Hitching

urocav2001 · 06-08-2013, 11:16 AM

Hello I have a quick question I have a 2013 233s my father in law keeps moving it around his yard without latching the latch to lock it in place does this do any damage to the hitch or is there anything I should be looking for ?

jevanb · 06-08-2013, 11:30 AM

if just moving around the yard and it is smooth as in the hitch will not jump off the ball no worries, but I would throw the latch down if it was me. their is weight on the ball but that will not stop it from popping off

urocav2001 · 06-08-2013, 11:41 AM

Hanks that's what I told him if that pops off the ball it's either going to slam on the ground or smash into the truck, both options are not good and it only take 30 seconds to latch the latch

urocav2001 · 06-08-2013, 11:42 AM

Oops thanks

B47 · 06-08-2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urocav2001

Hello I have a quick question I have a 2013 233s my father in law keeps moving it around his yard without latching the latch to lock it in place does this do any damage to the hitch or is there anything I should be looking for ?

Us humans are creatures of habit and if your FIL doesn't engage the latch when he moves the unit around his yard, then it might be possible that he would forget to engage the latch when he is getting ready to hit the road also.

It's a simple thing to do and a good habit to get into regardless of whether he is moving the unit in the yard or getting ready to go on a trip.

Might be a good thing for him to develop a checklist - if he does this, then what else might he decide not to do?

Twisty · 06-08-2013, 12:12 PM

Why does he keep moving it?
Can you offer to put in a parking pad?
Can you tell him you are concerned about theft or... and put a lock on it?

urocav2001 · 06-08-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisty

Why does he keep moving it?
Can you offer to put in a parking pad?
Can you tell him you are concerned about theft or... and put a lock on it?

Yea it has a lock on it but he has a few other trailers and his own 31ft bunk house. I'm only keeping it there for one more week

Triguy · 06-08-2013, 05:09 PM

What am I missing some here?

Are we talking about the latch on top of your coupler? I'm not sure I understand why he wouldn't flip the latch. It takes literally 1 second to do.

ChooChooMan74 · 06-08-2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triguy

What am I missing some here?

Are we talking about the latch on top of your coupler? I'm not sure I understand why he wouldn't flip the latch. It takes literally 1 second to do.

30 seconds if you have to stretch it in order to get it to latch. But I would latch it no matter what.

Oaklevel · 06-08-2013, 05:36 PM

Yea but ya might have to get off the tractor to do it......I see trailers moved by tractors with a ball mount set up all the time on trailer lots (Utility & RVs). They will just back under the trailer & lift the 3 point set up & move the trailer to where they want it..... Otherwise they would have to set the tractor brakes get off & latch the coupler............I do it when I mow

urocav2001 · 06-08-2013, 05:52 PM

Yup that latch he just hooks it a pulls it no latch

Triguy · 06-08-2013, 07:58 PM

To answer your original question, I don't see it as an issue towing on his property with it unlatched at assumed slow speeds as it won't hurt if all goes smoothly.

Why he wouldn't take the time is beyond me, though. Anyone taking more than a second or two needs to adjust their coupler.

urocav2001 · 06-08-2013, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triguy

To answer your original question, I don't see it as an issue towing on his property with it unlatched at assumed slow speeds as it won't hurt if all goes smoothly.

Why he wouldn't take the time is beyond me, though. Anyone taking more than a second or two needs to adjust their coupler.

How do you adjust the coupler it is a pain to get on and off you always have to move the truck back and forth to get it off or on

sherdep · 06-08-2013, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urocav2001

How do you adjust the coupler it is a pain to get on and off you always have to move the truck back and forth to get it off or on

I don't think there is an adjustment for that.

Try a little grease on the ball and in the hitch cup and see if that helps

Twisty · 06-08-2013, 10:06 PM

Wouldn't he have to raise and lower the tongue - with the jack - which means he would have to get off his butt - to do that...?
What am I missing?
I don't understand why he needs/ wants to move the trailer anyway??!!!!!?!!??
Is the guy OCDCABGD??
I am going to sleep better knowing the TT will be elsewhere in a few days.

urocav2001 · 06-09-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisty

Wouldn't he have to raise and lower the tongue - with the jack - which means he would have to get off his butt - to do that...?
What am I missing?
I don't understand why he needs/ wants to move the trailer anyway??!!!!!?!!??
Is the guy OCDCABGD??
I am going to sleep better knowing the TT will be elsewhere in a few days.

He's not too bright just picked it up today and took it home it looks as if the hitch head I slightly pitched a little too much for it to lock easily I'm gonna straighten it a bit and see if this helps also

Triguy · 06-09-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urocav2001

How do you adjust the coupler it is a pain to get on and off you always have to move the truck back and forth to get it off or on

My mistake. I ran out this morning to check my Atwood coupler and sure 'nuff - no adjustment to the block that holds the ball inside the coupler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by urocav2001

He's not too bright just picked it up today and took it home it looks as if the hitch head I slightly pitched a little too much for it to lock easily I'm gonna straighten it a bit and see if this helps also

I can see how this might make it easier to unhitch from the ball but the flipside to that is the hitch head tilt adjustment from wherever you have it today will impact your weight distribution, of course.

Oaklevel · 06-09-2013, 03:00 PM

If you are moving it with a truck I don't see why not latching it.........

I move my trailers to mow..... I just back up to them with the tractor (coupler already unlatched) Lift them with the ball set up on the tractor 3 point hitch lift the trailer tongue & drive where I want the trailer without latching or needing to set the tractor brakes & get off the tractor.... just leave the trailer jack down, coupler unlatched....... move a trailer in a few seconds........I can move all 4 of my bumper hitch trailers in much less than 5 minutes....... Trailer dealers & some campgrounds do it all the time no big deal...... That's where I got the idea years ago........

As far as unhitching from the truck I sometime step up on the step bump & "jump" a little to get the couple loose esp. if you have been pulling forward.

**ependydad** · 06-09-2013, 03:14 PM

I only ever had a heavy for a pop-up and never a travel trailer- but hitching, I would try to line up the camper and coupler so that the coupler would slide down the front edge of the ball - not 100% above it. It made a big difference in being able to close the latch without fighting it. A trick to ensuring that the truck doesn't move once you're lined up is to set the emergency brake- otherwise, we'd get a bit of movement that threw off our whole line up.

My second year, I started using grease on the ball and it's another thing that helped. I didn't know I was supposed l grease that stuff. I think I used white lithium grease. I never had issues with dirt building up or anything.

You may also like: