2 questions:1. when i try to uncouple the trailer by cranking the handle, the ball seems to "stick" in the trailer ball socket. I have to jump on the bumper of my truck to "unstick" it. What am I doing wrong?2. I setup the weight distribution hitch per the instructions and the trailer is very level with the truck. However, to uncouple the trailer I have to put a block of wood or brick under the crank pad or it doesn't get high enough to uncouple. Now when I drop it off at the storage lot, I always lose a piece of scrap wood or brick when I leave it in their parking lot.Any help would be appreciated.

put the truck in neutral or roll it back a tad it will release everyrime then.

IndianaJim wrote:2 questions:1. when i try to uncouple the trailer by cranking the handle, the ball seems to "stick" in the trailer ball socket. I have to jump on the bumper of my truck to "unstick" it. What am I doing wrong?2. I setup the weight distribution hitch per the instructions and the trailer is very level with the truck. However, to uncouple the trailer I have to put a block of wood or brick under the crank pad or it doesn't get high enough to uncouple. Now when I drop it off at the storage lot, I always lose a piece of scrap wood or brick when I leave it in their parking lot.Any help would be appreciated.Are you using a light coat of grease on your trailer ball? My last unit i had to beat on the lock till it let go. Another camper told me the wd 40 i was using was too thin, started using grease and no more issue.

There is a large adjusting bolt under the tongue of the trailer coupler. Loosen this just enough to get the coupler on and off the ball easily. It adjusts how much the coupler lock engages.

It's a new Jayco with 2 axles and electric trailer brakes. New GMC Sierra with has an adjustable brake setting for the trailer plus a manual brake control on the dashboard.

Trailer sticks to towing ball | Good Sam Community

azdryheat
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
Surge brakes or electric?
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2016
put the truck in neutral or roll it back a tad it will release everyrime then.
dadechil
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
IndianaJim wrote:
2 questions:

1. when i try to uncouple the trailer by cranking the handle, the ball seems to "stick" in the trailer ball socket. I have to jump on the bumper of my truck to "unstick" it. What am I doing wrong?

2. I setup the weight distribution hitch per the instructions and the trailer is very level with the truck. However, to uncouple the trailer I have to put a block of wood or brick under the crank pad or it doesn't get high enough to uncouple. Now when I drop it off at the storage lot, I always lose a piece of scrap wood or brick when I leave it in their parking lot.

Any help would be appreciated.

Are you using a light coat of grease on your trailer ball? My last unit i had to beat on the lock till it let go. Another camper told me the wd 40 i was using was too thin, started using grease and no more issue.
Fireballsocal
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
There is a large adjusting bolt under the tongue of the trailer coupler. Loosen this just enough to get the coupler on and off the ball easily. It adjusts how much the coupler lock engages.
IndianaJim
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
It's a new Jayco with 2 axles and electric trailer brakes. New GMC Sierra with has an adjustable brake setting for the trailer plus a manual brake control on the dashboard.
IndianaJim
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
I put a dab of grease on the top of the ball and smear it around the ball - plus on the sway control mini-balls.

I would say that every pair of my shorts/pants are stained with grease from bumping or rubbing past the ball. Now that all have grease on them, I don't think I will have this problem again.
spoon059
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2016
Grease the ball
trail-explorer
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
Tension on the hitch ball from the coupler will almost always cause it to be difficult to lift off the ball. This is evident by the fact it will uncouple by bouncing on the truck bumper.
Placing the truck in neutral, then back to park will cause truck to move slightly, hopefully releasing the tension.

IndianaJim wrote:
Now when I drop it off at the storage lot, I always lose a piece of scrap wood or brick when I leave it in their parking lot.

When you drop the trailer off at the storage lot, how are you losing the piece of wood when the trailer is sitting on it?
mike-s
Explorer
Oct 27, 2016
WD hitch. So presumably you crank it up to make releasing the bars easier. That puts force on the coupler, which will make it hard to release.

After releasing the bars, lower the tongue while watching the ball mount in the receiver. Starting out, it will be force upward. As you lower the tongue, the pressure will be relieved (the mount will start moving slightly in the receiver), and if you keep lowering the ball mount will start pushing the receiver down.

You'll find the ball is easiest to release when there's no upward/downward pressure on the receiver from the ball mount.
NanciL
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2016
It is simple.
Prior to raising the tongue jack remove the pin that holds the hitch to the receiver.
Then when you raise the tongue jack, this allows the hitch to move a tad and relieves the holding pressure, and the coupling will raise right off the ball as you crank it up

I learned this method many years ago and use it every time I unhitch

Jack L