Pullrite 5er hitch-how to disconnect?

[gbraden]

I have the Pullrite Super 5th 16. 5K hitch and it is mounted on the Superrails. It seems to be a very well-made and well-designed product. However, sometimes I have a hard time getting the hitch to unlatch. It's probably me, not the mechanism itself. I tug and tug on the handle and it just won't move. I adjust the landing gear height a little and try again. Then I try starting the engine and apply forward pressure and if that doesn't work I put the truck in reverse and apply a little reverse pressure.

Eventually it unlatches when I pull on the handle.



Have any of you had the same problem? Any suggestion as to what I'm doing wrong? By the way, this is my first 5er, so I admit I have things to learn.

Glenn

 

[klenger]

First: make sure you don't jack the trailer up too high. I did some minor damage to my hitch shortly after I got it by doing this. It's called "high hooking" and bends the release lever. I now carry spare parts in case it happens again.



Second: after dropping the landing gear, back up into the trailer slightly to relieve pressure on the mechanism. If you have an assistant, have him/her pull on the release handle as you back in and it will pull out easily.



Enjoy the hitch, it's a great product.

 

[Casey Balvert]

The Pullrite has very close tolerances when mated to the pin to prevent the pin moving in the latch while towing. This prevents the bumping feeling. If the latch is tight when you unhitch, apply reverse pressure to the pin by putting truck in reverse. That always works for me. Also be sure that you grease the pin and latch mechanism occasionally. Ken is right. It is a great product.



Casey

 

[Turbo Thom]

I do the same thing Casey says. Cept I have a five speed and I just back till I feel the pressure on the hitch, then apply the emergency brake. Works for me.



. . Preston. .

 

[jfrow2]

I have the same hitch and have found that after backing, applying the emergency brake, and extending the landing gear, the hitch sometimes will not release. Usually it will release if I simply release the emergency brake for a second and reapply it. It appears that raising the front end of the 5er is putting tension on the pin which is released by momentarily releasing the emergency brake. Does not always work especially if I have extended the landing gear too much.

 

[GaryCarter]

I generally don't use the landing gear to lift the trailer much at all while still latched. Just set the legs down enough to begin taking some weight.

Then I unlatch and pull out.

If it's reluctant, shifting the truck in the opposite direction before you set down will relieve the pressure on the latch. IE- shift to reverse if you pulled in forward, or shift forward if you backed in.

Sometimes you can have a side load from torsion on the axles if you're turning the trailer as you're parking. If that is the case, before setting the landing gear, go a foot or two beyond your desired spot and then reverse course slightly to relieve the axle stress.



Mike

 

[EricBu12]

whenever I unhook, after you lower the gear, take the weight off the truck. not all of it, then ease the truck back a bit, just release the brake and let it settle, then the handle pulls easy.

 

[DLBurns]

I had the same problem with my 15K Pullrite hitch. I just block the wheels on the trailer and back into the chocks to release the pressure on the hitch , set the landing gear and the lever for the hitch pulls out with no problems!

Love my rotochoks!!!

Dave

 

[s.hale]

I do the same thing as "BUFF". Leave in reverse with Roto Chocks between wheels and the lever pulls out with no problem.

 

[CTLindsey]

I have the same hitch and the only time I had a problem un hooking is when I was at a bad angle comepared to the trailer. Make sure your lit lifting the trailer too high.