Trailer hitch coupler issues

Most of the time the last maneuver you made positioning the trailer into the spot was to back up. This puts the ball all the way back against the catch making it hard to open . To eliminate the hard opening most of the time. Just pull forward about 1" as your last move when positioning the TM in the spot. Now the ball is at the front of the hitch and the latch should open easily. Set the parking brake to hold the TV rather than relying on the trans in park as there is enough play in the Trans brake to allow the TV top roll back that 1/2" and make it hard to release again.

[Kidkraz]

In reading these posts, I've got some good ideas I'll be trying next time I park my manor. I park my manor in the driveway and it's on a mildly steep angle. I have just enough room to keep it from blocking the walkway, so the manor normaly is pushed up against the ball. I install the chocks, and try to releve the strain, but it's not always effective.
I will try applying the electric trailer brakes and see if that makes the task easier. Great information, thanks.

[MarkoPolo]

Thanks to all, the forward placement, using parking brake before putting transmission in park and the idea of using the camper brakes to hold while moving forward slightly all worked like a charm Easiest hitching and unhitching ever!
A larger concern: sway is serious issue with this trailer. So much so that I will start another thread this weekend. Suffice it to say that 65mph on I80 between Larmamie and Cheyenne WY was one of the most uncomfortable times I've ever had towing a trailer, and I have towed campers for 13 years. More on this later.

[scrubjaysnest]

Originally Posted by MarkoPolo

........................snip...................... ..
A larger concern: sway is serious issue with this trailer. So much so that I will start another thread this weekend. Suffice it to say that 65mph on I80 between Larmamie and Cheyenne WY was one of the most uncomfortable times I've ever had towing a trailer, and I have towed campers for 13 years. More on this later.

We have towed ours on that section with no problems if you have sway problems check your loading of the trailer.

[Bill]

Mark -

I'm not sure that a road - particularly an Interstate - can cause sway. If there is a stiff crosswind and the road ducks in and out between steep hills, the sudden wind gusts can suddenly push the entire rig, trailer and tow vehicle, to the side. There is a section of I-40 around Gallup and Grants, NM, where this is true, and we've been through it more than a dozen times. The sudden sideways jump can be a bit unnerving, but I've never had the jump convert to sway. The places where this can happen are always well-signed, at least on that section of road, often with orange airport-style wind socks in the median strip and big signs with a flashing light warning of sudden cross-winds.

And of course a poorly-built road (usually concrete rather than asphalt) can cause "chucking". Chucking is sometimes described as a rhythmic fore-and-aft motion of the rig, and sometimes as a rhythmic up and down motion. But it is hard to confuse chucking with sway.

I look forward to your new thread - we can all learn something here. But in the meantime, I tend to agree with ScrubJaysNest, and suggest that next time you are packed up and ready to camp, you weigh the trailer tongue. A CAT scale, discussed in a recent thread, is the easiest way. But it isn't too hard to weigh it at home. All you need is a bathroom scale, a 4-foot length of two-by-six, and a couple bricks or short chunks of board.

Bill

[scrubjaysnest]

Originally Posted by Bill

..................snip There is a section of I-40 around Gallup and Grants, NM, where this is true, and we've been through it more than a dozen times. The sudden sideways jump can be a bit unnerving,...............snip

Bill

We have finally learned where and when to expect this one

When we first got our TM...it would take up to 30 or more min of frustration trying to hook up the TM each time. We even got under and looked at the coupler, the whole works. till by accident we too found that slightly forward does the trick. Never force it. It will easily fall in place or open if done right. by the way love the suggestion to use the emerg brake... will try that next time.