Can't Unhook our New Trailer from SUV

[Sabina]

Just picked up our new Jayco 17 C from the dealer, drove it more than two hours home and my husband can't unhook it from our SUV. Any ideas? It was hard enough to back in to the driveway. Neither of us ever had a trailer before.

[OurJayco]

Is the trailer higher than the SUV (backed it up hill)? If the SUV pushed the trailer uphill, you may need to secure the trailer then move the SUV forward slightly to relieve the pressure of the hitch ball and the coupler.

Did you have the same problem if you were level at home or campsite?
May need to lubricate the hitchball on the SUV.

[JPBeck]

ok--- so you have what is commonly called a hung hitch-- try pulling forward a couple inches... raise the jack back up. It should come off. If it doesn't try shaking the back end.
Make sure that the release is up. It will come off don't worry. Just shake it, move the TV forward a bit-- raise the jack up a inch-- shake the TV. You'll have to play with it a bit. It hardly ever happens. Next time add some grease to the ball.

[Denise]

Yea! You have your new tt! Don't forget to chalk the tires first!

[ByDesign]

Ditto to healthi's advice !

One of the things I had on my "check" list was to be sure to have the ball latch released on the TT hitch.

[McMonk]

First time I had a hung-hitch it took me darn-near an hour of frustration to figure it out! I feel for you Sabina!!

How'd it go?

[RedWingsFan]

The coupler on our 17Z is finicky as well. Usually easing the tow vehicle a bit forward or back works. The coupler is different than most I have seen, it's not your standard up and down handle type, it sort of slides forward and down. The 17Z and 17C are small enough that you can use a BAL leveler chock. I bought one of these for about $50 and makes the whole process of leveling the trailer side to side and securing one wheel easy. I just use regular chocks on the other wheel.

[ByDesign]

The Bal leveler (single axle) is the best invention since sliced bread !

[Sabina]

Thanks for all the help here. I'm not sure what he did wrong but I had him read all these replies and he managed to get it unhitched this morning. The next test is when he hitches it all up again and he has to unhitch. Hopefully it won't get stuck again.

My husband does not want to go camping yet until we learn everything we need to know about it by using it in our driveway. He needs to practice backing up - we wound up having a young neighbor do it for us after his wife watched my husband struggle. Towing it on the roads was a breeze for my husband, he said you would not even know it was there. I thought I smelled transmission fluid though, so he checked, and it was because we had a cooler installed. When they filled up the transmission they spilled some fluid on the engine.

I can't wait to pack the camper with everything we need and go out camping. It will be nice to be able to leave most of the stuff we need for camping in the Jayco 17C. With tent camping I always had to put everything away at home and than pack up again, over and over, everytime we camped. It will be nice to have real beds and everything else that comes with the 17C. It is a big step up from tent camping.

The dealership in Albany was very nice and they spent the time showing us everything in the camper, but we forgot a lot of it. We had gotten up very early to get up to Albany and we spent a whole day up there while they worked on the car, putting in the tranny cooler and the new hitch and whatever else they had to do. They gave us a loaner car so we explored a bit and went to eat. By the time we had the demo and bought mirrors, etc. we got home really late and had the trouble backing into the driveway. We were so frustrated, but I figured you guys would help and my husband would be able to do it in the morning. It did work out that way, as I'd hoped, so I really appreciate all your suggestions on how to unhitch. Thanks!

[JPBeck]

I'm glad to hear you got it home and backed in. Tell your hubby-- I know his frustration. I have to back my trailer down our private drive-- between trees -- then park it in a 90 degree spot with a wall on one side. It takes a little patience and practice and some cursing.

Does he know the trick about backing up with a trailer? Tell him to Put his hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. To turn left, move his hand left. To turn right, move his hand right. Back up slowly. The mirrors can't provide all of the visibility he may need when backing up, help him with your eyes. Before you start though work out some signals between the two of you. Stand outside at the rear of the trailer to guide him, whenever possible stay visible in his mirror.

Tell him to use slight movements of the steering wheel to adjust direction. Exaggerated movements will cause greater movement of the trailer. If he has difficulty, tell him to pull forward and realign the tow vehicle and trailer and start again.

It will take some practice.

check out this video too-- it's focus is on back in camp sites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLtfrBWzNCw

[McMonk]

JPBeck has some great advice. My kids have learned a whole new vocabulary listening while my wife and I learned to work as a team backing up our trailer...have patience and keep working at it. By the end of next season you'll both be pros!

I do have one other piece of advice for you ... get out there and just do it! The best way to learn is hands-on!

[Denise]

What Joe said about putting the hands on bottom of wheel... pull left to turn left etc. Another thing that will help, get walkie talkies or just use cell phones. In other words, avoid yelling at each other from the windows; it simply entertains other campers while you feel more frustrated.

With the walkie talkie, One of you backs up while the other is in the back to direct (pull left/right, 5 more feet, straight back, water is lined up, 5 feet away from dump/ etc). Imprerative to the guy/girl/kid to know is to push the talk button and count 1001, 1002... then talk! Team work is great. Talk calm. See where you are. Look at each other making eye contact and smile (kiss comes later). Congratulations for getting this far. now try to add blocks under the tires (always re chalk tires if you move tt to level.It's team process. You will get it. Determination gets you there. Pick a WalMart parking lot just so you can stay over night and let all this fit in.
One other thing, take your first "weekend" day and hook up. Go to a large parking lot local to you. Practice backing/turning/etc. Take time to unhook but make sure to chalK tires on the downside!. At some point even with our truck in nuetral to loosen pressure on ball (then put back in park!) Don has still had to get on bumper and bounce up and down.... LOL he looks funny doing it (hmmm Kodak moment for the funny pics thread maybe). At any rate, check out the youtube site that Joe recommended. Hook up and head to a flat parking lot to practice that which initmidates you. Many newbies before you have done the same thing! I wish we lived close to help you, but with practice you guys will get it! Of course, you will need to gas up....find gas station that allow you to go straight forward out away from others if possible. Drive in straight. But when you have to pull out, know taht you have to pull the tt sraight out from pumps and make a wide turn.. Take your time. If you turn wide, you clear.... if not... get those walkie/talkies or cellphones and start talking to back up (we're still experienced but did have to do a pull back with Don on the radio behind me (I drive)... tite gas station).

Give it practice. Anticipate these situations in the parking lot. Imagine pulling into the gas station, pull throug cg, back in cg.... Take a deep breath. When all is done, take a deep breath and have that bottle of wine ready (as long as you are parked that is)!