Andersen hitch.. Stuck. Can't unhitch

Kim Gass · 05-13-2021, 05:25 PM

We picked up our new 212 QB and the dealer installed an Andersen WDH. Hooked up fine and easy.

Got home.. Cant unhook it. The driveway is on an slight uphill. Tried for an hour. Then drove out to level street and tried again.

Back we go to the dealer tomorrow unless some of you have a hint as to how to unhitch the beast! We have two appointments tomorrow yep at the same time and neither office is trailer friendly.

**Midnightmoon** · 05-13-2021, 05:42 PM

The coupler will not release from the ball? Have you already unhooked the tension chains?

Fr8Train · 05-13-2021, 05:45 PM

I don't have an Anderson hitch, but my hitch likes that the last thing I do is back up.
Try different scenarios, pull forward and try, back up and try, etc etc

RogerR · 05-13-2021, 05:53 PM

You mentioned you are on a slight grade. Did you:
1. Chock the wheels
2. Released the tension on the chains

3. Flipped up the locking latch on the hitch
4 Lowered the trailer till it drops out of the hitch.

You may have to back up slightly or pull forward slightly to get tension off the latch. Some have an adjustment and yours could be to tight. Wrong size ball. Bent or broken latch. But that is unlikely. Most likely is that the car is pulling against the ball or the trailer rolled slightly to hard against the ball.

madmaxmutt · 05-13-2021, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

We picked up our new 212 QB and the dealer installed an Andersen WDH. Hooked up fine and easy.

Got home.. Cant unhook it. The driveway is on an slight uphill. Tried for an hour. Then drove out to level street and tried again.

Back we go to the dealer tomorrow unless some of you have a hint as to how to unhitch the beast! We have two appointments tomorrow yep at the same time and neither office is trailer friendly.

Assuming the coupler is unlocked, are you saying the ball is stuck in the coupler? Many couplers have adjustable tensioners underneath the coupler lock.

Kim Gass · 05-13-2021, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

The coupler will not release from the ball? Have you already unhooked the tension chains?

1. Correct
2. Yes

And we are familiar with jiggling the tow vehicle back and forth to latch or unlatch the ball as sometimes it either does not grab or does not let go.. We have done that some several hundred times with our 195 and it always worked.

My hubby calls it "do your jiggle"

**Midnightmoon** · 05-13-2021, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

1. Correct
2. Yes

And we are familiar with jiggling the tow vehicle back and forth to latch or unlatch the ball as sometimes it either does not grab or does not let go.. We have done that some several hundred times with our 195 and it always worked.

My hubby calls it "do your jiggle"

Does the coupler latch release when you attempt to lift it or is it bound in place?

tslarson · 05-13-2021, 07:30 PM

How about pulling the pin on the receiver and driving the car forward to pull the shank out. You can then maybe see what is wrong, and gain a vehicle for tomorrow.

Kim Gass · 05-13-2021, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Does the coupler latch release when you attempt to lift it or is it bound in place?

Cant even get the latch to release
Glad the dealer is only 20 min away

**Midnightmoon** · 05-13-2021, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

Cant even get the latch to release
Glad the dealer is only 20 min away

Is this the first time that you have hooked to your new trailer or just the first time with the Andersen?

Since your driveway is slightly uphill (trailer higher than the tow vehicle) I would chock your trailer wheels and then place your tow vehicle in neutral. Let the truck settle with weight against the hitch, place it in park, set the parking brake, and shut it off. Then, try and lift the coupler latch. In this setup, the ball should be pulled as far forward away from the latch and give the best possibility for the latch to release.

It's good that the dealer is close. It sounds like a coupler latch adjustment issue or the latch itself is bent. There is nothing special about the Andersen ball that should cause binding to this degree.

Kim Gass · 05-14-2021, 06:03 AM

It's the first time for both trailer and WDH. We tried your hint thanks.. off to the dealer!

MichaelO · 05-14-2021, 06:31 AM

I’ve had that happen to me before. No matter what I try it won’t release. It’s at that point I pull the hitch pin and pull forward. The hitch comes out of the receiver and then it’s easy to get the trailer to release the hitch.

**Midnightmoon** · 05-14-2021, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

It's the first time for both trailer and WDH. We tried your hint thanks.. off to the dealer!

I'm very interested to hear what the dealer finds. Please update us when they get it figured out.

Kim Gass · 05-14-2021, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I'm very interested to hear what the dealer finds. Please update us when they get it figured out.

need to move thread to Boneheaded Moments.

Took truck and trailer to dealer. The latch operates differently than on our old TT. Pull up then push back.. It was stiff but still...

moral . Just cause the tech and you have a long history do not assume all parts of the trailer are similar to your old one..We just brushed off the hitch latching and never unlatched.. We did go over the WDH procedure..the more complicated part and ignored the obvious.
Except it wasn't.

Now going to resume my dope slap session.

**Midnightmoon** · 05-14-2021, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

need to move thread to Boneheaded Moments.

Took truck and trailer to dealer. The latch operates differently than on our old TT. Pull up then push back.. It was stiff but still...

moral . Just cause the tech and you have a long history do not assume all parts of the trailer are similar to your old one..We just brushed off the hitch latching and never unlatched.. We did go over the WDH procedure..the more complicated part and ignored the obvious.
Except it wasn't.

Now going to resume my dope slap session.

Lol.....I'm glad it was something simple.

As far as boneheaded rv moments, I can move it right next to my post over in that thread from when we first got this unit new and I forgot where the awning arm was. I managed to walk down our entry steps and hang a left right in to the arm with the center of my forehead. I was laughing at myself as I was laying on the ground looking at the sky. If it would have been a cartoon, I'm pretty sure Tweety Bird would have been circling my head.

madmaxmutt · 05-14-2021, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

[emoji38]2:[emoji38]2:

need to move thread to Boneheaded Moments.

Took truck and trailer to dealer. The latch operates differently than on our old TT. Pull up then push back.. It was stiff but still...

moral . Just cause the tech and you have a long history do not assume all parts of the trailer are similar to your old one..We just brushed off the hitch latching and never unlatched.. We did go over the WDH procedure..the more complicated part and ignored the obvious.

Except it wasn't.

Now going to resume my dope slap session.

Live and learn... Now, on to the fun stuff.

RogerR · 05-14-2021, 07:12 PM

Never heard of this type coupler/release system. could you post a pic please in case I and others run into it?

LuckyDuck · 05-14-2021, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

need to move thread to Boneheaded Moments.

Took truck and trailer to dealer. The latch operates differently than on our old TT. Pull up then push back.. It was stiff but still...

moral . Just cause the tech and you have a long history do not assume all parts of the trailer are similar to your old one..We just brushed off the hitch latching and never unlatched.. We did go over the WDH procedure..the more complicated part and ignored the obvious.
Except it wasn't.

Now going to resume my dope slap session.

Now you know! We have the same trailer and same hitch. You will find the latch fits snugly and won’t always snap right under even when you drop the tongue down onto the ball and lower it fully. Just jump in the TV and drop it into gear and edge slightly forward (like an inch). The latch will snap right in.

Pastorlarry · 05-19-2021, 12:24 PM

We had a Catalina 30’ travel trailer before buying a class C Jayco. At times I would have to pull forward a half inch or so while my wife pulled up on the ball hitch. That always released ours. We could then jack it up. Hope this helps

seeleylaker · 05-19-2021, 02:04 PM

I initially had the same trouble with my Andersen and found the solution for me was to back off the chains before I put a full load on the jack. Apparently the chains were trying to pull the trailer forward, which pushed the ball back and kept the coupler from unlatching. Never a problem since changing my routine.

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