Trailer slips off hitch
- Thread starter dotnmarty
- Start date
Marco Flamingo
Active member
But for the grace of God. I was working for my Dad and was pulling a trailer with the company truck. Parked it at night and got in the next morning at 5 am. Crossed Stark street in SE Portland, heard a rattle, and the trailer wasn't behind me. It was beside me. It hopped the curb and went into a front lawn, where the hitch dug in and it almost flipped over. Nobody was around, so I put it back on and hit the road. My brother had borrowed the truck during the night and just set the trailer back on to the hitch.
When I picked up my 16', I found out that I didn't have a pin for the receiver. Bought one at the local auto parts store. After hooking up the boat and pulling forward, I saw that the pin was still sitting on the passenger seat. I could have had a conversation with my insurance agent that I just bought a boat and, oh by the way, I need to file a claim.
Mark
When I picked up my 16', I found out that I didn't have a pin for the receiver. Bought one at the local auto parts store. After hooking up the boat and pulling forward, I saw that the pin was still sitting on the passenger seat. I could have had a conversation with my insurance agent that I just bought a boat and, oh by the way, I need to file a claim.
Mark
South of Heaven
New member
Double and triple checking our equipment is obviously paramount but so is HAVING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT to begin with. I've seen so many boat trailers with bald tires, grease all over the wheels, rotted leaf springs etc. It's a disgrace. Not to mention lighting.... Folks always ride around with missing trailer lights or not even have lights at all. I never can understand that. If you can afford to have a boat then throw some money towards the trailer too.
Wayne McCown
New member
Also...the hitch receiver may be tightened to fit the ball. I just did this.
Robert H. Wilkinson
New member
I am always amazed when I see experienced haulers hooking a trailer up to a dry, badly rusted ball. A ball should be kept clean, smooth and greased before any trip. NO this is NOT a joke and yes you can buy white grease labelled "ball grease". The friction created by the tongue weight is compounded by a dry, rough ball and the action of the vehicle turning can result in the ball nut working loose.
The hitch mechanism should be flushed out occasionally with a pressure washer and some type of lubricant sprayed up into the ball coupler as well.
Regards, Rob
The hitch mechanism should be flushed out occasionally with a pressure washer and some type of lubricant sprayed up into the ball coupler as well.
Regards, Rob
I had the same thing happen to me, towing my CD22. Popped off the ball for no reason I could figure out. Never had that problem before or since. The important thing here is that safety chains did their job and, except for ruining at new spare tire, that dragged down the road on its mount, there was no damage or collisions.
To have killed someone because the driver was so irresponsible as to not have security chains should draw jail time as far as I am concerned. In my state, chains are required by law.
To have killed someone because the driver was so irresponsible as to not have security chains should draw jail time as far as I am concerned. In my state, chains are required by law.
It was mentioned above, but the typical type of coupler has an adjustment possible. If you look up into it you can see that it has things that look a bit like forks that engage the underside of ball. They slip down over the ball, and then when you "close" the coupler, they draw up and clutch the ball. If they are not adjusted properly, they may not do that reliably. They can be adjusted to "clutch" better. On a small trailer you can pull up on the tongue to check, but that's not so easy on a heavy one.
On my coupler I have to watch it a bit or the forks try to stay on the top side of the ball. I just watch and make sure they stay "open" until they are under the ball and then that they engage (Titan coupler).
I'm speaking of the most usual type of coupler, not Bulldog or etc.
On my coupler I have to watch it a bit or the forks try to stay on the top side of the ball. I just watch and make sure they stay "open" until they are under the ball and then that they engage (Titan coupler).
I'm speaking of the most usual type of coupler, not Bulldog or etc.
I hadn't seen that device before. Watched the video review of the product and it looks like a good device - both for safety and as a theft deterrent.dave":2a9xom87 said:
My son and I were heading up down South to visit my parents. On 405 right after Woodinville as 405 goes up a steep hill I watched in complete amazement a boat trailer came off the hitch road across from the far left side to the far right side shoulder and no one hit the trailer! Once the owner and trailer was on the right side of the road he struggled to keep it from gaining more speed holding the trailer from continuing down the road. See he left his vehicle on the left side and ran after the trailer pushed the tongue enough to direct it as it rolled down the freeway. I was certain at one point though that an impatient driver was going to hit him or the trailer. But God was looking out for everyone and had other plans.
I always double check everything but have once driven off with the jack down as I using it to stabilize the trailer the previous day.
I always double check everything but have once driven off with the jack down as I using it to stabilize the trailer the previous day.
I posted this because it reminded me of an incident I witnessed not too long ago on my walk. I was at a crosswalk when a car pulling a trailer turned right in front of me The trailer came off the hitch and made a significant dent in the car's trunk. While helping the driver secure the trailer on the hitch he told me that he was working with a friend who set the trailer on the hitch but didn't secure it because the other guy had the lock in his pocket. Anyway, I just thought this might be a "teachable moment". Hopefully it has been that. Thanks.
