When we were getting ready to leave home Friday and the campground today, it was very hard to get the lever on the hitch to snap down. Both times the hitch was on the ball, but that thing didn't want to snap down. We're in our third year and this has not been difficult before. Do we need to lubricate it or what has gone wrong?
Problems Locking Hitch
- Thread starter Nani2
- Start date
Toedtoes
Super Active Member
I'd try to lubricate it first. That usually does wonders.
WrkrBee
Super Active Member
I have a boat trailer that the ball lock drops further than my other trailers. My ball is machined with about a 1/4" rise, before the under cut starts for the ball stem. Sometimes my ball lock gets against the machined rise and it will not move. I have to raise the trailer a little, to get the lock past the rise, then drop the trailer to lock it on the ball.
gladecreekwy
Super Active Member
Put the TV in gear and roll forward an inch. Always does the trick with mine
We tried that. It was on the ball the first time but it wouldn't snap. We finally raised it, and pulled forward then started over even though i saw it grab the first time. We tried three times and the host came by in his golf cart and he tried and we couldn't get it to lock. We finally pulled off the site to a more level area and it was still difficult. I think husband was afraid to force it that it would break.
Okay--what do we lubricate it with?
Toedtoes
Super Active Member
In a fix, you can use WD-40, but a dry lubricant is better as dirt won't get gooked up in it.
I'd clean out the latch with a liberal amount of brake cleaner and let that dry. Then use a teflon lube on all of the moving parts. Your latch may need to be adjusted. If it looks like this one:
https://www.etrailer.com/question-134607.html
https://www.etrailer.com/question-134607.html
Next time it happens, look under the coupler and make sure the underjaw isnt stuck up on the ball. I have a trailer that it sometimes happens on. When it does, I raise the trailer back off the ball and straighten the orientation of the underjaw.
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