Cant get hitched-Trying to leave

wandering1 wrote:

djgarcia wrote:
Always remember to do the "bump test" after you hook up before you head down the road. :)

How about looking to see that the jaws are around the king pin and the handle is in and latched? Bump test or pull test can fail when high hitched and king pin is jammed between the top of the jaws and hitch plate.

Do what ever works:)

"How about looking to see that the jaws are around the king pin and the handle is in and latched? "

Hey now, don't be adding common sense to this! ;)

djgarcia wrote:
Always remember to do the "bump test" after you hook up before you head down the road. :)

How about looking to see that the jaws are around the king pin and the handle is in and latched? Bump test or pull test can fail when high hitched and king pin is jammed between the top of the jaws and hitch plate.

thirtydaZe wrote:
I just cant get my dual jaws to close around the king pin.

I need to get down the road.

As the last resort, you can call your Good Sam Emergency Road Side service center for help.

davidaf wrote:
The little tab is at the back (towards front of truck) of the hitch head where the pin comes into contact when you back into the king pin. When it's bent it wont engage and close the jaws. See image below.

http://www.etrailer.com/static/images/pics/c/q/cq5thEliteSeriesJaw_aa_1000.jpg

I was blocking campground traffic for 30min or so trying to figure out why it wouldn't close. Gotta remain calm in such a situation. That's the most important and difficult part. Start to hurry and get pissed and expensive/dangerous mistakes can occur. We are all RV folks if those waiting haven't had a problem yet, they will and they'll learn why they need to be patient.

FWIW my hitch is a Draw Tite branded Reese Elite.

Great photo of hitch! very informative.

Always remember to do the "bump test" after you hook up before you head down the road. :)

The little tab is at the back (towards front of truck) of the hitch head where the pin comes into contact when you back into the king pin. When it's bent it wont engage and close the jaws. See image below.

http://www.etrailer.com/static/images/pics/c/q/cq5thEliteSeriesJaw_aa_1000.jpg

I was blocking campground traffic for 30min or so trying to figure out why it wouldn't close. Gotta remain calm in such a situation. That's the most important and difficult part. Start to hurry and get pissed and expensive/dangerous mistakes can occur. We are all RV folks if those waiting haven't had a problem yet, they will and they'll learn why they need to be patient.

FWIW my hitch is a Draw Tite branded Reese Elite.

Sorry for leaving the thread. I finally got it to latch, but had to push it closed manually. I had previously just backed in no issues. I keep my jaws closed to begin with, and once backed in, they just wouldnt close back up.

I hope i dont have another issue tomorrow, it gets embarrassing.

What tabis perhaps bent?

I thought i was high hitching, then thought i was low hitching, then was hust pissed.

davidaf wrote:
Had the same thing happen a couple months ago. From memory, It was the little tab that makes contact with the king pin. I must have unitched high or something 'cause it was bent. I bent it back a bit and all was well. Having said that my memory may be fibbing to me but that's what i recall.

Right on! Had the same experience. Took it to a hitch shop, after straightening the little tab(5 min.). No more problems?? this caused by having the hitch to high and trying to hook up. The trailer king pin should be 2 in. Lower than the hitch when starting to back to to hook. The king ping should have climb up onto the hitch??

Had the same thing happen a couple months ago. From memory, It was the little tab that makes contact with the king pin. I must have unitched high or something 'cause it was bent. I bent it back a bit and all was well. Having said that my memory may be fibbing to me but that's what i recall.