hitch doesn't fit

#1. How did you get the trailer home?
#2. How come the dealer didn't go over this with you?

is there a lever on top to move/lock the ball in place, when down, a piece slides under ball.
bumpy

Sounds like your coupler did not release. You need to lift the little lever up on the trailer coupler before lowering on the ball. If it doesn't rest in place, the trailer lever did not release the "jaw" inside the coupler. 2 5/16 inch ball is the right size. I just check the Coachmen Web site:

PDF click here.

and you have the correct ball. I think the jaws inside the coupler are sticking.

Sometimes (rare, but it does happen), the jaws will close shut before the trailer is on the ball. I have to rise the tongue and that usually is enough to free it up from being stuck.

There are different styles of latches. With the type below, you have to lift and slide the latch back and let it lock open. After the hitch is on the ball, you release it and it should close and lock. Never force or hammer on a coupler. It should go on easily (which may include moving the vehicle forward or backwards a few inches). If it doesn't, forcing it is likely to bend or break something which would make it unsafe to use.

If you forced it down with the latch in the closesd postion, you may have damaged it severely. That is the only thing that keeps the hitch secure so make sure it's working. I would get under it and use a bright light to verify it's OK.
If anything looks bent, DONT USE IT.
You will have to get a welder to come out and replace it. (Or have ot towed with a flatbed)

Very seldom is a hammer the answer to make something fit. Sometimes you have to jiggle the truck a little. Also a LITTLE lubrication is needed.

Hopefully you didn't damage your hitch. What type of coupler do you have, and what did you have to hammer on??

I had a couple of latches on trailers give me some trouble over the weekend. A pickup box trailer would not latch for nothing,even with the hammering. We chained it down and moved the trailer (around to the other side of shop). I took the latch apart, made a minor adjustment, reassembled it and it works fine now. The 35' travel trailer (1952 heavy beast) had the latch "frozen" but it dropped on ok, just would not latch. Plenty of tongue weight, so went slow and moved it from behind shop to other side of front yard.. liberally sprayed the latch with PB Blaster and will make sure it works for next time. I would never knowing tow anything off our property without a properly working coupler.

gerewolf wrote:
I had to get out a hammer and hammer it until it slipped onto the ball. Am I doing something wrong?

Of course you did "something wrong", you used a hammer. :E

When backing the TV up to the trailer you want the coupler to "reach" for the ball slightly so it doesn't inadvertently trap the latching mechanism and prevent it from closing properly around the underside of the ball.





A bit of grease on the ball, the coupler well greased, and the ball will slip nicely up into the coupler.

A mechanic's two most used tools: a ball pein hammer if it won't move and duct tape if it moves too much!!:B