TT hitch won't lock- ideas?

[fjd]

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.

[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.

[mike837go]

Are the ball and hitch the same size?


2" and 1-7/8" look identical, but are incompatible for proper operation.

[Doug]

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

[Rustysocket]

drop it on the ball. bump it forward with TV.

[oldmanAZ]

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.

[Gman1372]

Wow.
Moving on. Does the latch close without the ball in the coupler?

[The Logans]

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.

[bansai]

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.

[fjd]

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.

[Jagiven]

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.

[fjd]

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.

[oldmanAZ]

and thanks for the update!