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Trailer Hitch
#12163508
03/29/17 05:39 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,411
Bass Junkie
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,411 |
When I was backing my trailer down the ramp it came off the hitch. Luckily the emergency cables held and all I had to do with block the wheels and backup and re hitch with the help of some Good Samaritans at the ramp. Have not had any other issues and made it back safely home. The only thing I could think of is that I was backing up at an extreme angle the same time the trailer was going down the ramp.
Has anybody had similar situations? Should I be concerned and have the locking mechanism of the hitch replaced?
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12163586
03/29/17 10:27 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,180
boocat
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,180 |
Assuming it was correctly hitched in the first place, there is an adjusting nut up inside the hitch to adjust the locked tension on the ball, it may simply have come from the factory not adjusted properly, can't be to tight, ball still has to be able to turn inside the hitch.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12163710
03/29/17 12:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 26,052
patriot07
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 26,052 |
I always lock down the coupler. It doesn't come loose often, but it can happen under the right set of stars aligning.
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. - Soren Kierkegaard
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12163728
03/29/17 12:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,485
redchevy
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,485 |
Are you positive your using the correct size ball for the hitch?
It happens all the time, are you sure you locked it in? Ive had it happen to me before. Brother and I were taking the tractor to the ranch I backed up the truck he climbed in the bed (gooseneck trailer) and hooked up the safety chains and emergency stop cable but never closed the hitch. About a mile from the house I stepped on the brakes for a stop sign and the trailer slid forward and hit the tool box... no real damage, but a huge wake up call. Double check, and no I always check myself to make sure.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12164270
03/29/17 06:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,991
Stump jumper
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,991 |
Neighbor hooked mine up, which he has done many times, and did not get the coupler fully retracted. Fortunately it came off backing up in the yard and the neither the coupler or the jack damaged the truck since I was backing up. I now check his work.
2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax 2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12165171
03/30/17 10:29 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,411
Bass Junkie
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,411 |
Thanks for the advice. Everything y'all have mentioned I think came into play except the ball size. My friend hooked it up and think there could have been a cable underneath the latch. Will check the tension.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12165396
03/30/17 01:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606
ChuChu1
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606 |
I had mine come off the ball once. Ever since, when I hitch up I use the tongue jack to jack it up and make sure it is hooked securely. If the jack starts to pick up the truck, it's secure.
Snowflakes and entitled brats will be the doom of America!
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12165416
03/30/17 02:08 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,167
Ambassador84
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,167 |
Learned my lesson a few years ago. I always double check those items that the buddy or relative said they took care of when it comes to hooking up the trailer or putting in the plugs. It has saved me from stress and heart ache at least a half dozen times in the last 5 years.
Man up. Fight the GOOD fight.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Ambassador84]
#12166227
03/30/17 11:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,706
Big Possum
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,706 |
Learned my lesson a few years ago. I always double check those items that the buddy or relative said they took care of when it comes to hooking up the trailer or putting in the plugs. It has saved me from stress and heart ache at least a half dozen times in the last 5 years. I've been towing since the early '70s...no matter who hooks up the trailer (even myself), it gets double and sometimes triple checked. I don't care about damage to my property.....I care more about someone getting hurt....or worse.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: boocat]
#12188632
04/08/17 01:22 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,411
Bass Junkie
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,411 |
Assuming it was correctly hitched in the first place, there is an adjusting nut up inside the hitch to adjust the locked tension on the ball, it may simply have come from the factory not adjusted properly, can't be to tight, ball still has to be able to turn inside the hitch. Thanks that was it. It was very loose.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12189606
04/09/17 12:51 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,180
boocat
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,180 |
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12191488
04/10/17 02:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,414
lenahorse
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,414 |
Another thing seldom mentioned is the ball shank diameter always use 1" or larger with lock washer and nut mine has a hole through the shank at the end for a cotter pin to prevent nut from possibly coming off. never us the ones that have internal threads and a bolt from the bottom which is usually only 5/8"
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12205433
04/18/17 08:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,951
AdanV
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,951 |
Been reading all comments here, and my issue may related:
One trailers I pull feels loose when I accelerate after a full stop. I hear and feel a clunk in the back, as if the trailer ball is too small.
The tongue hitch says it needs a 2-5/16" Trailer Ball, which is what I have on my truck. The trailer ball on my truck is on tight.
So I guess I have to check that tension nut.
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: Bass Junkie]
#12205468
04/18/17 08:24 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606
ChuChu1
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,606 |
If you have a receiver hitch, most of that "slack" is in the pin. There is a tension U bolt that will stop that.
Snowflakes and entitled brats will be the doom of America!
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Re: Trailer Hitch
[Re: AdanV]
#12205550
04/18/17 09:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,485
redchevy
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,485 |
Been reading all comments here, and my issue may related:
One trailers I pull feels loose when I accelerate after a full stop. I hear and feel a clunk in the back, as if the trailer ball is too small.
The tongue hitch says it needs a 2-5/16" Trailer Ball, which is what I have on my truck. The trailer ball on my truck is on tight.
So I guess I have to check that tension nut.
What kind of brakes does it have? If it has surge brakes its probably normal.
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