|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
  
| Has anyone had this happen in a situation where the truck and trailer were torqued, like in a steep ditch or something? |
|
| |
|
  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | If your ball isn't the correct size the hitch can pop off. Best to avoid ditches when pulling a trailer regardless? |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Yep I did. Thank goodness I was going really slow over the pothole. |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I have friends who had it happen while on an on ramp to the interstate. Thankfully the emergency brakes helped stop them with no injuries.
Collar appeared to be completely closed and locked. They took it to a trailer shop who tested the hitch etc etc and could not get it to perform incorrectly. The only thing we can think of was it wasn't quite set down on the ball all the way, but in tests of that theory the lock was extremely difficult to close (obviously) and it wasn't that day, so no one really knows.
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| It happened to us yesterday. However, the trailer was so heavy it stayed on top of the ball. They are working on the roads around my house and had a large dip in 2 places, no way to avoid. I think it had to have happened then when we were almost home. I have had it happen once before in the pasture towing a utility trailer, but never with a horse trailer.
I've towed this trailer for several years, same ball and never had this happen. Hubby thinks I didn't lower it completely on the ball, but I know I did. Interesting to know it has happened to others.
|
|
| |
|
 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | Safety chains crossed under the toung. Even if it bounces off the hitch the chains will catch it so it won't flip
|
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Is the hitch closure the kind on the side with the collar that slides up or the kind with the latch on the top of the part that goes over the ball?
I hate the latter. The side closure and collar are darn near impossible to do wrong, collar won't close if it's not on all the way plain and simple.
My folks had a pop up camper with the top closure kind and I remember it taking forever to get it on just right and even then it would appear to be okay and we'd put the jack back down to check it and off she'd pop. Perhaps it was a faulty hitch but I remember it just being a huge pain.
But yes, always chains crossed under the tongue and make sure your emergency brake battery is charged so if the chains fail the brakes kick in. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 138
| Had it happen once while putting the trailer back into our storage barn. There is a hump in the drive leading up to the barn. No idea why it popped off, and none of our trailers have done it since. Thankfully trailer and truck were fine, though it was a huge production to get the darn thing back on the ball. |
|
| |
|
| chicks2 - 2016-12-24 8:10 AM It happened to us yesterday. However, the trailer was so heavy it stayed on top of the ball. They are working on the roads around my house and had a large dip in 2 places, no way to avoid. I think it had to have happened then when we were almost home. I have had it happen once before in the pasture towing a utility trailer, but never with a horse trailer. I've towed this trailer for several years, same ball and never had this happen. Hubby thinks I didn't lower it completely on the ball, but I know I did. Interesting to know it has happened to others.
If you have had the same ball for a while you may want to check for any wear or cracks. |
|
| |
|
 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | chicks2 - 2016-12-24 9:10 AM It happened to us yesterday. However, the trailer was so heavy it stayed on top of the ball. They are working on the roads around my house and had a large dip in 2 places, no way to avoid. I think it had to have happened then when we were almost home. I have had it happen once before in the pasture towing a utility trailer, but never with a horse trailer. I've towed this trailer for several years, same ball and never had this happen. Hubby thinks I didn't lower it completely on the ball, but I know I did. Interesting to know it has happened to others.
Do you grease the ball? Metal on metal slowly rubs causing the sizes of the ball and receiver to change. |
|
| |
Folks on-line