I NEED HELP ASAP

Yes, but not all professionals use a WDH when pulling a TT from factory to dealer. I saw one back in Dec. that was over 2K miles from Indiana on a ferry to Vancouver Island. F250 with a 30'+ TT and no WDH.

CampingN.C. wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Anddrew15 wrote:
if it was a false hitch I would have thought it would come off sooner than it did

Not necessarily. False hitch often "looks" true...coupler can appear to be almost all the way down on the ball, it's just not latched. A trailer can go quite a ways before it jolts off the ball, especially if you've got weight distribution and/or sway bars hooked up too.

If WD is hooked up it is impossible for the hitch to come off the ball.

Try this for yourself to see.
Hookup everything. The unlatch the hitch. Now use the tongue jack to try to lift it off the ball.
It can't be done.

X2
Unfortunately I drove home last Saturday with our brand new camper and found that the coupler wasn't latched when I got home. Completely my fault as I assumed it was done correctly. Oh how I was mistaken.
No WD and I'd been in trouble.

On a side note and possibly off topic. The guys that move units at the large campgrounds at Myrtle Beach never get out of their trucks to hook up, meaning they NEVER latch any of them. And they're going up to a mile away.

To the best of my knowledge this recall effected trailer chassis mfg. between 3/30/2010 and 5/18/2010 and use for some early model year 2011 Keystone Outback’s… I haven’t heard of it being expanded if it was…
You trying to somehow tie your problem to that recall… good luck with that…

The coupler is defective or chances are its operator error… it is obvious you automatically discounted operator already, and justify that by the fact you and 2 others you know have had this same thing happen…

The three of you should collectively have filed a faulty safety equipment claim with the NHTSA… if it’s a faulty hitch it shouldn’t be had to prove with 3 of them happening recently…

Once that’s done you need professional advice not internet advice…

Good luck, but my money is on operator error right now… but yes I have had it happen with a 1 7/8 inch ball when the coupler wasn’t adjusted correctly (operator error also)…

I to, know well about the chipper accident in Richland Twp.…

Francesca Knowles wrote:

westend wrote:
FWIW, here is a posting from another Forum with the NHTSA recall information regarding certain Keystone travel trailers.

That recall is from 2011 and affects models built prior to that. NHTSA Link

The O.P. hasn't given us much in the way of details, but it sounds as if he picked up a brand new unit of some kind just a few weeks ago. Seems doubtful that three years later Keystone would be putting out trailers with a coupler on them that's already been recalled.

If you're looking for specific incidents related to the equipment on the trailer, O.P., you might start over with a new thread asking for input from folks with that particular make/model/year etc.

I thought the OP gave plenty of info for his simple request. He simply was looking for anyone that had the same issue he did which no one did.

As usual to many folks start making different scenarios from the OP request.
his 1st post...

I have transported rv's for almost 2 years now I have well over 200,000 miles loaded not 1 problem a few weeks ago I had a keystone hideout TT come off my bumper WHEN I WAS DRIVING even thou everything was hooked up properly the pin was still in the tong lock after

HAS ANBODY ELSE HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP THANKS

2nd post 15 min later

well like I said I have experience doing this I know that it was on the ball properly Keystone and Lippert both have recalls I'm similar trailers for this happening it has something to do with not enough indentation on the front of the hitch

To the OP ...
Does Keystone have a TT forum. Some owners of those units may have had a issue with their hitch coupler not able to go down far enough on the ball.

Huntindog wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Anddrew15 wrote:
if it was a false hitch I would have thought it would come off sooner than it did

Not necessarily. False hitch often "looks" true...coupler can appear to be almost all the way down on the ball, it's just not latched. A trailer can go quite a ways before it jolts off the ball, especially if you've got weight distribution and/or sway bars hooked up too.

If WD is hooked up it is impossible for the hitch to come off the ball.

Try this for yourself to see.
Hookup everything. The unlatch the hitch. Now use the tongue jack to try to lift it off the ball.
It can't be done.

X2
Unfortunately I drove home last Saturday with our brand new camper and found that the coupler wasn't latched when I got home. Completely my fault as I assumed it was done correctly. Oh how I was mistaken.
No WD and I'd been in trouble.

On a side note and possibly off topic. The guys that move units at the large campgrounds at Myrtle Beach never get out of their trucks to hook up, meaning they NEVER latch any of them. And they're going up to a mile away.

This thread has my attention. I've towed boats, pop-ups and hard-sided trailers overs 20 years and (sadly) never checked the play in the coupler. I assumed (we know that saying) it was adjusted correctly and it's got me wondering about our new TT that we have yet to tow. Guess what I'll be doing before taking it out onto the road.

I helped a truck driver with over 35 years experience hook up an mt equipment trailer. We didn't get very far before it came un-hooked. When the air brake lines broke, the maxi-brakes set and the trailer came to rest, blocking the whole road. Embarrassing to say the least, and no-one to blame it on.........

westend wrote:
FWIW, here is a posting from another Forum with the NHTSA recall information regarding certain Keystone travel trailers.

That recall is from 2011 and affects models built prior to that. NHTSA Link

The O.P. hasn't given us much in the way of details, but it sounds as if he picked up a brand new unit of some kind just a few weeks ago. Seems doubtful that three years later Keystone would be putting out trailers with a coupler on them that's already been recalled.

If you're looking for specific incidents related to the equipment on the trailer, O.P., you might start over with a new thread asking for input from folks with that particular make/model/year etc.

Typical post here. The OP explains that he is a professional hauler who had a failure that appears to be related to a defective coupler, and may be a defect as it has happened to two other drivers recently. Which, predictably, is then followed by lots of amateurs telling him that it is impossible. Oddly enough, someone posts the recall info. indicating that it is not only possible, but happening to (shockingly) Lippert. Same sheet, different day.

Gdetrailer, funny you should mention the chipper accident. My son is a safety engineer who worked for that chipper manufacturer at a factory service and rental facility in Pittsburgh. They are brutal when it comes to who leaves the yard with a chipper and how it's hitched. Doesn't matter if you are a supervisor for one of their best accounts, or a weekend homeowner, if you don't have a tow vehicle that can do the job, and the trailer isn't hooked up 110% correct, you aren't leaving the gate. In our area, one of the big regional tree clearing and power line ROW outfits just spent months clearing lines. They spent the day in front of the house and I noticed that reattaching the chipper was a two man job. One guy hooked it up and checked the lights. Once he got in the truck, the driver hopped out and double checked everything.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Two causes
Mechanical failure
Operator Error

Sounds like 'operator error'

X2, this is the only answer. Probably the latter

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Anddrew15 wrote:
Ok let me ask if you went and pickup ur new TT directly from the manufacture and you didn't know anything about any adjustments you should make and nobody told you and thay said all is good and send you on your way and this happens to you....who is at fault

Assuming that's EXACTLY what happened to you, that is, you picked up your brand new trailer, the dealer hooked it up, and it flew off the ball on the way home, I'd say it's their fault for not checking for true hitch.

Nope. Not even close.

Pretty much a standard with each state that the OPERATOR of the vehicle IS RESPONSIBLE to ensure their load is correctly tied down or in the case of a trailer correctly coupled.

I guarantee if you have ANYTHING come off your vehicle in PA and it causes property damage or causes other motorists to cause accidents the OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE which lost the load IS RESPONSIBLE.

Years ago, near Pittsburgh PA an ENTIRE FAMILY WAS KILLED when an improperly connected 3,000 lbs chipper broke loose from the truck that was towing it and completely smashed the mini van the family was in.

FAMILY KILLED IN CHIPPER ACCIDENT

Read the above and quit being stupid and blaming someone else for your mistake.. The driver was ultimately charged for the accident and has to live with that fact that he messed up. The remaining family lives on without the lost love ones..

Do YOU want to end up this way?

The Company that owned the vehicle was not held responsible but the DRIVER WAS. The driver FAILED to check to see if the coupler or the safety chain was properly attached. A coworker had connected the chipper NOT THE DRIVER.