Just bought a new (used) travel trailer and a brand new weight distribution hitch and towed it home. After getting it home and parking in driveway, I had a hell of a time getting the hitch off. The driveway is gravel and the truck was a bit on grass, everything was not completely level and the truck was not lined up completely straight with the trailer, so I think that's why we had a particularly hard time getting the hitch off on the one side. I was working on a time constraint (I had to leave for work) and doing this for the very first time ever, we made a hasty decision. Was having trouble lowering the ball from the ball mount. In hindsight, I think I know what we were doing wrong. The person helping me suggested to just dismantle the hitch bar from the receiver, so that's what I did and drove the truck out. This worked, but now the piece of hitch is left dangling from the ball mount. I would like to get it out from under the ball mount, then reinsert the hitch into the receiver before connecting the trailer again; however, don't know how to get ball free from ball mount. Otherwise, someone will have to hold the hitch up perfectly in line while I back the truck into it which seems impossible. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks!

Do you have a sledge hammer? I hope the locking latch was fully open when you hitched up.

Lots of WD40 and jumping up and down on the bar. Also make sure the truck isn't "pulling" on the ball and creating more tension.

Are you sure the trailer hitch is the right size for the ball on the insert? If the ball is too big, it will get stuck. Also, and this is silly, are you sure you released the hitch ball lock lever?

If the stinger is out of the truck and just hanging in the trailer hitch, it will come out easily unless your trailer coupler is messed up. But we can’t tell that from your description.But it sounds like you had issue in-doing the wdh as well, so idk.

Two things. Generally, there is an adjustment screw underneath where in you can adjust how tight the coupler grips the ball - loosen it enough to get the ball out then re-adjust.Secondly, with the draw bar in the receiver you can jack up the trailer to put more tension on releasing of the ball and while at the same time bouncing on the bumper to coax them to separate.

Help! Hitch stuck in ball mount. | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2021
Lynnmor wrote:
I believe that there are some still on dial-up, if that is what you are referring to.
Yes, that's what I'm referring to. How many users on here are still on dialup? (It wouldn't matter if it was zero. Nothing on this board ever changes)
Lynnmor
Explorer
Apr 22, 2021
2oldman wrote:
opnspaces wrote:
Under General Preferences scroll down to and put a check mark in
"Show images that are part of posts ( not recommended for dial-up users ) "
That statement is just slightly out of date.

I believe that there are some still on dial-up, if that is what you are referring to.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Apr 22, 2021
2oldman wrote:
opnspaces wrote:
Under General Preferences scroll down to and put a check mark in
"Show images that are part of posts ( not recommended for dial-up users ) "
That statement is just slightly out of date.

As is the whole forum software package - in fact, more than slightly!:R
Barney
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 21, 2021
opnspaces wrote:
Under General Preferences scroll down to and put a check mark in
"Show images that are part of posts ( not recommended for dial-up users ) "
That statement is just slightly out of date.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Apr 17, 2021
1988Resort wrote:
Apparently I need to change something in my settings to see photos, but based on the verbal description, I have the black one. Lift up and pull back (which is what I didn't realize when first attempting to dismantle).

On the top right of this page click on the "My Forums" link.

Then on the left side of the new page click on "My Preferences"

Type in your password when asked.

Under General Preferences scroll down to and put a check mark in
"Show images that are part of posts ( not recommended for dial-up users ) "

Make sure you scroll down to the bottom left of the page and click on "Submit Changes"
BarneyS
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2021
Congratulations on getting your hitch issue figured out! Welcome to the forums!:) As you have discovered, we have a whole lot of very helpful and friendly members here and you can get just about any question answered that is about RVing.

We have a forum dedicated to towing issues. Stuck at the top of that forum is a thread with the title Travel Trailer Hitch Set-up Procedure.
I think you will find it very informative and helpful.

Again, Welcome to the forums and I hope you continue to participate and post often.:)
Barney
bucky
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2021
2 many 2 wrote:
Lynnmor wrote:
Always apply grease to the ball despite what some might advise.

X2

Times 3.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Apr 16, 2021
Glad to see you figured it out.... I know some hitches can be a bear.
lwbfl
Explorer
Apr 16, 2021
1988Resort wrote:
Oh my goodness; I just got it off! The problem was I just didn't know how to properly undo the latch. It was very sticky; the trailer is very old, as I mentioned. I had an "aha" moment last night when I watched one more youtube video of hitch dismantling and watched the way he pulled out the latch.

When dismantling the hitch the other day, I broke the first rule of RVing, "Never be in a rush", as I was starting to run out of time before I had to be at work and I needed to get the trailer detached from my truck so I could drive to work and not have to take my trailer with me! So I began to panic. I also had someone helping me who knew nothing about trailers and was the one who suggested pulling the pin out of the hitch and driving the truck out. So now I just have to put the ball mount back on my truck and practice hitching and unhitching about 50 more times! Maybe 100. And maybe put some WD40 on that latch.

Thanks, everyone!

That's awesome news! That's how we learn and this lesson was free! Glad it was resolved with a simple solution and keep us updated on your future usage!
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2021
My pants leg always seemed to be able to find the greased ball.

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