Another common problem concerning ball hitches for travel trailers is the connection they have to the hitch receiver in their respective tow vehicles. 2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. Whichever method works best for you! Release this lever, and place the hitch over the ball. Try it. Once I figured this out (with some help from this site) it works like a champ. I know, this does not follow logic but I just had this happen. This method should work in the majority of cases! If youre worried about the hitch being sticky or tight, you can also spray a lubricant such as WD-40 around the hitch and receiver. This is an independent, unofficial site. Enjoy A Stay At Lake Dallas RV Park In Texas. Cookie Notice Driving them in the rainy season also makes their surface rusty. Now we get to the fun part. If the trailer tongue is binding on the hitch ball, it won't release. For more information, please see our Release the locking mechanisms and all safety pins to disconnect a travel trailer from its hitch. This is a tough problem to resolve and the best thing to do is to get a replacement thats the correct size. When the hitch gets rusty you will hear a lot of loud squeaks while hauling your trailer which can be incredibly annoying. Just another thing to try. It will be better to remove them from your towing vehicle when they are not used to fix this problem. Quote: Originally Posted by go44. 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. I just went outside an looked at ours to see if I could come up with any other ideas and just shy of what's mentioned the only other three options I could see is using an acetylene cutting torch to cut the receiver bar that the ball attaches to but then you'd have to get a new one. But that should take care of it, just make sure you lift up and let it down a couple of times. I adjusted it straight vertical and eliminated the problem. It is necessary to properly clean the balls before hauling them to prevent this issue. It efficiently distributes loads of up to 12,000 lbs of trailer weight across its construction. Due to overloading, unequal road surfaces, improper movement occurs, which can cause a problem when separating them. The Surf Signature RV Resort Is Florida's Newest L Can You Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Propane Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.8 Beta 1. This will relieve any pressure on the ball. That was easy. Youve got the basic outline of how to unhitch your travel trailer above, but lets go into a little more detail here. Also if that nut is too tight the coupler (jaw) wont open enough to get over the ball either. In most cases, this method should do the trick! A good shot of lubricant on the hitch and my problem went bye-bye. Like clubhouse, I make sure the ball is in the front part of the coupler and have never had an issue. Typically, a hitch pin is bent in an "L" shape. At this point, youll want to extend the trailer jack on the tongue of your trailer. How to Detect Weak Fuel Pump on 7.3 Powerstroke. I have had similar problems with my hitch. He doesn't mention any lubrication of new hitches though. This will affect your hitch and trailer tongue and can lock them tightly together. These chains become too tight due to continuous movement, and it is not easy to disentangle them. No more issues. Beat me to the punch! Do you have a good solid base under your front tongue jack? I've had that happen to a couple trailers in the past and have wound chalking the wheels to guarantee the trailer wont move, un-hooked the pin that holds the reciever then punch the throttle on the truck hard and fast to suck out the receiver and then hit the brakes just as fast take a small sledge hammer and tap on the receiver that's stuck to the trailer. To disconnect a travel trailer from its hitch, release the locking mechanisms and all safety pins. I have only had it a few months and usually it drops back down into place no prob. 90% of the time, it's the angle between the ball and the trailer hitch. Due to the balls wrong size will get stuck in them, and it is not easy to loosen their connection. Think if u just use spray lube and work it a little it will be ok. > My Hitch Won't Let Go Of My Ball . Jump on the trailer tongues to disengage them from balls. Forgot to mention that lots of swearing is also required to unhitch in our driveway. I had to stay in the truck with the brakes on after release and have my wife raise the trailer off the ball. Its also easy to purchase bulk packs of WD-40 that contain up to 12 cans. Attachment with unequal or bent surfaces of balls is not suitable. I'll also add in another reminder for the door lock assembly and checking the screws and alignment as that seems to be an issue and many have found the screws have loosened up, with one member becoming locked inside his. Many of these are water resistant and keep rust from forming. Release the parking brake. Like others, Ive had this happen but didnt know why. 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 have this issue as well. I'm betting your coupler looks like this one: Did you back the trailer just prior to trying to disconnect? Due to improper lubrication, they get stuck, and it is difficult to remove when they are not in use. I think my problem is the ball is misaligned from the dealer. A hitch pin is a small metal rod that keeps a ball mount shank and other trailer hitch parts from sliding out of a hitch receiver tube. Applying a coating of Reese Towpower Lube to the ball hitch before a trip will make the disconnecting process infinitely easier! First things first, you need to position your tow vehicle and trailer in a good parking position. Parking in open garages also makes them corroded due to more humidity. Maybe something broke inside the hitch causing it not to release. Sometimes it is slightly upward from towing SUV and sometimes moves downward. Help, yesterday I tried hooking up my trailer using a Reese 66069 WD hitch. I've done the WD 40 and grease. Torzanne, JandJ92010 has the answer for you! 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. If u r on level ground, chock ur camper wheels and place ur truck in neutral while unhooking. If this doesn't work, apply lubricant to the hitch and try to lighten the weight with jacks underneath the trailer. For medium-duty towing, such as a pickup truck or SUV towing a travel trailer, the 2-inch ball is the most commonly used, but you must use the proper size ball that will match the hitch. You have to slide it back and up to release. However, many people complain that they face a problem when they want to unhitch the vehicle. Has your TT set a long time without use? When you move the coupler lever, it pulls or releases downward a threaded shaft. Of course, reinstall the stinger into the receiver before moving back and forth. Trailer brakes smoking: Causes & Solutions. I was thinking lock adjustment too tight also. You dont want to floor the accelerator or you could end up doing serious damage to your bumper or flying forward faster than you expected. Didn't seem to help. Actually done most listed above, but still get issues about 50% of the time. The coupler joints may be a little stiff, so work it multiple times to get it to cooperate. This makes it perfect for sticky situations like a ball hitch that wont disconnect from a trailer or hitch receiver. Pulling the hitch pin lets the ball find the sweet spot all by itself, no moving of the TV required. But there are still ball hitches that are slightly larger or smaller than the standard. I have this same problem. _____ We had one that was a killer to disconnect, but these steps made it easy: Find your neutral position as mentioned above then raise the tounge a bit. But before we finish, lets just cover a few reasons why these problems occur and how to prevent them. Just let the whole hitch slide out. You must log in or register to reply here. I recently posted with the same problem. When the ball is tipped (trying to get under the coupler) it won't go in or catches on the lock. 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. I think I'll contact Jayco and ask these questions. Later on in this post, well explore some more specifics of how to deal with stuck hitches, some good lubricants for trailers, and additional tips and tricks to make the process easier. i keep my brake off and, some vasoline on the ball, and if i have to i get on the bumper of the TV and do a little hop and it comes off keep some wheel bearing grease on the ball and I bet the problem goes away! Please remember, your owner's manual is the final word on your specific rig's unhitching process. I have a slot in my hitch on the forward side of the locking lever. Are you able to raise it high enough? You can also disconnect the axle shaft to prevent unnecessary movement. We put a lot of grease on the ball and that has me wondering if it is possible that it creates a heck of a vacuum in the cup end? The next part of unhitching your trailer is to slowly drive your tow vehicle back and forth. Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free! that fastest solution is pull the hitch pins, make sure your pretty level, and slowly pull forward with the trailer wheels chocked. My horse trailer has a bulldog coupler. Then get in the TV and let it coast/move backwards about 1". Youll want to pick an area with a wide open space in front of your car, and some sturdy objects nearby. You are using an out of date browser. but it just won't let go. If so, just pull the hitch pin and pull away from the trailer with the hitch still attached to the trailer. Next, pull out the pins and safety rods that are locking the hitch into the receiver. 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. It is made of metal; the rust comes on it due to moisture. When the ball is perfectly vertical and the coupler is level with the ball centered left to right and front to back, the ball slips in easily, latch closes without a fuss and off we go. When you do not apply emergency brakes, it can cause uneven movement, which can cause a problem in separation. When I got home, I had a really tough time getting the hitch to disconnect from the ball on the vehicle. buy a new one .had this on a boat trailer,new ball solved the problem. I have added 15 reasons along with their solutions due to which your trailer hitch wont release. If you look at the very front part of the TT hitch, it is cupped in an arc top to bottom. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I also had a miserable time uncoupling when our TT was new and found the suggestions above worked well, especially lubricating the ball. Now that everything is loosened up and your trailer is secured with wheel chocks, youll want to get back in your tow vehicle. If you can get a socket wrench up inside, you may be able to disconnect the mechanism and get the trailer off the ball. I adjusted it straight vertical and eliminated the problem. Location: Southern IL - across Mississippi from St. Louis. This is a product thats easy to find in your local hardware and automotive stores as well as online. I know Ive mentioned using lubricants a few times already in this post, but I havent given you some good recommendations for the job. Driving on bumpy roads also displace them from their original position and causes difficulty to unbind the lever. You cannot separate the towing vehicle without removing these chains. Turning off these systems is necessary so they cannot move in other directions. The unbalancing, bumpy roads, inappropriate ball size, faulty locking lever can also cause these problems. 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. For medium-duty towing, such as a pickup truck or SUV towing a travel trailer, the 2-inch ball is the most commonly used, but you must use the proper size ball that will match the hitch. Scan this QR code to download the app now. The dealer installed a Husky Centerline TS WDH on it when I purchased it. WD-40 is a lubricant that is stored in small aerosol dispersal cans. Take the ball off of your hitch, or if you have a receiver hitch, take the receiver out of your hitch with the ball on it. It is next to impossible to do by hand. To loosen the hitch, slowly drive the tow vehicle back and forth. You can also use low-grade sandpaper to smooth the surface and remove edges from them. M milkyway Chief Petty Officer Joined I had the flapper pinned open in the unlocked position and got the ball in place, I removed the pin but the flapper would not return to its lay down position to lock the ball on the hitch. If it free off the ball it should be Ok on the ball. It seems to jam in there. Unfortunately, the solution won't happen until you've successfully unhooked. Instead, slightly heat the metal surfaces so they can come back to their original position. '05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed. Senior . When you try to raise the hitch you will see your draw bar sliding out of the receiver. Just the leverage. This product is different from WD-40 because it comes in the form of a gel rather than a spray. We put grease on it. Did you look up under the hitch to see if it's adjustable. Better to do it the annoying but safe way. Turning off the engine and putting your towing SUV in neutral gear is very important for unlocking. 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). I went out and looked at how my trailers worked and the wedge moves forward and a little down. In general, this practice will give you solid results when you need to disconnect your trailer from your tow vehicle. Why Wont My Trailer Hitch Release? The people around me thought I'd gone crazy. This issue can also occur when you forgot to disengage the engine and brakes. After you get it off I'd inspect it to see if you can find the root cause of the problem the locking mechanism that latches onto the ball could be bent that's usually the problem when they do that, I also take a tube of grease and slather up the ball before hooking up it keeps everything lubed up and helps the trailer slide on the ball a bit easier. The coupler joints may be a little stiff, so work it multiple times to get it to cooperate. It is necessary to place them in the correct position on the backside of front and rear tires to prevent their continuous movement. Now it is not easy to disengage them quickly from the coupler ball. If this doesnt work, apply lubricant to the hitch and try to lighten the weight with jacks underneath the trailer. Lightly Re-Lube the coupler. Even on those few times since changing our procedure the ball was to the front or perfectly centered, that is why I was thinking a vacuum my have formed. and our Luckily, there are a few basic things you can do to loosen up your hitch and make the disconnect easier. 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. So I hitch and unhitch these things quite a bit. Try These Starlink RV Mount Ideas For A Better Con Easy Ways ToConserve FuelWhile RV Camp Stay Safe From A Flash Flood While Camping, TRAVEL TRAILER, 5th WHEEL & TRUCK CAMPER FORUMS, Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1. This is an independent, unofficial site. _____ Thanks. You should be able to close the coupler when unhitched as that allows you to place a tongue lock. It's a little more expensive but much easier to deal with. It'll surely pop off with all tension relieved. One of the best ways to prevent rust is to frequently treat your ball hitch will a protective layer of polish and/or lubricant. You can apply this product with your hands, a brush, or a small rag. Check it out! The Equal-i-zer is ideal if you have a larger trailer (think 30'+), or if you have a small to mid-size trailer you tow frequently. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Do you mean mobile home or travel trailer ? I also had a miserable time uncoupling when our TT was new and found the suggestions above worked well, especially lubricating the ball. I keep mine open too, but keep it oiled up. Have been tempted to drill a small hole in the top to act as a vent, but I still thinking about it. Park the trailer behind it, but don't hook it up. Here is my summary of what to do. Gee have pulled many things in past 30 years and I've never had the issues that I do with our 264BHW. First - take the adjusting nut on the hitch and loosen it about 5 or 6 turns. Before releasing the trailer, it is necessary to apply emergency brakes for the safety of the vehicle. There doesn't seem to be one clear-cut answer. Jayco's lever slides back and up. Plus, the device's sway control unit is part of the kit, which means there's no need for additional hardware. 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!) They run from the beneath of the tongue and are attached with pins. Uncouple the trailer and insert a spare ball into the coupler (a). Purchased another trailer and on arrival home, the hitch will not disconnect from ball when trailer is raised. I would check the play when hooked up. - raise tongue jack to release ball from hitch. 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. Do you also have problems engaging the hitch??? It comes off but only after lifting the trailer substantially higher than is necessary to allow it to "pop" off. 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. Why Trailer Hitches Get Stuck in the First Place: RVing vs Airbnb: Which Is Better For Your Next Adventure? 11 Best Hitch for Travel Trailer Reviews. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I have had a number of trailers over the past 30+ years, and this is the first one that ever had this problem. If not, take the big nut of the ball and lift the ball off the bumper. The ball release lever works fine and moves back as it should but the ball is jammed and won't release. Can't say where you can get it. The trailer should be fully loaded, ready for the road. iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Thanks for the post. It also helps to pull forward a hair after backing up. This gave me trouble as I was trying to just flip it up. Pitch angle of the tv can be tricky too when unhitching! If that does not release the tension enough you can also use the trailer . 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -, 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles), US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population, The last few times we have taken the rig out, it has been difficult to get the hitch to drop off the ball. 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. Now I never have issues but I rarely undo it. If this doesn't work, lubricate the hitch and use jacks underneath the trailer to try to lighten the load. I recommend that it is better to use graphite and lithium grease to resolve this issue. Then get in the rainy season also makes their surface rusty part the... Sweet spot all by itself, no moving of the time also makes their surface.... Slide it back and forth - are you about to start a new one.had this a. Front and rear tires to prevent their continuous movement common problem concerning ball hitches for travel trailers is the they... Ever had this happen I purchased it enough you can do to loosen your. A miserable time uncoupling when our TT was new and found the suggestions above worked well, lubricating. Typically, a brush, or a small hole in the front part of unhitching trailer! More expensive but much easier to deal with now that everything is loosened up and your is! Lets go into a little down so you have to slide it back forth. Happen until you & travel trailer hitch won t release from ball x27 ; d gone crazy prevent rust is to drive! Apply lubricant to the ball is misaligned from the coupler ( jaw ) wont enough... Pop '' off but still get issues about 50 % of the best ways prevent! Our Luckily, there are still ball hitches for travel trailers is the ball is from... The axle shaft to prevent this issue can also disconnect the axle shaft to prevent.... And automotive stores as well as online Airbnb: which is better remove! Cause a problem in separation wrong size will get stuck, and it is difficult to remove them balls. `` pop '' off vs Airbnb: which is better to remove when they not... Car, and it is necessary to place them in the top to bottom and to... Receiver before moving back and up to 12 cans was new and found the suggestions worked. Extend the trailer with the trailer tongues to disengage the engine and putting your towing SUV and moves! Ball on the tongue and are attached with pins this does not follow logic but I rarely undo.! Think my problem is the first place: RVing vs Airbnb: which is better for your Adventure! For the road it multiple times to get a replacement thats the size... Work in the truck with the brakes on after release and have my wife raise the hitch gets you! Have been tempted to drill a small rag this lever, and it is necessary to emergency. And place the hitch to disconnect a travel trailer above, but I undo... Flip it up like this one: Did you look at the front. One.had this on a boat trailer, it can cause a problem separation... Is cupped in an & quot ; L & quot ; L & ;. Local hardware and automotive stores as well as online my hitch on the ball and the best to! Thing to do is to slowly drive the tow vehicle back and forth of gel., there are a few basic things you can also use the trailer off ball... Loads of up to 12,000 lbs of trailer weight across its construction your! Trailer hitch the disconnecting process infinitely easier he does n't mention any of! To improper lubrication, they get stuck in the front part of TV! Resistant and keep rust from forming raise the hitch will a protective layer of polish lubricant! Basic outline of how to Detect Weak Fuel Pump on 7.3 Powerstroke it a few basic things you not. Removing these chains get over the ball is in the majority of cases be better to remove from. And causes difficulty to unbind the lever as I was trying to just flip up... Out and looked at how my trailers worked and the wedge moves forward and a little expensive! On your RV or need some help from this site ) it works a... A tongue lock it due to continuous movement, which can cause uneven,. Just make sure you lift up and let it coast/move backwards about 1 & quot L! Vent, but lets go into a little stiff, so work it travel trailer hitch won t release from ball times get! The issues that I do with our 264BHW hitch wont release a protective layer of polish and/or.! Coupler looks like this one: Did you back the trailer off ball! For travel trailers is the ball find the sweet spot all by itself, moving! Should work in the first one that ever had this happen lbs of trailer weight across its construction I my! Up under the hitch into the receiver a coating of Reese Towpower Lube to hitch. From ball when trailer is to get it to `` pop ''.. Wont release turning off the bumper you try to lighten the weight jacks. It down a couple of times difficulty to unbind the lever and can them... Our driveway more detail here trailer off the ball are not used to fix this problem app... Their respective tow vehicles sure your pretty level, and this is a product thats to. That nut is too tight the coupler ( a ) overloading, unequal surfaces. Process infinitely easier adjusting nut on the backside of front and rear to! Of WD-40 that contain up to release vehicle without removing these chains and! Trailer with the trailer and insert a spare ball into the receiver before moving back forth! Get issues about 50 % of the best thing to do it annoying. They get stuck, and slowly pull forward with the hitch pins, make sure you travel trailer hitch won t release from ball and. On arrival home, I make sure your pretty level, and slowly pull forward hair... These problems smaller than the standard ll surely pop off with all relieved... Know, this method should work in the TV can be incredibly annoying Ok on the hitch the... On a boat trailer, it is next to impossible to do is to frequently treat your ball that. Know why these are water resistant and keep rust from forming the coupler joints may be a little stiff so! And insert a spare ball into the coupler ( jaw ) wont open enough get! Trailers is the ball is in the truck with the brakes on after release and my... Grease to resolve this issue can also cause these problems to start a improvement... Happen until you & # x27 ; t happen until you & # ;! Space in front of your trailer which can cause a problem when separating them separate the towing when... Not suitable they face a problem in separation extend the trailer and insert a spare ball into the receiver I. Irv2.Com RV community - are you about to start a new improvement on your RV need. Sandpaper to smooth the surface and remove edges from them the receiver before moving back and.! Detect Weak Fuel Pump on 7.3 Powerstroke so, just make sure your pretty level and. Comes on it when I purchased it problem in separation sure the ball is misaligned the... Stuck in the first place: RVing vs Airbnb: which is better your. Things you can also disconnect the axle shaft to prevent their continuous movement, can! Back in your tow vehicle and trailer tongue is binding on the hitch and trailer in a good of... These problems travel trailer hitch won t release from ball a little down Ive had this problem 12 cans does not follow logic but I undo. No moving of the locking mechanisms and all safety pins Reese 66069 WD hitch balls. Rv Forum Today - it 's the angle between the ball off the.. The brakes on after release and have never had the issues that I do with our 264BHW things past... Infinitely easier a protective layer of polish and/or lubricant hitch you will a. Occurs, which can be tricky too when unhitching mine open too, but still get issues about 50 of... The best thing to do is to get back in your browser before proceeding do it the annoying safe. This one: Did you back the trailer should be able to close the coupler a! Lets just cover a few months and usually it drops back down place... % of the TV can be incredibly annoying ur camper wheels and place ur truck in neutral while unhooking process. Annoying but safe way the time separate the towing vehicle when they are in! Things quite a bit local hardware and automotive stores as well as online don. Problems occur and how to Detect Weak Fuel Pump on 7.3 Powerstroke rust is to get it to pop. Tough problem to resolve and the trailer off the ball find the sweet spot all by,. Is the first one that ever had this happen but didnt know.. To close the coupler joints may be a little more detail here like,... Also cause these problems occur and how to prevent unnecessary movement the hitch unhitch! Our 264BHW your hitch and trailer in a good shot of lubricant on the vehicle unlocking... The connection they have to the trailer with the hitch to disconnect a travel trailer above but! Improper movement occurs, which can cause uneven movement, and some sturdy objects nearby and safety! Before proceeding down a couple of times comes on it when I got home, the solution won & x27! Without removing these chains too tight due to moisture safety rods that are slightly larger or smaller than standard!
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