Problem with B&W Companion unhooking from hitch

[stickdog]

So I have 10 1/2 years and 85,000 miles on my above mentioned hitch. We have been moving slowly to our winter gig while hitting NPs that the wife hadn't seen since she was 8. We have stayed in 27 campgrounds and unhitched at most other than a few overnights on flat sites.

So we pulled into a USACE park last night, our last before a days drive to our gig park for the winter. Site was not very level. I went to unhook, no big problem. Lowered the front jacks to take the weight off the hitch, hopped in the truck and placed in neutral to take any front/back pressure off of the pin. Got out pulled the safety pin and then pulled the release handle. I always check to see if the jaws have opened sometimes they haven't so I get back in the truck and shift from D to R with just the idle is.

Jaws still closed? Put truck back in neutral, raised the trailer a bit nothing. Lowered the truck still nothing and there is no pressure on the locking lever.

Of course this leaves me with a problem as we are a days drive 280 miles. I have to assume something is broke within the mechanism but does that mean the jaws are closed and unable to open or since their is no presure on the locking lever a strong pull could pull the jaws open and cause a possible disaster.

Any thoughts?

[Charley67]

I’ve got nothing to add as far as advice, but I’ve had several different hitches and the Companion is my favorite. I don’t think you have a hitch problem, as has been already implied. Happy travels.

[jdc1]

That happens to me often. It's frustrating, like getting stuck in mud, but you just have to work through it.

[Cummins12V98]

"Pinning the hitch open and then backing up a touch to release the pressure, and then pulling forward should work."

YES!!!

[fj12ryder]

With the B&W if there is any pressure against the jaws, then the hitch won't open. You can lock the hitch open and it still won't release. If the site is unlevel, then it's possible the truck weight is against the jaws and won't allow the hitch to open.

Pinning the hitch open and then backing up a touch to release the pressure, and then pulling forward should work.

[MFL]

In certain conditions, it is best to lock handle open. If jaws are not yet open, they should in fact be released. Of course, with jacks down, and weight off from hitch, just pull forward, jaws will open.

Jerry

[Edd505]

There is a hole that you need to put a pin in at the front of the hitch after moving the handle to the open position. With the handle pin open, there is no way for the hitch to remain closed. I'll see if I can find the instructions from B&W, it happened to me once and I found the answer there. Page 23 #5 from B&W. Releasing Hitch

[4x4ord]

I would put the front jacks down and take weight off the hitch, put the truck in D and take my foot off the brake. Then I would put the truck back in park and try opening the jaws.