I am sure this is nothing new to you old timers. We purchased a 2010 Dutchman lite and when we hauled it home we unhooked the torsion bars etc. lowered the trailer, slid the ball lock free and cranked the trailer up to take it off the ball. Unfortunately the ball would not come loose and I was only jacking the truck up with the trailer. It was like the ball was jammed into the front part of the hitch.I looked under and the hitch lock was clear but again, the ball seemed to be stuck in the front of the trailer hitch. It took several attempts but by rocking the truck slightly, with just a minimal amount of crank pressure lift on the ball, the ball moved enough to crank it free. Today I pull the trailer up so we could get ready for a trip south and the same thing happened. The ball is well greased. The trailer is new to us but the one I rented previously did not have this problem.Any suggestions? Am I missing something? Do I need to hike the truck up higher?

I use my hand that's not on the jack to rock the TV and it always comes off with no problem.

I stand on the truck side of the hitch and bounce up and down.

We just replaced our hitch due to a theft and the new one has the same issue. With a well greased ball, especially on an incline, I have to step up on the hitch and use my body weight to help break her free.

Once you get the trailer where you want it, get out and chock the trailer wheels as necessary. Then get back in and move the truck VERY SLIGHTLY forward and set the brake. This will take the pressure off of the ball/coupler and let it release when you jack the tongue up.Sometimes, all that is necessary is put the truck in neutral for a second and then in park and set the brake - anything that you need to do to release the pressure on the front or back of the coupler. This is especially true in cases where the truck or trailer is on an incline like a driveway or some campsites.Barney

When the ball is pre-loaded (tension between the truck and trailer) it's not going to come out. As stated chock the Tt wheels, then put the truck in R or D and release the pre-load tension. Can happen when slight angles are involved.

Hitch will not come off the ball. | Good Sam Community

scottsnider
Explorer II
Jan 15, 2014
I just bring the trailer hitch up a little higher and rock the TV some 9 times out of 10 that will doing, the other 1 I have to jump on the TV a bit
BossCamper
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Seattle Lion wrote:
NanciL wrote:
The easiest way is to just take the pin out of the hitch prior to jacking it up I guarantee you that as you jack the truck up it will come right off the ball.
Don't thank me for this tid bit. Someone here passed it on to me about five years ago

jack L

I always unlock the hitch before jacking it up and I still find it gets stuck and I have to bounce on the truck to get it off.

I think Nancil means to take the receiver pin out of the draw bar while jacking the trailer so the bar will move and release tension on the coupler.
Chuck_in_va
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
I purchased a new TT mid December. Got it home the same thing happened to me, I called the dealer , they sent a service tech he was unable to get it loose. We had to remove the hitch pin ,get the truck and the trailer level, chock the wheels and pull the truck away slowly. He said he had never seen that happen before. When I purchased the trailer I also purchased a high dollar sway hitch with it. There was a adjustment on the hitch itself that had the ball slightly tilted toward the front of the truck and after moving the trailer it put everything in a bind. They adjusted it, I hope it works haven't had the weather to try it yet. It sure made me feel stupid when I was unable unhitch it but better in my yard than a camp ground. Hope this helps.
Seattle_Lion
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
NanciL wrote:
The easiest way is to just take the pin out of the hitch prior to jacking it up I guarantee you that as you jack the truck up it will come right off the ball.
Don't thank me for this tid bit. Someone here passed it on to me about five years ago

jack L

I always unlock the hitch before jacking it up and I still find it gets stuck and I have to bounce on the truck to get it off.
NanciL
Explorer II
Jan 14, 2014
The easiest way is to just take the pin out of the hitch prior to jacking it up I guarantee you that as you jack the truck up it will come right off the ball.
Don't thank me for this tid bit. Someone here passed it on to me about five years ago

jack L
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jan 14, 2014
BarneyS wrote:
Once you get the trailer where you want it, get out and chock the trailer wheels as necessary. Then get back in and move the truck VERY SLIGHTLY forward and set the brake. This will take the pressure off of the ball/coupler and let it release when you jack the tongue up.
Sometimes, all that is necessary is put the truck in neutral for a second and then in park and set the brake - anything that you need to do to release the pressure on the front or back of the coupler. This is especially true in cases where the truck or trailer is on an incline like a driveway or some campsites.
Barney
X-2
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
sch911 wrote:
When the ball is pre-loaded (tension between the truck and trailer) it's not going to come out. As stated chock the Tt wheels, then put the truck in R or D and release the pre-load tension. Can happen when slight angles are involved.

X3!

That tension's a sure sign that the ball's being pulled on one way or another. Reminds me of the times when I can't start the car because there's tension on the steering wheel, locking the ignition. A slight turn in one direction or the other and...presto!
naturist
Nomad
Jan 14, 2014
The other possibility, of course, is that you are putting a 2-1/4 inch ball into a hitch designed for a 2 inch ball.
Shadow_Catcher
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
You can adjust the hitch, there is a nut under the hitch. I learned the hard way that it can be too lose when ours popped off and the trailer came lose and ended up on its side.
wmoses
Explorer
Jan 14, 2014
When the coupler as 'misbehaving' l simply undo the latch, jack up the truck, jump up and down on the track side of the joint and if that is not sufficient l get in the truck, shift into gear and rock the joint back and forth once. No issues after that.