B&W hitch noise

**Joe1967** · 08-02-2021, 07:09 PM

Hi all. I have a B&W 18K slider fifth wheel hitch. I have noticed that this year (don't remember if it happened last year) that when I take off after coming to a complete stop, there is a slight clunk that can be heard, which I believe is coming from the hitch. Also can be heard sometimes when coming to a stop. I checked the hitch, and all the bolts are tight, but I am able to move the hitch forward and backward by hand just a bit (1/4 inch?) and that seems to be the source of the sound. The lever for the slider is all the way down. Also, I have only used the slider twice in the year I have had it. Is this normal wear for a slider? Anything to be concerned about? This is the only time any noise comes from the hitch, no chucking at all going down the road. Thanks!

**337MKR** · 08-18-2021, 08:29 PM

@Joe1967 Unfortunately I don’t know anything about sliders. I can say that we have the B&W Companion 25K and have had some noises similar to what you are describing. I had the rv out the other day to the dealer for some warranty work and had the clunk a couple of times. When I picked it up to bring home I re adjust the gain on my brake box and the noise didn’t happen again. We will be pulling about 600 miles or so next week, will see if it stays gone.

**Joe1967** · 08-22-2021, 12:41 PM

Have a great trip!

**Joe1967** · 09-22-2021, 01:02 PM

Here is an update on what I thought was hitch noise. When I got the 5th wheel last year, I had the brake controller set on 8.5, and even then I would have hoped for a little more braking from the trailer. After this post, I dropped the gain on the trailer brake controller down to 5, and the brakes work great. I guess they were a bit out of adjustment, and when they finally got to where they were working better, I had to much gain, which I suspect was making the brakes really grab, and stick a little. No lockups though. The brakes are still working really good, and the rig stops like it should. Guess I should have backed up while applying the brakes a few times when I first got the trailer (I assume that's how they adjust, like they used to on cars).