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06-12-2019, 06:47 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Name: Robert
Trailer: 2018 Parkliner
Utah
Posts: 25
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Unhooked
Yesterday, as I pulled out of a campground onto the highway, those horrible sounds came as my Parkliner rode on the safety chains. My wife and I ran a checklist and it sure looked like the cover was locked over the ball. Not a fun experience on the edge of a two lane busy highway. Any similar experiences out there. Maybe the rough campground exit road popped the hitch off.
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06-12-2019, 07:03 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,962
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Unhooked
Nothing short of an major accident should cause it to come off if it’s properly latched, adjusted, and secured (and often not even then).
Most likely the underjaw got hung up and it did not fully engage inside the coupler. Easiest test is to jack up the tongue after you’ve latched the coupler. The rear of the vehicle should rise.
Less likely is a loose adjustment on the underjaw. There’s a nut under the coupler that needs to be checked periodically. Remove the ball mount from the vehicle, insert the ball into the coupler and latch it. When you move the ball in the latched coupler it should feel snug with some resistance, but no slop and no binding.
The third possibility is the latch somehow popped loose. The hole in the latch should be secured with a pin or a lock.
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06-12-2019, 07:10 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,049
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Its possible that after hitching, the latch inside your coupler was jammed above the ball. Every time I lower the trailer coupler onto the hitch ball, I look under the coupler to make sure that the coupler latch extends below the ball after lowering the trailer onto the hitch. Sometimes I double check this by jacking the trailer tongue up a couple of inches after hitching up. When performing this check, if the trailer is securely hitched, both the trailer tongue and the tow vehicle hitch will rise together.
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06-12-2019, 08:47 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Z
Trailer: Sasquatch
Montana
Posts: 2,556
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That or your ball is too small.
I agree, not a fun experience!
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06-12-2019, 10:55 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: Jerrybob
Trailer: casita
Washington
Posts: 706
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Michigan
Its possible that after hitching, the latch inside your coupler was jammed above the ball. Every time I lower the trailer coupler onto the hitch ball, I look under the coupler to make sure that the coupler latch extends below the ball after lowering the trailer onto the hitch. Sometimes I double check this by jacking the trailer tongue up a couple of inches after hitching up. When performing this check, if the trailer is securely hitched, both the trailer tongue and the tow vehicle hitch will rise together.
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I agree with John....part of our checklist.....we always jack the trailer up a few inches and make sure the truck is going up as well. I do this on our Casita and on my car trailer...always. Glad your problem was not worse. Safe travels down the road.
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06-12-2019, 11:13 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: Trillium 4500
Posts: 2,050
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I did experience this once. Shortly after I got my Trillium we took a trip. As we crossed a rural train crossing I heard the sounds that you are describing. In my case the pin holding the "underjaw" snapped loose from it's welds on both ends. It was probably weak for some time and not noticed. Fortunately I had a bolt that I was able to temporarily replace the pin with so that I could safely drive it into town and fix it.
__________________
Previously Owned: Trillium 4500, Scamp 19', Bigfoot 17', Boler 17', Bonair Oxygen, Hymer Touring GT, Scamp 13 Deluxe, Casita 16.
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06-12-2019, 11:25 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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test for latched coupler.
Once you connect raise the tongue jack until the back of the tow vehicle raises a bit. If you can lift the rear of the two with tongue jack you're connected.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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06-12-2019, 11:29 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,892
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One of the advantages of the Bulldog coupler is that it is obvious, with even the most casual glance, that it is either latched, or it is not. There cannot be any question about it.
You never adjust it, it has a very strong grip and the mechanism is not hidden up inside the coupler.
When setting it on the ball, the side door latch piece is sticking out and the collar is trapped open. I then just kick the latch. It snaps closed and the collar snaps forward to lock it closed. That's it. Then a safety pin can be slipped in if you wish. It won't go in if the coupler is not latched. Then it is totally secure, always.
The main advantages of the conventional couplers we see so many of, is that they are cheap to produce and easy to install when building the tongue of the trailer. But the latch piece can get trapped above the ball, as mentioned, and not noticed.
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
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06-12-2019, 04:58 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Name: Robert
Trailer: 2018 Parkliner
Utah
Posts: 25
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Unhooked
Thanks for the replies folks. Seems we are always learning. I'm still trying to graduate from camping first grade. Back to inspecting the hitch.
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06-12-2019, 08:40 PM
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#10
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member
Name: J
Isle of Wight
Posts: 536
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspy
One of the advantages of the Bulldog coupler is that it is obvious, with even the most casual glance, that it is either latched, or it is not. There cannot be any question about it.
You never adjust it, it has a very strong grip and the mechanism is not hidden up inside the coupler.
When setting it on the ball, the side door latch piece is sticking out and the collar is trapped open. I then just kick the latch. It snaps closed and the collar snaps forward to lock it closed. That's it. Then a safety pin can be slipped in if you wish. It won't go in if the coupler is not latched. Then it is totally secure, always.
The main advantages of the conventional couplers we see so many of, is that they are cheap to produce and easy to install when building the tongue of the trailer. But the latch piece can get trapped above the ball, as mentioned, and not noticed.
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x2 Replace with a bulldog.
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06-13-2019, 09:03 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Gordon
Trailer: Scamp
Idaho
Posts: 223
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Bulldog Hitch
I,too, replaced my conventional hitch with a bulldog after hitting a severe hole in the road that separated the coupler from ball. No fun. With help I was able to get it back together. When I got back to flat ground, I tested it by jacking up the trailer and was able to lift the rear of my truck. But with my confidence shattered, I replaced it with the bulldog when I got the opportunity to do so.
So, my belief is that, with enough force, the pressed steel of a conventional hitch will give. The bulldog is cast steel.
Gordon
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06-13-2019, 10:24 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: Jack L
Trailer: Sold the Bigfoot 17-Looking for a new one
Washington
Posts: 1,562
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The Bulldog hitch is definitely stronger than the couplers supplied by most RV trailer manufacturers, and its very safe, but it's not idiot proof. I know someone (rookie) who did not make sure to slide the collar forward to lock the hitch and severely damaged the two vehicle when the trailer came unhooked.
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06-13-2019, 02:51 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Anne
Trailer: 2014 Parkliner 2016 Honda Pilot
North Carolina
Posts: 197
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I had the same thing happen. Once was when the coupler failed to latched properly. I now test it by the methods described previously.
The other time was a brake controller malfunction that jerked the camper extremely hard as I went over a bump and it popped loose. In that case, my RV repairman thought that because the safety pin was a bit small, there was enough slack (and force) to cause it to disengage. I changed to a larger pin.
No problems since. Thankfully both occurred in easy-to-recover locations.
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06-13-2019, 03:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 721
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Yes the Bull dog is a better idea but replacing what you have is not a simple or easy job.
What you had is commonly called a "FALSE HITCH"
It happened because your tow vehicle was a little far back in relation to the ball and when you lowered the hitch it pushed the fork shaped thing up. Then when you pushed the lever down instead of the fork being under the narrow part of the ball to hold it on it on it was above.
So make sure the hitch is centered on the ball or a tad forward before lowering the tongue
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06-13-2019, 04:04 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Romas
..
So make sure the hitch is centered on the ball or a tad forward before lowering the tongue
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Yes, I try to get the tug slightly forward (1/4 inch maybe) then lower the trailer until it pushes the ball down just a little (again maybe 1/4 inch), then rock the trailer forward until it "falls" over the ball. Then hitch up, check underneath visually, then lift the tug an inch or two at the most by jacking the trailer tongue up. If all is good, lower tongue, finish hitching and have a good trip.
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06-13-2019, 08:44 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,892
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Romas
Yes the Bull dog is a better idea but replacing what you have is not a simple or easy job.
What you had is commonly called a "FALSE HITCH"
It happened because your tow vehicle was a little far back in relation to the ball and when you lowered the hitch it pushed the fork shaped thing up. Then when you pushed the lever down instead of the fork being under the narrow part of the ball to hold it on it on it was above.
So make sure the hitch is centered on the ball or a tad forward before lowering the tongue
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Excellent description and advice.
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
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06-19-2019, 10:13 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Kathleen (Kai: ai as in wait)
Trailer: Amerigo FG-16 1973 "Peanut"
Greater Seattle Metropolitan Area, Washington
Posts: 2,566
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZachO
That or your ball is too small.
I agree, not a fun experience!
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It's NOT a fun experience when your ball is too small.
Yeeeeeouch to have this happen. Glad you handled it as well as you did!
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06-19-2019, 11:36 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Ray
Trailer: scamp
Indiana
Posts: 849
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZachO
That or your ball is too small.
I agree, not a fun experience!
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I have seen this. There are several sizes of balls. And they have to match.
I would also check for some break in the latch. Any kind of an accident that would break it loose would also damage it. So if it came loose with the latch leaver down then something broke.
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06-19-2019, 03:02 PM
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#19
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Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 74
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Unhooked & Chains
One thing I have seen is people not crossing the chains between trailer and TV. In Minnesota it's a law to have the chains crossed. As you know they are intended to carry the tongues load in case of an unhook. Otherwise all it does is guide till it catches on something, and IT WILL! I know of people who have been stopped by the state patrol for this very reason. Don't know of any tickets issued, just some words of wisdom and education.
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06-19-2019, 03:26 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Name: Huck
Trailer: ParkLiner
Virginia
Posts: 852
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My guess is the hitch wasn't all the way down over the ball.
I don't know if this is particular to Pakliner, but I have a PL and had the same problem. Thankfully someone pointed out to me the hitch wasn't all the way down over the ball before the trailer came loose. I drove over an hour with it like that without it coming loose. Now I stand about 10' from the trailer and squat down to visually inspect the connection, in addition to doing a physical inspection and being extra careful.
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