconnecting electrical and breakaway switch cables. 3) Remove bail pin and move handle to unhitching position by pulling out and rotating towards the cab. 4) Drive truck slowly away from trailer. Note: If there is tension between truck and trailer, the truck or trailer may shift when the handle is pulled, but the trailer will still uncouple.
The bottom of the pin box should be aligned with the top of the skid plate ramp, plus or minus 1 inch. This ensures proper contact between the trailer king pin and the 5th wheel jaw.
Apply grease to the skid plate surface to provide a lubricated surface for trailer attachment. Apply grease to the 5th wheel jaw and/or kingpin on the trailer. Apply grease via the grease fitting on the top of the unit using a grease needle. Apply spray-on white lithium grease to internal mechanisms and rotate the handle a few times to distribute the lubricant. Plastic lube plates (not exceeding 3/16 inch thickness) can be used to avoid messy grease; REESE 5th Wheel Lube Plate #83001 is recommended. The head comes pre-greased.
If noise is noticed, investigate the cause and correct it. Grease points would be the obvious starting point. The pivot assembly resistance is preset at the factory. If the head pivots and makes noise when the trailer is not attached, adjust the resistance by tightening the pivot bolt 1/2 turn at a time (maximum 2 full turns). The pivot assembly can be rebuilt if required; instructions will be in the rebuild kit.
Yes. The center section can be rotated 180 degrees to increase the gap between the trailer front and truck cab by 1.5 inches. This requires removing the head, removing the bolts holding the legs on the center section, rotating the center section, and re-connecting the center section and legs. The head springs must also be flipped from right to left and tightened to 7-8 ft-lbs. Refer to the detailed instructions in the M5 Head and Center Section manual for the complete procedure.
Due to variations in truck underbeds, it is normal for some handles to be loose and other handles to be too tight to lock. To fix a loose, rattling handle: 1) Remove the lynch pin. 2) Adjust the castle nut by hand to a position where the handle does not rattle or is able to close. 3) Once the adjustment is satisfactory, re-insert the lynch pin and close the loop over the castle nut to hold it in place. Additional cotter pins are provided in the hardware kit if needed.
If the head pivots and makes noise when the trailer is not attached, the pivot assembly resistance may need adjustment. The pivot assembly resistance is preset at the factory. To adjust: tighten the pivot bolt 1/2 turn at a time (maximum 2 full turns). Access the pivot bolt and nut through the open end wrench access point on the center section. If noise persists, investigate other grease points as the obvious starting point.
The jaw may not close if under compression. If you are fully backed into the trailer but the head is not fully latched, pull the truck slowly forward to remove the load on the jaw. The handle will then fully latch. Once latched, the indicator will show completely green.
Verify that the hitch is tight to the truck bed by lifting each side of the hitch. If the hitch is loose, check that: 1) Each M16 center section hex-head bolt is tightened to 220 ft-lb of torque. 2) All lynch pins are securely locked in place with little to no vertical play. 3) The castle nuts are properly adjusted so handles do not rattle. If the hitch is still loose after these checks, re-torque the M16 bolts to 220 ft-lb.
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Sam
The staff was able to quickly assist me with locating the correct product I needed. Shipping was really fast. Item arrived in 2 days. Will be using TowUniverse again!!
May 22, 2023
