|
11-15-2016, 09:55 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: North
Posts: 21
|
TT hitch won't lock- ideas?
For some reason my ball hitch wont lock. I poked around bit cant seem to find anything blocking it. The access to the inside is terrible so something isn't right but i cant figure it out. Any ideas from the group would be greatly appreciated.
I attched a couple pics for what they are worth. I dont know what the inside should look like so i cant comment but maybe one of you can.
Of course i really needed to move the camper yeaterday but that didn't happen. Without locking it the TT is not going anywhere.
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 10:13 AM
|
#2
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Michigan's West Coast
Posts: 28
|
On mine, sometimes the latch won't seat until I pull forward just a touch to pull the ball forward inside the coupler, allowing the latch to close. When I hitch up, I try to line up just a hair in front of the coupler so the coupler "reaches" for the ball and slides over as it lowers. That usually works. It's snug, but that's the way it should be. Hope this helps.
__________________
2016 Jay Flight 33RBTS
2008 Ford F350 Super Duty 6.4l
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 10:17 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
|
TT hitch won't lock- ideas?
Are the ball and hitch the same size?
2" and 1-7/8" look identical, but are incompatible for proper operation.
__________________
TT 2015 19RD "TheJayco"
TV 2003 F-350 "Montblanc" - Housebroken chore truck
Sitting in The Cheap Seats.
And proud of it!
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 10:57 AM
|
#4
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
Posts: 4,796
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by On The Lam
On mine, sometimes the latch won't seat until I pull forward just a touch to pull the ball forward inside the coupler, allowing the latch to close. When I hitch up, I try to line up just a hair in front of the coupler so the coupler "reaches" for the ball and slides over as it lowers. That usually works. It's snug, but that's the way it should be. Hope this helps.
|
Ditto
__________________
Cape Coral, Florida
2021 Toyota Tundra SR5, 5.7 V8
2022 Jayco 240RBS
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 11:05 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: SW Washington
Posts: 1,024
|
drop it on the ball. bump it forward with TV.
__________________
2009 F350 CC LB 4WD
2017 Jayco 355MBQS
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 11:29 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
|
The latch does slide into position without the ball in the socket, correct?
Spay a little 'white lube' (WD-40 as a last resort) into the socket and the latch mechanism. With the trailer wheels chocked and the ball in the socket (tongue jack fully off the ground), 'bump' the TV into reverse and then into drive, put the TV parking brake on and then put the TV in neutral. If you have a helper, have them try to engage the latch while you are doing the above. If it hasn't latched yet, then wiggle the trailer tongue (use the top of the trailer tongue jack as a lever) from side-to-side while trying to get the latch to engage.
Those steps have worked for me. Hope they help you.
__________________
Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 12:06 PM
|
#7
|
Lost in the Woods
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: L.I.
Posts: 334
|
Wow.
Moving on. Does the latch close without the ball in the coupler?
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 12:08 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: North Western West Virginia
Posts: 671
|
MUCH white lithium grease, drop the hitch on the ball, and move the tow vehicle around a bit. I almost always had to "jiggle" the truck a bit to get the lock to snap into place.
__________________
The Logan's
2018 Jayco Alante 31v
Me, Dear Wife,
2 Bluetick Hounds
1 Newfoundland
1 Newfoundland / Black Lab Mix
1 Cairn Terrier
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 12:19 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,580
|
I have the same issue coupling and decoupling... it's only scary when you are trying to release the hitch and it doesn't want to release the trailer from the truck until the back wheels of your truck are almost off the ground. I've dropped my camper.. actually it's the back of my truck, when it finally releases several inches, with a loud ca'Thunk, which can be a bit nerve wracking when you aren't on a level site. Agree with all of the above posts... you usually have to release tension on the coupler mechanism by moving your truck a minimal amount forwards, or backwards, then try again.
__________________
2016 27BHS Elite
2012 F-150 EcoBoost / Max Tow (Sold)
2017 'Blue Jeans' 6.2 F-250 Lariat 4.3 gears.
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 02:33 PM
|
#10
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: North
Posts: 21
|
Thanks for all the replies. I have to try the drop and move forward a little. I've been hitching this combo for years without any issues so this was a surprise.
Now i need to get back and try it.
|
|
|
11-15-2016, 04:36 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,783
|
My brother had a similar issue a few years back. He never does any kind of preventive maintenance on anything including his hitch.
The first thing I see is the locking assembly looks dry. I do not like WD40, but I would spray it down with some think like that first. WD-40 wont last for a long term fix, but should lube it up to get it free, and the spray wand could get into places and knock particles out of the way. Use lots, to flush the mechanism. Once the latch is moving, then apply a good glob of bearing grease to the ball, and couple it up, and go for a drive. The action of turning will get that grease up inside nicely. I reapply grease every 1500 miles. I place a 12 oz?? (maybe its a 16oz) solo cup over the ball when not in use.
|
|
|
11-16-2016, 06:04 PM
|
#12
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: North
Posts: 21
|
We have a winner. It appears the lock was bound up with old Teflon grease amd the like. I hit it with a hammer and it went right down unwillingly but down. I added some teflon grease to the ball and it got me home. I was in a bind because i had to take my TT from the storage site amd couldn't.
Thank you all for the excellent advice and tips. The power of collective knowledge is awesome.
|
|
|
11-16-2016, 07:33 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
|
and thanks for the update!
__________________
Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|