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

16 Replies

old_guy
Explorer
Sep 10, 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.
Farm_Camp
Explorer
Sep 10, 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.
jake2250
Explorer
Sep 10, 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.
geekyguru
Explorer
Sep 10, 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
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.
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.

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stuck hitch

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