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Old 09-10-2010, 08:45 AM   #1
Jan Goldfield
 
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Can't get unhitched

I tried to unhitch the trailer this morning just to see if I had any problems. The ball would not come out of its holder. I elevated the tongue jack, pushed the rear of the truck up and down as much as I could. Finally I undid the bar under the truck. The trailer is no longer hitched to the truck, but the entire hitch is dangling by the ball. I have sprayed it with WD-40. Oh and I did move the truck about 1/4" back and forth during the 'trying to remove' process.
Now what?
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Old 09-10-2010, 08:58 AM   #2
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Sounds like the catch around your ball isn't releasing.. Photo's of it close up would help.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:01 AM   #3
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Are you sure you are getting the release lever alll the way loose? Might try tapping the sides of the tonge with a hammer. you won't hurt anything beating on it. Sometimes the vibration will break them free.

Are both the TV and TT on flat ground? With the way the ball can be angled back to give the W/D arms more lift it can cause the ball to bind in the tongue if the TV is slighlty uphill vs. the TT.

If you pulled the pin on the hitch you should be able to pull forward and have it come completely out of the truck. Just make sure the weight is off the truck and the wheels are chocked on the trailer before trying it.

If you do pull the truck away with the hitch still hooked to the trailer. Watch you feet trying to get the thing out of the trailer tongue becuase it is heavy and could easily brake your foot or possible cut off a tow if it landed just right.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:13 AM   #4
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Oh yikes how frustrating!
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:14 AM   #5
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Assuming that the coupler release is in the open position, I would try to use some type of tool, possibly a large flat screw driver or small pry bar, and force the catch open to release the ball. Be careful, if the hitch is not supported it will fall hard once the catch is released.

Good luck.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:17 AM   #6
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If you do pull the truck away with the hitch still hooked to the trailer. Watch you feet trying to get the thing out of the trailer tongue becuase it is heavy and could easily brake your foot or possible cut off a tow if it landed just right.
Way off topic but that is the funniest auto spelling correction I have ever seen and so.. Appropriate for the topic.

Pondlady said she already pulled the receiver out of the hitch. So it's not bound. It does sound like the pin isn't pulling out correctly.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:19 AM   #7
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I think it's the release lever. I have hammered it as far open as I can and the hitch is dangling. I will try the universal pry bar....a big flat head screwdriver.


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Old 09-10-2010, 09:22 AM   #8
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Where my fingers are is not where the release is when trying to get the ball loose. It's all the way upright and still the ball mocks me. I need a bigger hammer.
Out to try again with the screw driver.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:22 AM   #9
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Ok.. so here is the deal with that...

The ball hitch pulls upward and BACK... so you see the lip under the metal loop you have your finger on.. Pry it up and towards the jack. Also dump your wd-40 down behind it.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:33 AM   #10
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GOT IT! I had no idea the release lever moved toward the trailer. I just had to say the right words over it, hold my mouth right and get a bigger hammer. Free at last.


Mowat, you are a genius! Thank you.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:36 AM   #11
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Ya the "updward" pull of the lever is really just leverage to force it backwards. If you look underneath now.. you can see kinda a crescent shaped piece of metal that cups the under side of the ball. That's what holds it. So it can't move upward it has to move back.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:38 AM   #12
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And glad you didn't drop it on your tow.
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Old 09-10-2010, 09:44 AM   #13
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LOLOL....I had some wooden blocks under it cuz I know about heavy things and feet. And tows too
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Old 09-11-2010, 01:42 PM   #14
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Quote:
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Ok.. so here is the deal with that...

The ball hitch pulls upward and BACK... so you see the lip under the metal loop you have your finger on.. Pry it up and towards the jack. Also dump your wd-40 down behind it.

Late to the party, but I was going to suggest the same thing.

When I got our new trailer home, I had to call the dealer as I couldn't get it to decouple.

Same thing, lift and slide it back. Talk about feeling dumb....

:doh:
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Old 09-11-2010, 02:46 PM   #15
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Wish I would have caught this thread earlier.

My coupler is similar, but is a different style/brand (Atwood). I can't supply pics just now, but the hitch ball seems to settle "forward" in the coupler cavity (toward the TV) underway. It may be a function of the mass/brake resistance of the TT pulling against the TV. Anyway--I always find that I need to back the TV toward the TT about 1/2" once I get everything loose in order to raise the coupler free of the ball. Plenty of grease in there.
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