Problems hitching and un hitching
I replaced my adjustable tongue on my Casita about 5 years ago, because it was getting harder hitch and unhitch. I replaced the hitch, ball and tongue with one of these: Trailer Valet Blackout Series ...
Forum Discussion
pemongillo wrote:
Yes, that is always part of the routine. Just seems like it shouldn't be that hard. The real problems start if I try to hook or unhook at a bit of an angle. I have had this trailer for 15 years and don't remember having these hassles early on. Thanks for your input. I guess it needs to be completely chocked up and I have to move little by little until the ball is right in the middle. And yes, that would be way easier if someone was helping, but not that big a deal to get in and out of the truck. I was beginning to think there was something wrong. Thanks.
You are not "completely" chocking?
As in no chocks or one chock?
There is your problem.
Chocks need to be in place on both side of the trailer wheels before attempting to unhitch even for completely level ground.
Chock completely first then drop the tongue jack to the ground.
Then start lifting the tongue with tongue jack enough to remove WD (if equipped).
Drop the tongue down after WD has been removed then unlatch tongue ball lock latch.
Then lift the tongue with tongue jack, you should see vehicle spring up to unloaded height and ball should now nearly fall right out of the tongue.
If ball does not come out, then try backing up slightly with vehicle as the ball can hang with the groove inside the tongue.
For kicks, take your hitch head with ball, while it is not on your vehicle and insert the ball into the tongue. With the latch open the ball should slide right in easily and you should be able to remove the ball easily.
If you cannot insert or remove the ball by hand, you may have the wrong ball size and you need to identify exactly what ball size is correct in this case.
The problem I suspect you have is typical when both the vehicle and trailer are "tight" together and there is not enough slack for the ball to center in the tongue part of the hitch. The only way to fix that is to make sure your trailer cannot move forwards, backwards or sideways! That means you must chock both sides of the trailer properly before attempting to unhitch.
