Sticky Ball

[SylverHilton]

I brought home my new FC20 with Equalizer WD hitch. This is my first RV! I was unable to pull up on the coupler lever to release the ball. My experienced RV friend helped me even pull the hitch out of the receiver and it still would not release the ball by pulling up on the lever. Wow, I just started and I'm already a bad airstreamer!!

[paiceman]

Ball needs to be greased. Also, once released the trailer tongue needs to be raised off the ball, using either the electric jack lift or by hand if you do not have an electric lift.

We use the equalizer and sometimes the trailer does get tough to release from the ball. Also with the equalizer periodically one needs to check the tightness of the ball as with this particular set up they tend to loosen up over time. In 10,000 miles I've had to tighten mine up once.

Bud

[woodfox45]

Did you slide the lever forward to release it ? Thats what I need to do on mine . It is stamper on the lever .

[ShinyPete]

We use a ppp hitch and so the hitch assembly/stinger stays attached to the trailer coupler all the time so I don't have a lot of trailer coupler latch/unlatch experience on our A/S.

However it occurs to me that the A/S coupler might be one that you have to slide the latch assembly "forward " like 1/2" before it will lift up and unlatch. Can you try that? Also being as your stinger is hanging on under the coupler pick it up to support it and remove the downforce (like mentioned above) as you would when raising the coupler with the hitch jack.

Hope this helps. Oops on edit I see woodfox just said the same thing with far fewer words than me. 😜


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[GCinSC2]

Any chance that due to driveway angle or possibly backing up to a chock that you created a load on the coupling instead of having it in a floating position? If the trailer is chocked before disconnecting which is very prudent and the TV is in park with the parking brake set you might create the same type load. Also good time to practice hooking up and disconnect drills, sure beats an audience at a campground snickering.

[cabinetmaker]

Yea, slide the release forward then up...my first experience with Airstreams years ago now was the same.

[overlander63]

You have to slide the coupler latch forward, before lifting up, or it will never unlatch.

[Bob662]

A good plan is to chock the trailer and put TV in neutral. Then you can raise the TV/TT with the jack to release torsion bars without loading either unit, and then after lowering and releasing the hitch latch, raise again to get hitch off the ball.

[SylverHilton]

1. The ball is well greased.
2. We used the power jack to raise the the tongue a lot.
3. I think we may have failed to follow the instructions to slide the coupler latch forward! We're guys, we don't read no stinkin' instructions!

Thanks again for the replies. We will try again today following back up practice. I am anxious to get camping!

This is exciting--I've dreamed of an AS for years!

Thanks again.

Bob

[SylverHilton]

Well, sliding the coupler forward definitely allows the ball to release!

Now that I have established my bona fides as a noob, you will probably hear from me again with another "issue."

Thanks again for the help.

Bob

[woodfox45]

Now that you know how to release it when you hook up you will need to lower the lever and then raise the hitch until the coupler latches and slides back to lock. you should be able to slip a pin through the hole or a small lock close to size when the lever is all the way down.

[Caffeinated]

Originally Posted by SylverHilton

Well, sliding the coupler forward definitely allows the ball to release!

Now that I have established my bona fides as a noob, you will probably hear from me again with another "issue."

Thanks again for the help.

Bob

Welcome to the forum. As far as thsliding coupler goes, been there, done that.

Mike