Founded in 1952, Reese Products pioneered the technology that has set the standard for today's towing systems. Because of their unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, Reese Products has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of hitching systems in North America.
By 1968, Reese's commitment to quality products was so highly regarded that the RV Industry asked Reese to develop tests to gather data related to trailer towing loads. That data later became the industry-testing standard (V5 and SAEJ684). Reese pioneered the technology now used by all leading hitch manufacturers.
As tow vehicles and their frames have become lighter while trailers have become heavier, Reese continues to set the standards for today’s towing industry by selecting specially formulated bar stock, mastering the manufacturing process and meeting -- often exceeding -- industry test standards.
Over the years, Reese has introduced numerous revolutionary products to the towing market. These product "firsts" include the aluminum trailer stabilizer jack, custom bolt-on receiver style trailer hitches, adjustable trunnion weight distributing systems, dual cam sway controls, removable 5th wheel hitches, sliding 5th wheel hitches, class IV trailer hitches and "install it yourself" multi-fit trailer hitches.
Reese now boasts over 800 employees and 12 shipping docks housed in three Midwest manufacturing plants. Engaging such leading-edge engineering tools as computer aided design, fatigue testing, finite element analysis and advanced quality planning, Reese constantly explores new ways to take their products to ever higher levels in quality and performance. Reese pioneered the technology now used by all leading hitch manufacturers.
Since the 1950s, much has changed in the towing industry, but Reese has remained the leader in weight distributing systems with their dedication to quality manufacturing and testing.
Quality raw materials - Specially formulated bar stock made to demanding standards and inspected for adherence to strict quality specifications
Quality testing – Spring bars are tested for flexibility and resilience to bending and breaking, incorporating Rockwell hardness tests to ensure that the raw stock has been transformed into a spring bar.
5th Wheel Hitches-- Reese has designed four 5th wheel product lines to fit any budget and towing requirements: Pro Series, Select Series, Select Plus Series and Signature Series. Each series blends Reese’s time-tested design with superior engineering and manufacturing quality to ensure your trailer is being towed with the best possible equipment available.
From the value-priced Pro Series with a 15,000 lb. capacity to the heavy-duty Signature Series with its custom vehicle-specific mounting kit, no competitor outperforms a Reese 5th wheel hitch in quality and reliability.
Strait-Line Hitches -- Reese offers the most effective trailer weight distribution and sway control kit on the market: the Strait-Line System, so named because it forces the trailer to stay in a straight line behind the tow vehicle. The Dual Cam High Performance System prevents and controls sway; the stronger the sway force, the more the Dual Cam System works to stop it. The High Performance Weight Distribution System delivers a more level ride and greater steering and brake control.
Strait-Line is available in two spring bar styles. The Trunnion Style head includes a forged raised ball platform and Trunnion mounts. Its “serrated washer” design makes it easier to dial in the setup of the kit. The Round Bar System, with one-piece cast head, features easy-to-use adjusting blocks for faster ball mount angle and adjustment. Both are effective systems for an ever-changing industry.
5th Airborne™ Pin Box Coupler -- A 5th wheel trailer takes a lot of abuse on the road from potholes, section dividers, bridges and worn highways. The trailer’s resulting vibration, chucking and jolting translates to a rough ride and increased driver fatigue. Manufacturers have explored ways to reduce forward chucking or vertical jolts, but not both – until the 5th Airborne premium 5th wheel air ride pin box coupler.
The 5th Airborne pin box coupler incorporates two ways to reduce or eliminate chucking, vibration and jolting. An enclosed, pressure-adjustable air bag absorbs vertical shock or jolting by up to 44% -- twice the performance of the competitor. Along with improving drive and ride, the 5th Airborne also relieves stress on your trailer’s frame, cabinets, mechanicals and support mechanisms.
Combining the 5th Airborne with the innovative Sidewinder extended pin box coupler gives you not only a smoother ride and drive but allows easier maneuvering, turning and backing. The nimble and quick Sidewinder is rated at 16,000 pounds GVW and replaces the existing pin box on your 5th wheel, adding 20” of clearance between truck and trailer without the need for a sliding hitch – saving up to 100 lbs. of extra weight over a traditional slider and pin box.
Sidewinder’s reversible, adjustable kingpin locking wedge works with all popular 5th wheel hitches. It moves the pivot point of the coupler from the king pin to the center of the mounting brackets. By moving the pivot point rearward, the trailer tracks more closely with the truck, reducing the need for extra-wide turns and allowing short bed trucks to jackknife with no fear of contact between trailer and truck cab. Plus it’s all automatic: with Sidewinder, you can now make a 90° turn without exiting the truck, throwing a switch or pushing a button. And with the Sidewinder arm locked inline with the truck, you have better access to your truck bed to haul and store gear.
Reese weight distribution systems, 5th wheel hitches and other towing products are available at Camping World SuperCenters nationwide, along with professional installation. For all locations, visit CampingWorld.com/stores.