Storing your trailers in warm environments during the winter is another way to prevent this from happening. Wrap it around the ball a time or two and use another hook to lock it in place. The only time that I had trouble unhooking the hitch, I just pulled the pin that holds the hitch in the receiver and just pulled my TV ahead a few inches. Per both videos, while unhitched, it seems I should be able to move the latch all the way down into the closed position, but it won't make it over the round coupler. Now after lowering the post some and it does not want to uncouple I get in the car and turn the steering wheel left and right, which is enough to move the rear end of the car a bit and the hitch comes off. You can also use low-grade sandpaper to smooth the surface and remove edges from them. Very confusing question. Another Idea for Better Sealing The Dometic Toilet. A Guide To Camping Near White Sands National Park. Try to just move an inch at a time. Didn't seem to help. Use the tongue jack to level the trailer. He has been writing for Demand Studios since 2009. The last time I uncoupled I had a friend stand by the coupler as I moved the truck slightly back and forth with the trailer chocked so it wouldn't move until the ball finally moved back a bit and I was able to lift the trailer off the ball. Be sure that all elements of the hitch are well greased. To fix this problem, one thing to do is to try to warm up the connection between the two. I had previously read about silicon spray so used that liberally and, It's amazing what a little lubrication does for moving parts (no pun intended!) Once everything is stable and level, youll want to go to the hitch itself and disconnect any safety chains or weight distribution bars that you have attached. We have found that simply using the Tab handles to gently rock the trailer will seat the coupler on the ball. JavaScript is disabled. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - Finally, WD-40 and a hand sledge worked. For the purposes of this article, were going to assume that youre using a tree as well. 2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. Was't told to do this before, but will from now on. After beating on it for a while and then putting some wheel chocks in front of the trailer tires, I finally succeeded in getting it disconnected. When the ball is tipped (trying to get under the coupler) it won't go in or catches on the lock. Do you also have problems engaging the hitch??? If you do this, make sure that you apply a lot of it. How to Detect Weak Fuel Pump on 7.3 Powerstroke. Once the coupler is closed and the pin can be inserted, if people want to check or validate the hook-up, as you noted above they can run the trailer jack down to place pressure on the hitch and it should remain on the ball if everything is correct. What is a hitch ball wrench? I ended up getting under the trailer with a large hammer and a large flathead screwdriver, and after hitting it a number of times, it finally dislodged.I first tried raising it up higher (no help), I tried lowering it (no help). Reducing hitch noise with an anti-rattle. They make sure that your trailer doesnt slide or shift out of place while youre working on disconnecting the hitch. Jayco's lever slides back and up. Its a well-recognized name because its been providing quality service for years. I adjusted it straight vertical and eliminated the problem. The most common reason for this problem is pressure on the hitch, either pulling forward or pushing backward while trying to unhitch. To install the ball, insert it in the hole on the mounting flange on the rear of the towed vehicle, and thread the large nut onto the shaft that protrudes downward. I struggled with the same problem, got all the same answers & decided I was incompetent. Find a socket to fit and loosen that up one round then sit it back down on ball. Just the leverage. See.I told people this metric stuff would come back and bite us. The disconnect is so violent. This is great for people who like to keep their hands clean! One recommendation I didn't see was a "liberal" shot of WD-40. Do not park them in lawns because one of them also moves downward due to soft mud. They are attached to the coupler balls of the towing vehicle. This is a common problem. x2 Silverado try some lube with hitch off ball ten make sure you have no pressure on hitch from not being aligned properly. My horse trailer has a bulldog coupler. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media. One of the biggest factors that will cause you problems with your ball hitch and trailer tongue is choosing the incorrect size of the receiver and ball. Before I got my P3 i would whack it with a wrench to free it up. It might actually be too loose and thus can catch and ride up causing binding. I would check the play when hooked up. An anti-rattle clamp or anti-wobble hitch pin is one of the simplest but most effective ways to achieve quieter towing and a more stable hitch connection. It is also crucial that you should also disengage the driveshaft. Best solution I've found is a large screwdriver. Due to unsmooth road surfaces, the trailer tongue binds with the coupler ball, and your trailer hitch wont release. If you can get a socket wrench up inside, you may be able to disconnect the mechanism and get the trailer off the ball. Its set up too tight and the moveable jaw can't close around the ball. This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy. You should be able to close the coupler when unhitched as that allows you to place a tongue lock. Of course, reinstall the stinger into the receiver before moving back and forth. When a coupler gets stuck on the ball it can be because of several factors. Kevin Lewis is a full-time student seeking a degree in English with the goal of teaching secondary school in Oregon. Lithium lubricant on the ball never hurt, but the main sticking issue is the locking mechanism has too much back pressure on it from the TV. Just need a bit of leverage. Pops off every time with little to no effort. If TV and trailer are on even a slight slope, the locking mechanism will stick. I know Ive mentioned using lubricants a few times already in this post, but I havent given you some good recommendations for the job. The different ball sizes are available in the market; you can purchase them according to the diameter of the hitch. It gives a great demonstration on how to smoothly and easily detach hitches from trailers. Usually a jump on the truck hitch will work. I think I'll contact Jayco and ask these questions. Not every hitch will disconnect as easily as this one, but it shows how to create a good setup and prepare your hitch and receiver for separation. You can also use different equipment to balance your tires. Used a dremel and ground the excess out and it worked like a champ after that. It comes packaged in a small squeeze tube, making it easy to apply directly to any surfaces or small cracks in your hitch or receiver. Now we get to the fun part. Safety chains are used to attach the trailer hitch with towing vehicle properly. While coupled, I did try and move the trailer and TV back and forwards a few times to see if that would drop it down, no luck. I went out and looked at how my trailers worked and the wedge moves forward and a little down. The trailer hitch will have a locking lever on its upper surface. Any ideas? I would appreciate any help or comments. The purpose of the locking lever is to secure the towing vehicle. Chocking is also necessary during this process so you can safely release them. Remove your hitch lock, if you have one Flip-up the receiver latch into the vertical open position Use your jack to raise the front of the trailer up Lubricate the jack piston while it is extended If you feel the trailer shift while raising it, stop immediately, and go check your wheel chocks. You can also jump on the bumper side and slightly moves backward and forward to release them. Many people like to use fields or lawns that are dotted with sturdy trees. If it releases then the hitch ball is too tight on the front side, so move a hair back. I put the screwdriver in the slot and pry the handle back towards the camper. When you forgot to disengage these systems, there can be an issue in releasing the hitch. Time for new tires on my F150 and believe I should get LT tires since I tow a travel trailer that is close to the trucks capability. So there is a nightmare for them to loosen this nut. However, if youre dealing with a sticky hitch, you may need to get out of your car and adjust the jacks a few more times. Posted By: guidry on 12/28/17 06:39pm. I've done the WD 40 and grease. Lower it only as much as necessary to close the latch. Make sure it's 100% clean inside the coupler, use brake parts cleaner. Then get in the TV and let it coast/move backwards about 1". It is next to impossible to do by hand. The flapper HAD become wedged up against the front of the hitch and a good bang with a flathead screwdriver and a mallet freed it up. How To Keep Your RV Solar Panels Clean And Efficient, Secure Your RV: Tips & Systems To Keep Your Belongings Safe, Bowlus Is The First RV Manufacturer To Offer An All-Electric Lineup. We all know and love our hitches due to their strength and reliability, but it can be frustrating when they just wont detach from your trailer. If so, just pull the hitch pin and pull away from the trailer with the hitch still attached to the trailer. A basic can of WD-40 contains 8 ounces. Makes so much sense. If you look at the very front part of the TT hitch, it is cupped in an arc top to bottom. It occurred with a particular coupler on a keystone hideout. Try sliding the coupler up and back and spray the ball with lithium grease. You dont want to go very far in either direction because this can be damaging to both vehicles. I have this issue as well. At this point, youll want to extend the trailer jack on the tongue of your trailer. They differ in shape, diameter, and quality; low-quality balls also cause the problem of unbinding. To loosen the hitch, slowly drive the tow vehicle back and forth. WD-40 is a lubricant that is stored in small aerosol dispersal cans. You have to slide it back and up to release. Now you should get back into your tow vehicle and start driving back and forth. Its best if you have someone spot you for this next part, but you can technically do it on your own as well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO2SMj_zJ4Y, This post was updated on April 28th, 2021, WD-40 490026 Multi-Use Product with Smart Straw. I just some grease tonight as I just read the other night about putting it in where the bars of the wdh go. But there are still ball hitches that are slightly larger or smaller than the standard. Also helps getting rid of the minor fore and aft movement in the hitch. Similar to Grumpy, we also had some paint in the coupler and getting rid of that also made a big difference. Thanks. Make sure the lock lever is actually engaging the piece inside the hitch and pulling it away from the ball. Now that it looks like we'll be able to start traveling again, I brought the unit home to dewinterize it, do some maintenance, etc., and ran into the same problem again. It looks like the fit is so tight front to back that the ball must be EXACTLY centred in the coupler before it will move at all. Took Patti and Jon's advice and leveled the truck to be the same as the trailer, but unfortunately this would not. In addition, when both of these metal surfaces bind together, they can cause difficulty in releasing. However, many people complain that they face a problem when they want to unhitch the vehicle. Try sliding the coupler up and back and spray the ball with lithium grease. Good to know the workings of the hitch. Best of all it's totally FREE! Typically, a hitch pin is bent in an "L" shape. your choice: a big hammer or a little grease! Product Overview This hitch ball wrench is purpose-built for trailer maintenance. The ball had been lubed. Lightly Re-Lube the coupler. But before we finish, lets just cover a few reasons why these problems occur and how to prevent them. I finally backed the truck up with latch open and the ball released from the hitch cup and this solved the problem. Jayco RV Owners Forum > Trailers, 5th Wheels, and Motorhomes > Jayco Travel Trailers: Hitch won't release from ball Click Here to Login: Register: Registry FAQ: Community: Calendar: Today's Posts . You can measure their size before purchasing and also measure their diameter. However, greasing it is recommended. Has your TT set a long time without use? Think if u just use spray lube and work it a little it will be ok. It was next to impossible to get the TT off of the TV. It's time to connect your trailer coupler to the hitch ball. The moisture protection is another way that it prevents rust as well. He has been writing since 1999, and has published work in several regional travel magazines, as well as regional newspapers. The screwdriver pushes the lock forward (towards the vehicle) and up. Then measure from the ground to the bottom edge of the trailer's coupler. 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