hitching/unhitching

[bradsr63]

When bringing our trailer home for the first time, we had fun unhitching at the storage facility. Could not get it to release. Tried backing up & pulling forward to try & take pressure off ball & hitch, but it didn't work. Tried jumping up & down on the bumper, but that didn't work. The ball had grease on it and wasn't dry. Ended up using a screw driver in the safety lever mechanism. That did the trick. I called the rv dealer later in the week and tech told me to block front & back of trailer wheels, with jack touching ground, & put truck in gear and move just a pinch to relieve pressure. Has anyone else had this problem? I've towed smaller trailers and never had this problem.

[rodro123]

When I first picked mine up from the dealer it would not let go as well, I did the same as you screw driver inside and it worked well. After it let go I felt inside and moved the slide it was binding, so I sprayed it wil silicon spray on the slide and it worked perfect time after time but in spring I regrease the ball and spray the slide to make sure in works.

[RVmom jaycox213]

We had the same problem just this past week. But what we found was that everytime I would put the truck in park it would roll forward and the ball would hook on the front of the tongue on the hitch. We had to completly stabilize the trailer and jack it up in the front a bit then back up like 1/2 a inch so the ball would release. It was tricky.

[RedHorse1]

Ours was also difficult to release the first few times and I wound up releasing it with the screwdriver also. I cleaned it with break cleaner and sprayed a lithium grease into the workings. Every few outings I clean with break cleaner and re apply more lube. Works smooth now.

[bradsr63]

Thanks everyone for the info. I will make sure everything is clean, wheels blocked, and will get some lithium grease & brake cleaner.

[MrKong]

When I picked mine up the dealer did not grease the ball. After driving home almost 100 miles, I thought I was never going to get it off.

[mcfarmall]

Grease is your friend. If it moves, grease it. If it doesn't, paint it. My personal preference is a NLGI 2 with molybdenum disulfide in it. Use it on your wheel bearings and where your round bars go into your hitch.

Just don't get it on your clothes...it'll never come out.

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by bradsr63

Thanks everyone for the info. I will make sure everything is clean, wheels blocked, and will get some lithium grease & brake cleaner.

It seems to me that lots of folks prefer dry lubricants (teflon) because it won't pickup extra grime (abrasive). But I'm with Mcfarm, if it moves grease it (but I don't like to paint):hihi:

[MrKong]

Some of the best ball grease I have found was made by Polaris. Its a synthetic, used on ATV's. It's a high pressure grease, and it does not break down like other standard petroleum base grease I have used.

[cekkk]

Can we have more posts on ball grease. As I get older, every little bit helps.

[clutch]

Just wrap it with a piece of old fashioned wax paper. It is a lot cleaner.

[Quahog]

That's an excellent idea, Clutch. Wax paper... when we were kids, we'd take a sheet of wax paper, sit on it and use it to go down the slide. Surprised I didn't kill myself!

[Crabman]

One other problem I have had with "dry" hitch mechanisms (mainly on boat trailers) is they stay partially closed after unhitching and when you go to hitch up they remain closed so the coupler will not go over the ball. Of course a shot of lubricant freed things up quickly, and it will then open up and slide over the ball.

[Moving Target]

Originally Posted by bradsr63

When bringing our trailer home for the first time, we had fun unhitching at the storage facility. Could not get it to release. Tried backing up & pulling forward to try & take pressure off ball & hitch, but it didn't work. Tried jumping up & down on the bumper, but that didn't work. The ball had grease on it and wasn't dry. Ended up using a screw driver in the safety lever mechanism. That did the trick. I called the rv dealer later in the week and tech told me to block front & back of trailer wheels, with jack touching ground, & put truck in gear and move just a pinch to relieve pressure. Has anyone else had this problem? I've towed smaller trailers and never had this problem.

My maiden voyage camping, mine did not want to unhitch. Finally, with help from new campsite neighbors, we got it to release. Moving the tt a tad to unlatch the ball from the hitch AND the lithuim grease is a girls best friend. :hihi:

[stevencina]

I have tried a few different types of lubrication on the Ball, and on my equalizer Hitch. I Now use Marine Grade White Grease, It stays on very good and does not wash off as easy as Standard grease..