Dropped Trailer on Bed Rails Today
I've read many threads that dropped trailers are a result of operator error. I believe that, but I've now come to believe that equipment can and do fail from time to time. I have a Reese Pro Series ...
Forum Discussion
richfaa wrote:
From your detailed description you did everything exactly correct but it dropped anyhow which might lead to the suspicion that you did not do everything exactly correct.???????
Everything right...except no pull test. A good pull test...hitch up...raise the landing gear an inch or two off the ground...Manually apply the trailer brakes, and hold them on...lower your tail gate...Put your truck in drive...hit the gas with a sharp short acceleration... If the hitch releases the trailer drops about an inch or two. Because there is no weight on the truck, the truck bounces up a couple inches. As long as you have at least six inches of bed rail clearance, no damage to bed rails or to trailer. But because the hitch released under pressure, you know there is a hitch problem. Re-hitch and do it right. If all is good, then get out...raise the landing gear. Close the tailgate. And go. The hitch is secure.
All the visual tests are good. But the only true way to make sure you have a good hitch up, is with a good pull test.
For those thinking to just use the Bed Saver as the hitch. The bed saver won't help you when you need to stop quickly. In fact it will cause more problems, in that case. DON'T EVER DO THAT.
