Trailer Hitch Problem

[DonTX]

For what it is worth, I have pulled a lot of trailers, including trailer houses. It is not probable that the hitch came unlatched from a bump, or "slipped over" the ball, with the facts you have given. Someone playing a cute trick, or you forgetting to latch the hitch is far more probable. I have a couple of times, found at destination to my horror, that I had forgotten to latch the coupler when I hooked up. The advantage of putting a lock or bolt thru that hole, is that you HAVE to latch it to get that to happen.

I have seen people drop the coupler on the ball, with the latch portion then pushed up in the coupler, and then latch it thinking they were connected, when in fact they were just laying on top of the ball.

Getting a lot of good info. Thanks. The ball fits tight and There is no adjustment. Looked a couple time. We are thinking the trailer was empty, rear tire one side went down, front going up, slowing down all at the same time just put to much shove foreword and up at the same time making the hitch come open. I think I will be locking it down with a bolt or a lock from now on.

 

[MLee]

grease slows wear. wheather you like it or not.

 

[SSell]

I stand by my story that I've had 2 different, perfectly funtional 2" hitches come off of a perfectly functional 2" ball after hitting a substantial bump while under way. . I still own and use these items, have not had any further issues since adding the step of putting a lock through the lock hole. I would like to add, however, that the 2 times the utility trailer came off, it was empty. short trailer, big ducktail ramp, almost no tongue weight. The boat typically has very little tongue weight unless I throw a bunch of crap in the front, safe assumption that it also was empty because I wasn't pulling to the lake. Ensure proper tongue weight, you probably wont have a problem. I dont even worry about it now that I lock it on.

 

[dclassens]

We use 10k and 12k pound trailers to move tractors which sometimes have loaded tires or weights or even implements. The trailers all have pintle style hitches. They may be a little pricy but they are pretty much the most safe trailer coupler around. I would not want to kill or crash another driver because of my trailer unhooking. Very easy to hook up and the best part is nobody borrows your trailer because they cannot hook up to it. :-laf :-laf



dave

 

[jeepit]

I have a buddy towing trailer with a Jeep on it when the shank snapped. Luckily he had the chains crossed over that caught the trailer tounge as it was falling down. We were going 65-70 and he managed to control it and it get it off to the side of the road. After we made repairs we stopped at the next exit for him to clean out his shorts.