YnotTurbo wrote: This happens to me. I will set the leggs down and take the pressure off the bed of the truck. Then I will back the truck up o so slightly to push the pin off of the jaws. If there is a lot of pressure on the jaws, it will not open. Also make sure you have the camper raised enough so it is not resting to firmly on the hitch. You will eventually have a set standard operating procedure.
I do the same. Depending on how you park, sometimes there is tension that causes the jaws not to move. I alwasy chock the trailer wheels before I do any of this. If I cant release my hitch, I get in the truck and back up ever so slightly, the trailer wont move because the wheels are chocked, and it releases tension allowing the jaws to release
Hope this helps
Chock the wheels, drop the landing gear, raise the pinbox slightly off of the hitch, put the truck in reverse and put rearward pressure on the pin, set the parking brake, put the truck in park, and the handle shouldn't be a problem to release at all
YnotTurbo wrote: This happens to me. I will set the leggs down and take the pressure off the bed of the truck. Then I will back the truck up o so slightly to push the pin off of the jaws. If there is a lot of pressure on the jaws, it will not open. Also make sure you have the camper raised enough so it is not resting to firmly on the hitch. You will eventually have a set standard operating procedure.
Real trucks also have a clutch pedal!!!!
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
I have Reese hitch and it is hard to release if the king pin is pulling back on the jaws. It took me a long time to figure this out but what I have found on my set up at least is that when I lift the trailer with the jacks the truck will move forward as weight is lifted off the springs thus causing a hard release. I think this is caused by the springs unwrapping as weight comes off. I now get the legs set and before lifting very much I release the hitch and than finish lifting the trailer. I have had other hitches as well and none of them will release easily if there is a lot of back pressure on the jaws or slide bar. If you are in a situation where thr trailer wants to roll back chock your wheels and than let your TV roll back to remove the pressure off jaws or bar. Also on hitches that require lubrication a little maintenance goes a long way.
1. Drop the landing gear and jack the front of the trailer up until it clears the fifth wheel about 1/8 inch.
2. If the latch don't want to release, get back in the truck and put it in reverse and observe the fifth wheel, when you get the tension off the king pin the jaws the fifth wheel should tilt a little.
3. at this time leave the truck in reverse and put the truck's emergency brake on to keep it exactly where it is.
4. Put the truck back in park and get out and unhook the trailer.
Note: If on a big incline you might want to chock the trailer before pulling the truck away.
Lots of good info. Again though, I have to ask about the trailer parking brake. Is it ok to just pull the cable out of the E-brake to set the parking brake on the trailer.
I have a reese hitch and have found that before pulling the handle, I get back into the TV and put into reverse and just let off the brake and watch the hitch move just a bit, then apply the brake again. This takes the pressure off the jaws and my wife pulls it open.
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