Hitch binding up trouble

[TheBeans]

We've towed our many different rigs over the years, without issues. This past weekend we ran into our first problem and I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this.

We towed...no problem. Pulled into the campground...no problem. Found out that the site we reserved was a tight pull-thru that required some jockeying to get in w/o hitting any trees or falling off into a ditch. Then, when we went to unhitch the tongue wouldn't budge off the hitch!

We tried bouncing on the hitch, hoping to dislodge it but nothing moved. Then we tried backing up a little bit...not budging. Finally, pulling forward a bit the tongue 'popped' and came off the hitch. It was like it had become bound up for some reason.

Anyone what this was or what caused it and how to avoid it in the future? We don't grease the hitch ball, if that makes any difference.

[BenK]

Maybe a visual of how a coupler and latch works...

Here is an old thread with diagrams showing how a coupler works...

Boiled down...a coupler has a dome with a 'return' on the leading edge's bottom
edge

That leading lower edge 'holds' the ball inside the coupler and the latch holds
the ball forward...in side of the dome with the lower edge (below the
equator of the hemisphere) so the opening at that point is SMALLER
than the diameter of the ball...

To have the ball come out...the latch must be loosened to allow the ball to move
backwards

If it does not come out, it is either still stuck via suction and/or it is still
in the front of the dome...that the latch is not moving backwards far
enough (worn or improperly adjusted latch assembly)

To allow the ball to move back out of that captive dome section, the
ball has a flat spot milled on top. So it will clear the top portion
of the dome that comes 'down' to help capture the ball

Why backing up does the trick on most situations...it moves the ball out from the
front of the coupler dome...




rv.net/forum WDH Hitch Ball Angle Issue


Most common coupler latches



Another type of coupler latch



{edit}...Note that if you have an Anderson WD Hitch system...it wears
out the coupler latch assembly. That Anderson warns a certain type
of latch assembly for use with their WD Hitch system

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Sometimes if the rear of the truck is high and tail of trailer or tow bar is low, the coupler latch will hang up on the lower rear of the ball. Grease does help, as does pulling forward, as does jumping up and down on the rear of the truck or front of the trailer, as does parking in a more level location.

[TheBeans]

Thank you, everyone for your insites. Now that I think of it, our TT was a little bit downslope (not by much, but definitely lower) from our TV, so that probably contributed to the problem. Glad to know that there wasn't something funky happening with our hitch or tongue!

[drsteve]

This can also happen if the TT is downhill from the TV. Extra blocks under the tongue jack will get some extra elevation.

[Terryallan]

Sounds like it had back pressure on it. Like it was pushed to the back of the coupler, and when you pulled forward it released. Not rare at all. I often have to ease the pressure off to get it to pop off.
I also make the coupler "reach" for the ball when I hookup. Meaning I stop just before the ball is completely under the coupler, and as I lower it. The coupler eases forward onto it.

[Lynnmor]

Grease the ball (by now it may need replaced from abuse), and oil the latch. Metal to metal moving surfaces need to be lubricated.

[Bigrick]

I had this problem twice, most recently last week. The TV was not level with the TT. I lowered the TT and it finally came off. It can be very frustrating. Since then, I greased it up pretty good and it does work more smoothly.

[ktmrfs]

grease will help. most likely there was some either side force or front back force on the ball, it wasn't centered and free in the hitch.

BTW I found it isn't uncommon. since pulling forward free'd it I'm going to guess the ball was pushed way forward on the coupler, and even with the lever released it was still binding at the front.