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12-02-2021, 06:36 PM #1
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Purchased used Reese Sidewinder Elite
I decided to move from an autoslider and purchase a Reese Sidewinder. I wanted more room in the bed and a lighter hitch. A new one is extremely expensive so i decided to look on marketplace for a used one. I found one 3 hours from my location. After I got it home, I torn it down and checked all the components. I was concerned about the air bag so i removed it and placed it in the tub, no leaks. It wasn't hard at all to break down and everything looks good. I've attached some pics. Does anyone else have a sidewinder?
Last edited by Maximus216; 12-02-2021 at 06:40 PM.
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12-03-2021, 07:28 AM #2
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I have a Sidewinder, although not the elite. Works great, just make sure you get the proper wedge for the hitch you have. The generic one can be a little loose. When I first hook up, I will pull forward a little to make sure the trailer and truck are straight, and re-check that the wedge is tight.
The several times I have had warranty work done to the trailer, I put the bolts in the pin box to lock it (dealers need that) when I drop it off, and have a red ribbon tied to one of the bolts, like a "remove before flight" on an airplane. Although I don't think I would forget to take the bolts off to unlock it, if I did, it would be ugly on the damage it would cause.Last edited by Wileykid; 12-03-2021 at 07:31 AM.
2023 Chevy 3500HD CC SB 4x4 Dmax
2021 GD 320G with 8K axles
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12-03-2021, 08:58 AM #3
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12-03-2021, 10:29 AM #4
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Last edited by Wileykid; 12-03-2021 at 10:32 AM.
2023 Chevy 3500HD CC SB 4x4 Dmax
2021 GD 320G with 8K axles
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12-03-2021, 01:06 PM #5
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12-03-2021, 01:23 PM #6
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2023 Chevy 3500HD CC SB 4x4 Dmax
2021 GD 320G with 8K axles
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12-03-2021, 03:41 PM #7
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01-30-2022, 03:02 PM #8
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Is your wedge making contact with the hitch on both sides? If I hammer the wedge in after hitching and tighten the bolts I can't get it to hitch again. I've had to back off a little and now I have a small gap on one side. I've heard of people having a hard time hitching using wedges.
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01-31-2022, 10:05 AM #9
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I have had the same experience as you. What I do now, is try and get the wedge as tight as I can by hand, pull forward a little to make sure the truck/trailer is straight (after doing a pull test) at a slow speed, and use the manual trailer brake to keep tension and the slack (sloppiness) out of the king pin area while stopping, or I stop on a slight uphill to take out any slack, and see if I can tighten the wedge anymore by hand. I still will usually end up after driving a little with a small gap, it isn't bad, and I have no problem leaving it as is. I know that it is caused by the sloppiness in the wedge screw, and where you put the pin on the thumb adjuster. I usually can't take the thumb adjuster safety pin off because it is tight against the one side (wedge trying to push back), until I disconnect. After all the above, I just leave the adjustment as is, and have no problem hooking/unhooking multiple times, although I will double check on each hookup that the wedge is still tight.
I did try it once with a hammer, but like you mentioned, the king pin would not latch properly on the next hookup, and that of course is not a good thing. Although it worked, and would need to back the wedge on every hookup, then use a hammer again, I am uncomfortable with what the hammering could be doing to the wedge screw threads, even though there is always a bit of "hammering" just going down the road. I am also not sure it is a good thing to have the king pin that tight against the hitch jaw.2023 Chevy 3500HD CC SB 4x4 Dmax
2021 GD 320G with 8K axles
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12-18-2023, 06:20 AM #10
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I torqued mine to 45 and it still will not turn by hand and is jerky when making turns. I cleaned and lubed it and no change.
Tim
2020 Reflection 320MKS, Sidewinder Hitch
2003 2500HD Silverado Duramax, Sumo springs, Hawk Brake Pads
What changed for the new GD...
Today, 02:39 PM in General Discussion