After parking my TT this weekend, I couldn't get the ball to slip off of the joint. I raised the tongue so high the rear end of my TT was leaning backwards. I made sure the safety mechanism on the the joint was released. There was so much pressure it seemed like there was a gap being created on the ball and nut that holds it. The only way I was able to get it released was to pull the bar holding my receiver to the my tow vehicle and pull forward. I am hoping its a fluke, but I am gonna have to get the ball retorqued.

A couple of questions come to mind. Where you park, is the TT and TV level with respect to each other? Do you grease the ball and lube the latch mechanism? From past experience I know that both issues can cause a difficult un-hitching. Also if you are parking on a hill, even with the TT wheels chocked, it will want to move a little and hold pressure on the ball.

If everything is lubed properly, its just the pressure on the mechanism that won't let the ball release. Just pull forward or back an inch and try again.

Marsland wrote:A couple of questions come to mind. Where you park, is the TT and TV level with respect to each other? Do you grease the ball and lube the latch mechanism? From past experience I know that both issues can cause a difficult un-hitching. Also if you are parking on a hill, even with the TT wheels chocked, it will want to move a little and hold pressure on the ball.I have some lube, neglected to put it on...ty

Try "Bumping it",, reverse then forward enough to move the ball in the hitch.You can release the lock, but if it is stuck against the ball it will be a false positive.. First try reversing into the hitch with chocks set,, then try pulling forward against the chocks,,, Actually visualize that the lock is disengaged!! If not,, use a large screw driver and a hammer to free it.

RTrider wrote:If everything is lubed properly, its just the pressure on the mechanism that won't let the ball release. Just pull forward or back an inch and try again.X2. This worked for me once when I was unhitching on a bit of a incline. Put the truck in R and just let it back up an inch at most then in D and just let the break out so it just slightly tried to move forward. Not sure which did the trick but it worked and TT came right off the ball on the next try.

stuck hitch | Good Sam Community

Marsland
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
A couple of questions come to mind. Where you park, is the TT and TV level with respect to each other? Do you grease the ball and lube the latch mechanism? From past experience I know that both issues can cause a difficult un-hitching. Also if you are parking on a hill, even with the TT wheels chocked, it will want to move a little and hold pressure on the ball.
RTrider
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
If everything is lubed properly, its just the pressure on the mechanism that won't let the ball release. Just pull forward or back an inch and try again.
geekyguru
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Marsland wrote:
A couple of questions come to mind. Where you park, is the TT and TV level with respect to each other? Do you grease the ball and lube the latch mechanism? From past experience I know that both issues can cause a difficult un-hitching. Also if you are parking on a hill, even with the TT wheels chocked, it will want to move a little and hold pressure on the ball.
I have some lube, neglected to put it on...ty
jake2250
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Try "Bumping it",, reverse then forward enough to move the ball in the hitch.You can release the lock, but if it is stuck against the ball it will be a false positive.. First try reversing into the hitch with chocks set,, then try pulling forward against the chocks,,, Actually visualize that the lock is disengaged!!
If not,, use a large screw driver and a hammer to free it.
Farm_Camp
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
RTrider wrote:
If everything is lubed properly, its just the pressure on the mechanism that won't let the ball release. Just pull forward or back an inch and try again.

X2. This worked for me once when I was unhitching on a bit of a incline. Put the truck in R and just let it back up an inch at most then in D and just let the break out so it just slightly tried to move forward. Not sure which did the trick but it worked and TT came right off the ball on the next try.
old_guy
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
you have pressure on the locking mech and you need to pull forward and back until it releases that pressure, other wise you will have to pull the pin on the hitch and drive away, then the hitch will fall to the ground.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Often you can just chock the trailer tires and put the tow vehicle in neutral to relieve the pressure.
GaryWT
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
The pulling forward and back should work. You can always try standing on the bumper and jump a little. If this is the first time you had trouble then you are lucky.
mlts22
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
GaryWT wrote:
The pulling forward and back should work. You can always try standing on the bumper and jump a little. If this is the first time you had trouble then you are lucky.

I've added some penetrating oil, let it sit, then jump on the bumper, and so far, that has worked for dislodging things. Once dislodged, it can't hurt to clean out and grease things so it won't repeat.
NanciL
Explorer II
Sep 11, 2013
The very simple solution which I do every time I unhitch: before you raise the tongue jack, pull the hitch pin.
You will notice after the hitch pin is out of the hitch, when you are raising the tongue jack, the hitch will move a tad which releases the pressure and the coupling will come right off as you continue to raise it.

Don't tank me for this hint. Some kind RV'r on this site gave it to me back five years ago when we bought our second trailer and constantly had the same problem you had

Jack L

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