So I bought a new 2018 Jayco jay feather travel trailer 6 weeks ago and the trailer came off the hitch as I was driving! Luckily I was going slow up a hill and the trailer fell onto the safety chains, then bumper, and skidded to the ground! I had it towed to the storage facility with no major damage. This was our first time out with the new trailer but I've pulled a trailer for the past 4 years with no such problem at all hitcing hitching up. I lowered the jack over the ball,engaged the ball and TV hitch, slid over coupler locking device, then slid a pin through the coupler locking device to prevent it from moving. The only difference from any other trip was that I did not use weight distribution bars as we were camping locally. My weight numbers are almost the same as my previous trailer? I'm good with staying within ratings numbers.Any insight of what could have gone wrong? Just when I was getting comfortable with towing! Thanks all in advance!

My guesses are that you didn't have the coupler down on the ball, or you have a 2" ball and a 2-5/16" coupler.

We had that happen but with a pop up camper. Upon further inspection, the locking couple needed adjusted. It felt like it locked in place but was loose. Following isntructions online (Youtube), we made an adjustment and it didn't happen again. Don't let this scare you. Be cautious and always use your weight distributing bars even if you are camping locally. You just never know.

I vote for a two inch ball and a two and five sixteenths receiver. Please confirm.

Agree with above poster, ball was smaller than the coupler. Make sure the ball is 2-5/16 inch

It could also be that the coupler latch is not tight enough. You can adjust how tight the coupler jaw engages against the ball. There is a nut that tightens against a spring which pushes the jaw against the ball. If not tight enough when hitting a bump or pot hole, with enough upward force the coupler can be snatched right off the ball even with the coupler pin in place. It might not have been set tight enough at the factory. The dealer should have checked it when setting up the WDH when you bought it. Then you should have checked it before driving off the lot. If you installed it, you should have checked it.This happened to a friend of mine. He borrowed my utility trailer to take his Harley to Florida when he took his wife to visit her mother and stepfather. He wanted to ride his Harley on the beach down there. He came over a hill in NC with no warning that there was a construction site starting. He hit a big bump and the rear of the trailer went about 30 degrees into the air. When it bounced on the tires it came off the ball. The tongue went under the back of the TV and rested on the safety chains and wiring harness while dragging on the pavement. He ground through the wires and almost through the chains before he finally got it stopped on the shoulder. No damage to the TV or Harley. After he got it rehitched he took it slow and easy to the nearest Walmart for a new chain and some butt connectors for the wiring. The coupler was tight enough for normal towing, but not for 1500 lbs of trailer and Harley going airborne.When I bought my 28 ft TT new, it was the first time I ever used a WDH, since it was the largest trailer I ever owned.I got it home and unhitched in the street so I could turn around and use the front hitch to push it in the yard, I found out the guy that set up the WDH forgot to tighten the nut on the ball for the hitch head. The only reason I made it home after 8 miles on the interstate and 4 miles on city streets was that the WDH spring bars kept enough downward force that the ball stayed in place. The nut must have been finger tight when I left the dealer. It was almost to the end of the threaded shank when I uncoupled at homeIt was the guys fault for not tightening and torquing the nut, but I'm partly to blame. I should have checked the ball and everything else as he showed me how to hook everything up instead of just watching. I would have found the loose nut.

New trailer came off hitch!! | Good Sam Community

wing_zealot
Explorer
Sep 30, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
^Ok?
I’ve never had an electric jack either, couldn’t imagine cranking the jack back up significantly every time I hook up a trailer...
I did this for 12 years with my last trailer. It's really not much more effort. The higher the hitch the easier it is to hook and unhook the WD bars. So every time i hooked up or unhooked i would raise the trailer with the jack and hook or unhook the bars. Extra added benefit, I always knew the trailer was firmly connected to the ball.
Now i have an electric tongue jack, still do the same thing.
camperdave
Explorer
Sep 30, 2019
After the hitch is down and latched, I stick my finger behind the ball and make sure the catch is where it is supposed to be, and didn't get stuck on top of the ball or something weird.

The surge brake mechanism on my boat trailer is especially tricky, it can look correct but the catch doesn't always retract when lifting the release so it's easy to get it on top of the ball. The release still goes back down and looks correct from topside after raising the jack, even though the catch is not under the ball.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 30, 2019
^ Sure, but it's looking for a problem where one typically doesn't exist.
I guess it all depends on people's knowledge, confidence or competence with the actions they perform. To me, once a person has hooked up a trailer a few times, it should be old hat, like riding a bike. Maybe that's not the case for everyone?
happy2rv
Explorer
Sep 30, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
^Ok?
I’ve never had an electric jack either, couldn’t imagine cranking the jack back up significantly every time I hook up a trailer.
Let’s put this in perspective. Of the 100,000s? Of trailers that likely get hitched up every day, every year, how many come off?
Yes due diligence to make sure you hooked up the trailer right is warranted, but how many people check tire pressure every day or check the oil every day or check lights every day?
I’m sure a few will chime in and say “me”, but it’s risk vs reward type thing.
I suppose if one doesn’t have the confidence that they can actually latch a trailer right, then it is certainly a failsafe, but again, probability type thing.

I can't imagine having a travel trailer that doesn't have an electric tongue jack. I'm sure I wouldn't do this with a manual crank either, but with the electric jack, its much easier to raise the trailer to get the anti-sway bars in place. It's a side benefit that its a pretty reliable test that the hitch is firmly in place.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 29, 2019
^Ok?
I’ve never had an electric jack either, couldn’t imagine cranking the jack back up significantly every time I hook up a trailer.
Let’s put this in perspective. Of the 100,000s? Of trailers that likely get hitched up every day, every year, how many come off?
Yes due diligence to make sure you hooked up the trailer right is warranted, but how many people check tire pressure every day or check the oil every day or check lights every day?
I’m sure a few will chime in and say “me”, but it’s risk vs reward type thing.
I suppose if one doesn’t have the confidence that they can actually latch a trailer right, then it is certainly a failsafe, but again, probability type thing.
mikestock
Explorer
Sep 29, 2019
I always raise the trailer to try and force it to disconnect.. kind of like a fifth wheel pull-test.

Grit dog wrote:
^No, I never do that, but your process could be replaced with simply bending down and looking at the hitch to see that it’s set all the way down if you want verification.

Many years ago, when I had bumper pull trailers, I lifted my hitch with the jack to raise the "A" frame high enough to ease the latching of the tension bars. Must have done this a couple of hundred times, over the years, and never had a problem.
philh
Explorer II
Sep 18, 2019
...
ReneeG
Explorer
Sep 17, 2019
philh wrote:
First time DW towed the trailer, she picked it up from the dealer by herself. She had watched me before, and I had her do it with my oversight, and never had to say anything. Her biggest fear, not getting it latched down. In her words, her itty bitty brain ciphered that if the front jack lifted the vehicle to put on the load bars, it was properly locked down... **** I love this woman.

Side story, after she had it all hooked up, dealership staff came out to inquire if they could help.

Good for her! She man shamed the staff!
philh
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2019
First time DW towed the trailer, she picked it up from the dealer by herself. She had watched me before, and I had her do it with my oversight, and never had to say anything. Her biggest fear, not getting it latched down. In her words, her itty bitty brain ciphered that if the front jack lifted the vehicle to put on the load bars, it was properly locked down... **** I love this woman.

Side story, after she had it all hooked up, dealership staff came out to inquire if they could help.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Sep 17, 2019
I vote the hitch was sitting on top of the ball or a clasp failure as I've towed over 150 miles accidentally using a 2" ball for my 2 5/16 toy hauler without issue.

Since that day even though nothing happened I always double check the claps is on the underside of the ball and that I'm using the correct ball. I keep no other drop hitches in my truck either.

edit: I do not use WD hitch though so may of made the difference.

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