DUNE DUMMY 29
EL CENTRO, CA.
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We were leaving on a trip & before we got 5 blocks the trailer came off of the hitch. We had hooked it up the night before & 2 of us had checked that it was latched. We did not however check it again beore we left. (We will from now on.) i don't know if the the hitch came loose or someone unhitched it. I have heard of both things happening. Has this happened to anyone else here? The pin landed on the tailgate & bent it. We got that fixed now I noticed the front of the bed is bent also. It would have been really bad if we made it on to the freeway.
45 MINUTES FROM GLAMIS
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Turd Herder
A strange place
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You're fortunate. Very.
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Vulcaneer
Northern New England
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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Usually if someone pulls the release handle the hitch will release as soon as you start to pull forward. Doesn't appear to be the case with your incident. It appears that the hitch may have been "High Hooked". Meaning that the hitch jaws actually closed on the large hub diameter on the bottom of your king pin. When that happens, the hitch jaws do not actually close all the way, so they cannot LOCK into position. And may hold for a very short distance before letting go.
When you checked your hitch, did you actually look at the jaw under the hitch plate, to make sure it was closed in the correct position on the king pin? If you just check the release handle position, you may not be able to really tell if it is truely locked into position. You gotta actually look at the jaws. Some people paint the jaws for better visibility.
To avoid High Hooking, position your trailer height so the pin box rides up on the hitch plate. Making sure your truck squats down under the load. I position my pin box to contact the hitch plate at the 1/4 point.
Thank fully your problem was not worse.
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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No we are very careful to do this. Have the landing gear 2" or so off the ground. Push the manual trailer brake lever to brake and try to drive ahead. If the hitch is wrong it will fall down the 2" and nothing is hurt. If the truck can't pull ahead the hitch is locked and all is good. raise the landing gear up and hit the road. chevman also glad you wern't hurt
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skipper
Louisville KY USA
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Joined: 05/19/2001
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DUNE DUMMY 29 wrote:We were leaving on a trip & before we got 5 blocks the trailer came off of the hitch. We had hooked it up the night before & 2 of us had checked that it was latched. We did not however check it again beore we left. (We will from now on.) i don't know if the the hitch came loose or someone unhitched it. I have heard of both things happening. Has this happened to anyone else here? The pin landed on the tailgate & bent it. We got that fixed now I noticed the front of the bed is bent also. It would have been really bad if we made it on to the freeway. You most likely Hi hitched that is the flange on the bottom of the pin was riding on top of the jaws or bar you locked the handle only with the groove in the locking bar .Suggest you paint the bottom flange of the pin (side) that you can see and the bar or jaws ,if at night use a light to look ,some say a pull test is best ,that is you crank up the landing legs in front just a inch or so ,the move slow forward to see if the jaws or lock bar move the trailer with the truck without falling some use a device that catches the pin if it is not hooked up and allow es the trailer to unhitch without falling on the truck ,but you must remember to compleat the raising of the legs to the proper stowed position. Skipper entry level over fifty years Note if you do not hav a way to padlock the lever in place make ,or install a store bought bracket on the hitch to allow the locking of the handle.
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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...also besides the above pull test make sure you lock your hitch bar after hooking up...finally if you have the jaw type hitch paint the jaws of the hitch white as another visual check
ERIC & BEV
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DUNE DUMMY 29
EL CENTRO, CA.
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We got behind the truck & looked @ the hitch, it looked to be in the proper position. It is silver & the rest of the pin is black so it is pretty visible. The next time We hooked it up after it came off we did put the truck in gear to check it. My wife says it is because i usually back up the truck & she makes sure it is hooked up. This time she backed it up & I made sure it was hooked up & my friend Eddie checked it too. Thanks for all of the advice & suggestions i will try to use them all because I never want this to happen again,
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Wingnusa
Scott and Brenda Albuquerque, NM
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Ditto with everyone else. Knock on wood that I've never dropped a hitch but I'm pretty anal about it. I have heard of individuals unhitching you in the middle of the night... I always lock a padlock on my hitch as soon as I hook up whether I'm leaving the next morning or right away. I also have my hitch padlocked into the bed and padlocked the head of the hitch to the base. If they want it bad enough after all that, they can have it. Sorry to hear about your incident but it'll make you either smarter or poorer....
Scott and Brenda Schnelle
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ol Bombero-JC
USA
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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Brand/type of hitch?
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Maybe he wasn't high-hitched!
("High Hooked", LOL!)
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Maybe time for a hitch "pro" to check out the hitch.
("Eyes-on" opinion)
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Good case for a Bed-saver.
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Sorry to hear of your misfortune.
~
JC
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sclark
Minnesota
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Joined: 03/11/2005
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I have also painted the jaws white to ensure they are closed around the pin. As others mentioned, put a lock on the hitch bar so it cant be tampered with. Do the pull test to ensure you are hitched. Good luck.
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