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04-17-2021, 08:54 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Portland
Posts: 33
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What caused unhitching while backing up over curb?
Upon returning from a trip, while backing my Jay Flight SLX 183RB into driveway, I accidentally hit the street curb and the hitch coupler came off the ball. I thought that it was secure, and did have a hitch pin in place. I'm pretty new to having a trailer. Can someone explain why it became unhitched and what precautions (besides not hitting a curb) I can do to avoid future mishaps?
I'm pulling with a Suburu Ascent.
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04-17-2021, 09:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ON
Posts: 831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobuva
Upon returning from a trip, while backing my Jay Flight SLX 183RB into driveway, I accidentally hit the street curb and the hitch coupler came off the ball. I thought that it was secure, and did have a hitch pin in place. I'm pretty new to having a trailer. Can someone explain why it became unhitched and what precautions (besides not hitting a curb) I can do to avoid future mishaps?
I'm pulling with a Suburu Ascent.
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When you hitched up, did you lower the jack again and try to raise the trailer off the ball? I always do this to get my WDH bars installed, but it makes for a good test to know that the coupler is engaged and latched under the ball, not no top.
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2015 Jayco WhiteHawk 28BHKS Summit Edition
2021 Ford F-150, 4x4, 3.5L Ecoboost, Max Tow
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04-17-2021, 09:04 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,484
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Are you sure you are using the correct size ball on your hitch? If it was a size too small that would be the issue. ~CA
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2010 GreyHawk 31SS
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04-17-2021, 09:07 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Kingman, AZ
Posts: 1,945
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Sounds like the ball is too small for the coupler. Most RV’s require a 2 5/16 inch ball. What size is the ball on your Suburu?
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Lee & Kathy, and our alarm clock Jake!
2017 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 266RKS 50 amp.
2017 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4, 10-1-2021
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04-17-2021, 09:26 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Mapleton
Posts: 4,336
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If you have the right size ball for the hitch then your hitch coupler may be broken or out of adjustment. If you get down under the hitch you will see that the lever on the top pushes lever under the ball edge to lock the hitch to the ball. If the ball is to small or that hitch coupler is broken, poorly made or out of adjustment then it won't hold onto the ball.
Check the top of the hitch and the top of the ball. Both should have the same size shown.
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2017 SLX 195RB
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit L 5.7L V8
Andersen WDH hitch, Renogy 100 AH Lithium &
200 Watts solar panels from Renogy
Prev. '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, gas 3.6 V6
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04-18-2021, 09:46 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Portland
Posts: 33
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Quantum, thanks, I don't do that but I'll try it.
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04-18-2021, 09:52 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Portland
Posts: 33
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The ball is 2". The width of the ball socket (coupler) is 2 1/4". The service rep was there when I purchased them at Camping World and helped me with the initial hitching.
Do I need a 2 1/4" ball?
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04-18-2021, 10:00 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,484
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobuva
The ball is 2". The width of the ball socket (coupler) is 2 1/4". The service rep was there when I purchased them at Camping World and helped me with the initial hitching.
Do I need a 2 1/4" ball?
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Are you sure it isn't a 2 5/16" ball? I don't remember ever seeing a 2 1/4" and if your trailer uses a 2 5/16" you certainly wouldn't want to use a 2" ball as it could come off and if that happened going down the highway, that would be very bad. ~CA
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2010 GreyHawk 31SS
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04-18-2021, 10:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Kingman, AZ
Posts: 1,945
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Your ball is too small. Hitch balls come in sizes 1 7/8", 2 ", and 2 5/16". There is no such thing as a 2 1/4" ball.
NEVER trust Camping World when it come to hitch setup...or most anything else for that matter. Most employees have little or no RV experience or knowledge.
Don't tow your trailer again until you have the proper hitch setup. Count yourself extremely lucky that you didn't have a serious accident while towing.
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04-18-2021, 10:20 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,880
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You need to look on the front of your tongue. Look around, It is stamped somewhere
UNDER my Hitch Head it has this: (Yes, had to lay on my back and look up):
2 5/16 Dia. Ball
I would DEFINATELY go back to that service rep. AND talk with him/her and the manager about what happened. Can you imagine if your trailer separated while rolling down the highway?
__________________
2012 Ford Expedition EL
2016 28BHBE, Elite and Thermal Packages.
Equal-i-zer 4-point Sway Control, Southwire 34930 Surge Guard 30A, Tire Minder TPMS A1A
(2) Yamaha EF2000iS Generators, Micro-Air EasyStart™ 364 (3-ton) Soft Start, Garmin RV 890, GoodYear Endurance ST225/75-15 Load Range E
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04-18-2021, 10:24 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobuva
The ball is 2". The width of the ball socket (coupler) is 2 1/4". The service rep was there when I purchased them at Camping World and helped me with the initial hitching.
Do I need a 2 1/4" ball?
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Whatever size your coupler is stamped/sized at, is the size ball you must use. Any ball bigger won't go on. Any ball smaller, may come off.
People are simply telling you 2 5/16", because that is pretty standard for most Travel Trailers. Smaller TTs, could have a smaller coupler.
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04-18-2021, 10:32 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Park Ridge
Posts: 34
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Long ago when the family started camping with a pop-up, we had the "wonderful" experience of the hitch jumping off the ball on a bump in the sub-division. Quite the surprise for my parents and woke up the neighbors (It was 3 in the morning. lol).
Ever since that day, I have been checking to verify the hitch is properly attached after every hook-up. No need to repeat that experience as an adult! lol
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Tom and April
Life long campers and hikers
2021 Jayco Eagle HT 28.5
2021 Ford F350
Nothing beats a day outside camping!
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04-18-2021, 10:32 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler
Your ball is too small. Hitch balls come in sizes 1 7/8", 2 ", and 2 5/16". There is no such thing as a 2 1/4" ball.
NEVER trust Camping World when it come to hitch setup...or most anything else for that matter. Most employees have little or no RV experience or knowledge.
Don't tow your trailer again until you have the proper hitch setup. Count yourself extremely lucky that you didn't have a serious accident while towing.
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He is probably talking about the ball shank length, rather than the diameter.
https://www.curtmfg.com/towing-acces...lls/learn-more
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04-18-2021, 10:54 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Portland
Posts: 33
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Thanks for everyone’s help! I’ll get underneath to read the exact size of the coupler and match the ball to it.
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04-18-2021, 11:36 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
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Coupler size you read on top of the coupler. Ball size reads on top of the ball
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2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.92 Rear and Air Lift 1000
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04-18-2021, 11:46 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Kingman, AZ
Posts: 1,945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RAurand
You need to look on the front of your tongue. Look around, It is stamped somewhere
UNDER my Hitch Head it has this: (Yes, had to lay on my back and look up):
2 5/16 Dia. Ball
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Don't ya just love the "Made in China" stamp??
That explains the lousy weld and rust.....
__________________
Lee & Kathy, and our alarm clock Jake!
2017 Starcraft Autumn Ridge 266RKS 50 amp.
2017 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4, 10-1-2021
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04-18-2021, 12:38 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,880
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALJO
Coupler size you read on top of the coupler. Ball size reads on top of the ball
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Could also be on the bottom (underside of the coupler) that is where mine is. (See above post/photo). POST # 10.
__________________
2012 Ford Expedition EL
2016 28BHBE, Elite and Thermal Packages.
Equal-i-zer 4-point Sway Control, Southwire 34930 Surge Guard 30A, Tire Minder TPMS A1A
(2) Yamaha EF2000iS Generators, Micro-Air EasyStart™ 364 (3-ton) Soft Start, Garmin RV 890, GoodYear Endurance ST225/75-15 Load Range E
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04-18-2021, 12:46 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: North Texas
Posts: 3,484
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RAurand
Could also be on the bottom (underside of the coupler) that is where mine is. (See above post/photo). POST # 10.
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I bet when the welder welded that plate on yours, he had it upside down. ~CA
__________________
2010 GreyHawk 31SS
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04-18-2021, 01:50 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ON
Posts: 831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobuva
Thanks for everyone’s help! I’ll get underneath to read the exact size of the coupler and match the ball to it.
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Make sure you report back and let us know what the issue was. It could help someone else one day, reading your post.
__________________
2015 Jayco WhiteHawk 28BHKS Summit Edition
2021 Ford F-150, 4x4, 3.5L Ecoboost, Max Tow
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04-18-2021, 02:39 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 5,004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quantum
Make sure you report back and let us know what the issue was. It could help someone else one day, reading your post.
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X2
Murff
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Murff
2015 White Hawk 20MRB (It's last year)
2017 F150 2.7 Eco Boost 3.73 Gears
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