It may not display this or other websites correctly. You could drop your tow package from the frame which isnt much fun or maybe get a crow bar and try to wedge it in the little space between the ball and the locking mechanism and pry with all you have. I think my problem is the ball is misaligned from the dealer. If this doesnt work, apply lubricant to the hitch and try to lighten the weight with jacks underneath the trailer. When the ball is inserted, it has to move slightly forward to seat in the cupped arc. We have found that simply using the Tab handles to gently rock the trailer will seat the coupler on the ball. Dumb question but do you have the rear stabilizers lowered ? Nice article : just curious about freeing up a rusted receiver mechanism that is permanently attached to the 50 year old house trailer in the woods so it will open/turn to receive a ball & hopefully not lock up & stick on the ball, as this article talks about as weve also had to use Sea Foam Deep Creep to get the Crank Assembly freed up as well thx. It'll surely pop off with all tension relieved. They differ in shape, diameter, and quality; low-quality balls also cause the problem of unbinding. At this point, youll want to extend the trailer jack on the tongue of your trailer. No more issues. your choice: a big hammer or a little grease! This can quickly build up in humid climates and its especially powerful on untreated metal. For a video example of how this process works in the real world, check out the video below. Driving the towing vehicles on bumpy roads also makes problems in releasing of hitch. What is a hitch ball wrench? It is made of metal; the rust comes on it due to moisture. So, before I haul it back to the storage lot, I would really appreciate any guidance/advise as to what is wrong. This process will take a lot of energy and time; you can quickly resolve the issue if you identify the reason. Remove the hitch pin. I had problems with the ball releasing from the Hitch. Release the locking mechanisms and all safety pins to disconnect a travel trailer from its hitch. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media. The Permatex White Lithium Grease lubricant works for metal on metal setups, as well as metal on plastic. Do you need advice on what products to buy? 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. A basic can of WD-40 contains 8 ounces. Not uncommon to have to move slightly to unhook. Location: Where ever the boss says we're going. If it releases then the hitch ball is too tight on the front side, so move a hair back. Better to do it the annoying but safe way. 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. Excellent videos, thank you. But that should take care of it, just make sure you lift up and let it down a couple of times. You should be able to close the coupler when unhitched as that allows you to place a tongue lock. Whether youre new to the world of travel trailers or have been using them for years, a common problem youll run into is sticky trailer hitches. JavaScript is disabled. However, when you place overload them, it can damage the parts of towing vehicle. An anti-rattle installs tightly against the shank to keep it from vibrating inside the receiver. November 2017. and our Has your TT set a long time without use? Use tapes and high-quality shocks to keep them in place. If there are any safety locks or pins, youll want to remove those as well. No luck. Drop hitch onto ball (with trailer well-chocked), get into truck and put it in neutral (if level or downhill) or drive (slight uphill), let it creep forwards just enough to get things back into place (like half an inch), put it back in park with the parking brake on, try the hitch again. Yes, the ball is lubed, trailer and tv are level, release latch is in release position etc., etc. Best solution I've found is a large screwdriver. 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. 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. Step 3: Hitch the open receiver. Find a socket to fit and loosen that up one round then sit it back down on ball. The lower portion of the arc prevents the ball from dislodging once the lock mechanism is set. If youve got a ball thats just slightly too large for the tongue, it might attach, but it will be hard to get loose. RV Odor Control: What Absorbs Bad Smells? Any ideas? It is also beneficial to clean them with baking soda for better results. Quote: Originally Posted by go44. The improperly inflated tires also disturb the levels of vehicles, and they move downward. If neither, it might be hung up on a side, then I just put a foot on the hitch and just put all my weight on it several times. Do you have a good solid base under your front tongue jack? On that shaft is a locking fork that grabs the bottom of the ball. Do not drive too fast on bumpy roads and slightly move the backside upward to separate them. Just let the whole hitch slide out. Give it a look if youre interested in learning more! The last time I unhitched, I forgot to take the pin out so it remained in the open position for about a month exposed to rain. http://www.bulldogproducts.net/produeAug2gj%7Ch7s=, Installing a B & W Turnover Ball with companion hitch, Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1. Similar to Grumpy, we also had some paint in the coupler and getting rid of that also made a big difference. Enjoy A Stay At Lake Dallas RV Park In Texas. It seems to jam in there. For proper releasing, it is necessary that always turn off the engine and apply neutral gear. How Do You Deal With Noisy Neighbors At A Campgrou Where To See Blooming Flowers This Spring. Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved. It did release. Finally, WD-40 and a hand sledge worked. Jump on the trailer tongues to disengage them from balls. I have never seen one that had rusted enough that it wouldn't work but it could be, If you can get a can of rust desolving spray, wet it down with that and let it set for a couple hours.The one I use is called Free All and is the best I have found. Its set up too tight and the moveable jaw can't close around the ball. The disconnect is so violent. I cleaned it out with degreaser and Brake Clean. Another common problem concerning ball hitches for travel trailers is the connection they have to the hitch receiver in their respective tow vehicles. When I got out of the truck and it rolled forward a bit it got stuck again. 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 . How Many Batteries Does a Semi Truck Have? We got it unhitched with some struggles. First, if there is tension between the truck and trailer then it can cause the coupler to bind and get stuck on the ball. How to Detect Weak Fuel Pump on 7.3 Powerstroke. is this common? Once the wheels on my truck started to lift off the ground, it was obvious "just keep lifting it" wasn't working. Was't told to do this before, but will from now on. 2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. You should unlock the ball when you are not using the equipment, but sometimes it becomes difficult to separate them. I knew about the ball hitch, but just never had done it yet. 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. Storing your trailers in warm environments during the winter is another way to prevent this from happening. So far I would try everything stated in the above post. 1. Overall this is a great lubricant that can be used for a variety of automotive and home maintenance jobs. I recently posted with the same problem. Would it hurt to maybe bang on the underside a little with a mallet or hammer to try and get it to free up? It is next to impossible to do by hand. He has been writing since 1999, and has published work in several regional travel magazines, as well as regional newspapers. Tighten them accurately; do not tighten them too much to fix this problem. I also had a miserable time uncoupling when our TT was new and found the suggestions above worked well, especially lubricating the ball. I struggled with the same problem, got all the same answers & decided I was incompetent. Attachment with unequal or bent surfaces of balls is not suitable. Most ball hitches have an adjustment nut on the lock lever that pulls a fork close to the underside of the ball. Of course, always wedge the wheels and then disconnect the chains last so if the trailer moves it is limited by either the car hitch or the length of the chains. On that shaft is a locking fork that grabs the bottom of the ball. Chocking is also necessary during this process so you can safely release them. At this point, the top of the hitch ball should be about an inch higher than the top of the trailer's coupler. Here's how to achieve the perfect fit in just a few minutes. Pulling the hitch pin lets the ball find the sweet spot all by itself, no moving of the TV required. Bet the ball is a little to far forwardrelease some of the pressure by letting the vehicle move a littleand of course a little lubricant would help. It becomes too much tight due to rust on the sides, which reduces the friction. Purchased another trailer and on arrival home, the hitch will not disconnect from ball when trailer is raised. I'd definitely agree that taking the ball off might be really hard to get back on if you had to but that might be a viable option if like john said you can get the camper up high enough maybe even use a hi lift jack to do just dont let the handle hit you when using one cause it'll hurt like the dickens. Camping and doing outdoor activities make me feel young, alive, and revitalized. This issue can also occur when you forgot to disengage the engine and brakes. I sprayed it with WD40, but it did not free up. That is entirely up to you. When you do not remove the coupler balls after use, it becomes rusty. Seems like the ball is sticking inside . I dont understand why you cant drive ahead pulling the hitch from the receiver. Can you install a fifth-wheel hitch on your Ford F150? Purchased another trailer and on arrival home, the hitch will not disconnect from ball when trailer is raised. Didn't seem to help. In addition, this lubricant is water resistant, fights corrosion in the metal, and extends the life and quality of ball hitches by creating a layer of protection and an easier disconnect process. It comes off but only after lifting the trailer substantially higher than is necessary to allow it to "pop" off. - remove safety chains, power cord, brake cable. I have had this happen many times. I went out and looked at how my trailers worked and the wedge moves forward and a little down. Pops off every time with little to no effort. It will be helpful for proper releasing if you apply emergency brakes and remove the cables and safety chains. The purpose of the locking lever is to secure the towing vehicle. Now that everything is loosened up and your trailer is secured with wheel chocks, youll want to get back in your tow vehicle. See.I told people this metric stuff would come back and bite us. Like clubhouse, I make sure the ball is in the front part of the coupler and have never had an issue. Start by driving forward relatively slowly. Then get in the TV and let it coast/move backwards about 1". There doesn't seem to be one clear-cut answer. Lift lever on tongue ball lock. Drive forward and backward a half inch and you should feel it release. 90% of the time, it's the angle between the ball and the trailer hitch. If TV and trailer are on even a slight slope, the locking mechanism will stick. It can be one thing or a combination of them. Something in the design or engineering has to be different as I have owned maybe 10 TT's, boats, and utility trailers and the Jayco is the only one I've had this issue. Not on the kind I posted. Never knew whether I should pull forward or back. Usually a jump on the truck hitch will work. Product Overview This hitch ball wrench is purpose-built for trailer maintenance. We put grease on it. It's time to connect your trailer coupler to the hitch ball. Dont endanger your car, property, or trees by pushing the limits too far! Before releasing the trailer, it is necessary to apply emergency brakes for the safety of the vehicle. Permatex is also resistant to moisture and high heat. The dust and dirt particles accumulate in them from the roadside. Plus the grease is still there so I don't have any squeak. Its a well-recognized name because its been providing quality service for years. I think I'll contact Jayco and ask these questions. Someone on here told me about this trick & it works EVERY time. Very confusing question. Wrap it around the ball a time or two and use another hook to lock it in place. The moisture protection is another way that it prevents rust as well. 74 catdanceding 3 mo. Many of these are water resistant and keep rust from forming. Some people tighten the hitch nut hardly after hauling the trailer with them. Park your tow vehicle and find a decent length of strong metal chain. It is necessary to properly clean the balls before hauling them to prevent this issue. Loosen the nut on the bottom. This works for me. What could be causing it? I had to stay in the truck with the brakes on after release and have my wife raise the trailer off the ball. Do you also have problems engaging the hitch??? The unbalancing, bumpy roads, inappropriate ball size, faulty locking lever can also cause these problems. Now we get to the fun part. Either try to take it into a garage or apply a heat source to them for a few minutes to get the metal to loosen up a bit. Whenever I see a thread about this I wonder if the ball is back in coupler. Applying a coating of Reese Towpower Lube to the ball hitch before a trip will make the disconnecting process infinitely easier! Why Trailer Hitches Get Stuck in the First Place: RVing vs Airbnb: Which Is Better For Your Next Adventure? buy a new one .had this on a boat trailer,new ball solved the problem. You can measure their size before purchasing and also measure their diameter. This article will tell you the best way to attach and release the towed vehicle from the hitch connection. To loosen the hitch, slowly drive the tow vehicle back and forth. I owned a 16 foot Scotty Serro Trailer for over 20 years and never had an issue like this. Just ease the TV ahead enough to tighten against the front of the hitch. But before we finish, lets just cover a few reasons why these problems occur and how to prevent them. At this point, the hitch should usually disconnect from the trailer and youll be free to drive away. Trailer brakes smoking: Causes & Solutions. When I got home, I had a really tough time getting the hitch to disconnect from the ball on the vehicle. I have this same problem. I've done the WD 40 and grease. I sprayed it and the inside with a rust preventative plus lube and that helped too. 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. How Often Should You Change Your RV Tires. 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. These may help you get an idea of what the mechanism is like. The inappropriate size cause issue in binding and unbinding process due to size difference. My problem was operator error. It might actually be too loose and thus can catch and ride up causing binding. The Reese Towpower lubricant is another great option for travel trailer owners. 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. If you don't do this, the hitch will bind on the ball, and it may be difficult or impossible to disengage the hitch. Obviously, this includes trailers, boats, or bike racks that might use the hitch. While the last product required you to spread the lubricant around the surface, this one has a small pointed nozzle that enables you to squeeze it out without needing to touch it directly. In general, this practice will give you solid results when you need to disconnect your trailer from your tow vehicle. Next, slowly drive the tow vehicle back and forth to loosen the hitch. Cookie Notice - raise tongue jack to release ball from hitch. I agree with Ratkity. Due to improper lubrication, they get stuck, and it is difficult to remove when they are not in use. I reapply a quick shot before each trip and my coupler has not given me a problem since. Place overload them, it 's travel trailer hitch won t release from ball angle between the ball is misaligned the. 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