Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-24-2020, 03:37 PM   #1
3 Rivet Member
 
hopmonster's Avatar
 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Toronto’s Basement , Ontario-Canada
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 111
Images: 7
How to make hitching easier?

Hey All
Just pulled the ‘19 Sport 16 out of storage and heading to warmer climate tomorrow.

I almost forgot what a pain in the butt it is getting the hitch to seat properly. It usually takes a fair bit of back and forth with sudden braking to get it to seat so the clasp lock down and holes line up. I was hoping it would get easier over time but almost a year out and it’s still a struggle. I even cleaned out the hutch tongue and greased both pieces nicely.

I have a dealer installed Reese anti sway hitch with 2 5/16 ball.

Does anyone know of a trick to make this easier so I don’t scare the hell out of other campers when I’m trying to seat it?

Many thanks!
Mike
hopmonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2020, 04:16 PM   #2
3 Rivet Member
 
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Sandy , Utah
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 229
Quote:
Originally Posted by hopmonster View Post
Hey All
Just pulled the ‘19 Sport 16 out of storage and heading to warmer climate tomorrow.

I almost forgot what a pain in the butt it is getting the hitch to seat properly. It usually takes a fair bit of back and forth with sudden braking to get it to seat so the clasp lock down and holes line up. I was hoping it would get easier over time but almost a year out and it’s still a struggle. I even cleaned out the hutch tongue and greased both pieces nicely.

I have a dealer installed Reese anti sway hitch with 2 5/16 ball.

Does anyone know of a trick to make this easier so I don’t scare the hell out of other campers when I’m trying to seat it?

Many thanks!
Mike
first I would spray up inside with WD or light oil and move the hitch latch a few times to lube everything up. What I have always done is leave the wheel chocks in place on the front of the trailer tires and gently give it a little tug forward after dropping it on the ball. That has always worked for me. *You should do this before you put any tension on the rigs with the WD hitch*. If you have the trailer set so that it cannot move it really only takes putting the tow vehicle in drive and you will here the hitch lock.
rocco52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2020, 04:31 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
Al and Missy's Avatar
 
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island , Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,668
Your coupler may need adjustment. It should sit down on the ball without difficulty. Try letting it down until it just seats and then lock it, don't pull the foot all the way up until it is locked.

There are multiple coupler types. The one on my 25 I would lift up and then lever down. The one on my 30 just slides fore and aft. Make sure you are operating yours correctly.

If you still can't couple it easily, it may need adjustment. Mine has a nylock nut that adjusts the tension. Back the nut out a half turn at a time. Once you get it where it couples easily, put a jack under the tongue while it is latched and make sure it won't come uncoupled. The coupler on my small utility trailer worked perfectly for years and then suddenly started coming uncoupled when hitting a bump. I had to tighten up the adjusting nut.

Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
Al and Missy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2020, 04:33 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
KK4YZ's Avatar
 
2020 28' Flying Cloud
2017 23' Flying Cloud
Hiawassee , Georgia
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,403
I usually align the ball slightly forward of the trailer coupler. Then as the coupler is lowered onto the ball, the coupler (and trailer) will move forward a fraction of an inch and fall into place (usually). I think the biggest issue is having the ball aligned too far back on the coupler, interfering with the locking mechanism.

If I run into that situation, I’ll put the Truck into drive and bump it forward with trailer wheel chocks in place. Easy does it. You shouldn’t have to slam anything around too hard.

I hope that helps.

Jim
KK4YZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2020, 06:24 PM   #5
3 Rivet Member
 
hopmonster's Avatar
 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Toronto’s Basement , Ontario-Canada
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 111
Images: 7
Thanks everyone! I’ll try the using the chocks to help in the morning, never tried that trick.The tongue seems to move freely in the coupler. I’m not sure if it can be adjusted but I’ll have a look through the manual. It’s just a simple WD Reese unit.
__________________
Mike
2019 25 Flying Cloud
hopmonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2020, 07:29 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
Piggy Bank's Avatar
 
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Kansas City , Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,967
You might want to check out this thread.
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f14...ks-203926.html
__________________

Piggy Bank
Piggy Bank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2020, 08:16 PM   #7
3 Rivet Member
 
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Comox , British Columbia
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 151
Quote:
Originally Posted by hopmonster View Post
Thanks everyone! I’ll try the using the chocks to help in the morning, never tried that trick.The tongue seems to move freely in the coupler. I’m not sure if it can be adjusted but I’ll have a look through the manual. It’s just a simple WD Reese unit.
The adjustment nut is on the trailer side under the coupler. Stick a mirror under the coupler and you will see it.
Northerngirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 06:18 AM   #8
"Cloudsplitter"

 
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
Images: 1
Hitch'n Rods👍

Bob
🇺🇸
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Towtector.jpg
Views:	48
Size:	385.6 KB
ID:	361853  
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
ROBERT CROSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 07:40 AM   #9
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Hi

Get a can of white lithium spray grease and *flood* the coupler. If it's not a total mess, you didn't use enough . It will clean out any road grit *and* act as a lube once the cleaning is done. (Yes, you should also put something thicker on the ball)

Once all the guck is off the coupler, take a close look at it in good light. If it's the one that came on the trailer back in 1977, it's lived a long life. Check for bent / broke bits. Take a look at somebody else's coupler to understand what should be there. That way you can also look for "missing" bits.

Assuming all that goes ok, then alignment as you hook up is indeed what's left on the list.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 10:01 AM   #10
Rivet Master
 
SuzyHomemakr's Avatar
 
1972 29' Ambassador
Boynton Beach , Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 568
I installed a backup camera, and use one of these: https://www.harborfreight.com/magnet...kit-69778.html I can hitch up by myself, sometimes with only one try! I keep all the rub points greased up, and the coupler just slides right on
SuzyHomemakr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 10:35 AM   #11
Stay CazuaL
 
cazual6's Avatar
 
2018 25' Flying Cloud
2014 19' Flying Cloud
Reseda , California
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 959
Images: 1
I would first LUBE the receiver, in and around, on top top, don't be shy, LUBE the heck out of it. Also LUBE your ball. You will need to that several times if you have never LUBE your hitch before.

I promise you will sit better.
__________________
"No job is so simple that it cannot be done wrong."
"Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege."
WBCCI 9164
*Virtual campfire at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Airs...dictsforAdults
cazual6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 10:50 AM   #12
Rivet Master
 
1981 31' Excella II
New Market , Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
Most of the time the problem is with the ball being too far back on the hitch. This jams the lock between the ball and the socket. When I get close, I lower the trailer hitch about 1/2-1" below the ball and back up slowly till I hear it pop into the socket. You want to err on the side of the ball being a little too far forward and let gravity help you out a bit as you back up. Make sure everything is lubed well and also that the lock is not too tight. After you do this now lower the trailer hitch till you can lock it in.



Perry
perryg114 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 10:56 AM   #13
Rivet Master
 
Rich W's Avatar

 
2006 23' Safari SE
I'm In , Kentucky
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,251
Images: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuzyHomemakr View Post
I installed a backup camera, and use one of these: https://www.harborfreight.com/magnet...kit-69778.html I can hitch up by myself, sometimes with only one try! I keep all the rub points greased up, and the coupler just slides right on
I bought a set of those from HFT on our first trip out. Great, simple device to match up without a backup camera. I keep forgetting them, however, especially when I'm picking up the AS from the storage lot. So now I keep some plastic cups in the back of my SUV and stick one on the hitch ball and keep the rear hatch open. I can line up the cup on the ball to the AS hitch without any problem.

I have used wax paper on the ball as a lubricant but I've gone back to a waterproof propeller shaft grease. When hooking up, after dropping the AS on the ball I just drop the SUV in gear (forward then reverse) and the latch drops so I can close it. Then I raise the tongue and set the WD spring arms.
__________________
-Rich
Rich & Yvonne
2006 Safari SE -Dora-
2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
Rich W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 11:03 AM   #14
Rivet Master
 
1955 22' Safari
Laredo , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,342
New coupler

Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob View Post
Hi

Get a can of white lithium spray grease and *flood* the coupler. If it's not a total mess, you didn't use enough . It will clean out any road grit *and* act as a lube once the cleaning is done. (Yes, you should also put something thicker on the ball)

Once all the guck is off the coupler, take a close look at it in good light. If it's the one that came on the trailer back in 1977, it's lived a long life. Check for bent / broke bits. Take a look at somebody else's coupler to understand what should be there. That way you can also look for "missing" bits.

Assuming all that goes ok, then alignment as you hook up is indeed what's left on the list.

Bob
Original post states the coupler is on a 2019 model...
55AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 02:44 PM   #15
3 Rivet Member
 
hopmonster's Avatar
 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Toronto’s Basement , Ontario-Canada
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 111
Images: 7
Update...

Welp cleaned out coupler. Could see anything that can be adjusted in there. Just the tongue or path mechanism. Sprayed with lithium and worked the hasp up and down a hell of a lot. Tried reconnecting and still not seating. Did the chock trick and that wouldn’t seat it either. It gets almost there but the eye holes are off by a few Centimetres.

From new it’s never seated as easily as our Bascamp or old Landyacht.

I used to to have success with installing one of the sway bars and working it up and down to “wiggle” the tongue and ball interface..(that sounds a bit raunchy). When I did this it finally seated and the hasp dropped. So maybe that is the trick until I have the dealer examine if something is off.

We just got into WV for night on way to WDW and Key Largo so I’ll have a few more opportunities to attempt this..

Again thank you for the input and suggestions. See you all on the road.

Mike
hopmonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 02:53 PM   #16
Site Team
 
GCinSC2's Avatar

 
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere , South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
Mike,

Can you identify the mfgr and mfgr number of the coupler? It might be stamped on it, somewhere.

How about trying a different ball, loose hold it in your hand. Coupler open, insert, try to latch. Feel fit/play etc then release and see how it feels.

Gary
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
GCinSC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 07:59 PM   #17
3 Rivet Member
 
QC TORPEDO's Avatar
 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Queen Creek , Arizona
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 114
Easy Hitching

Best, easiest way: Have the wife do it. Sit back and enjoy.
QC TORPEDO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2020, 10:04 PM   #18
Rivet Master
 
ROBERTSUNRUS's Avatar

 
2005 25' Safari
Salem , Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
Images: 18
Blog Entries: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by KK4YZ View Post
I usually align the ball slightly forward of the trailer coupler.Then as the coupler is lowered onto the ball, the coupler (and trailer) will move forward a fraction of an inch and fall into place (usually). I think the biggest issue is having the ball aligned too far back on the coupler, interfering with the locking mechanism.

If I run into that situation, I’ll put the Truck into drive and bump it forward with trailer wheel chocks in place. Easy does it. You shouldn’t have to slam anything around too hard.

I hope that helps.

Jim
Hi, Bingo!
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
ROBERTSUNRUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2020, 06:38 AM   #19
Rivet Master
 
KK4YZ's Avatar
 
2020 28' Flying Cloud
2017 23' Flying Cloud
Hiawassee , Georgia
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,403
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piggy Bank View Post
You might want to check out this thread.
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f14...ks-203926.html
That’s a good thread although it deals mostly with difficulty unlatching the coupler from the ball. Whether you have the old style coupler or the new DEMCO coupler, the key is getting the coupler and ball in a “neutral” position. That is, with the coupler neither pushing down on the ball or pulling the ball up. You can usually tell when you’re at that point by watching it he ball & coupler as you raise or lower the jack. You will see slight relative movement between the ball and coupler at that point. Then it should be easy to lift the coupler latch.

I know this by struggling with it myself��

Jim
KK4YZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2020, 06:49 AM   #20
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by BambiTex View Post
Original post states the coupler is on a 2019 model...
Hi

Poster's "info" states they have a 1977.

A good example of why you need to update your info !!!!

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
new body lift off method...easier sawdawg1 Repairing/Replacing Floor &/or Frame 7 04-11-2014 07:27 PM
Making Interior Cabinets Easier to Use SRW General Interior Topics 0 05-25-2009 07:05 PM
Single axle or double axle. Which is easier to tow? dottie dawglips Towing, Tow Vehicles & Hitches 11 10-06-2007 10:37 PM
W/D hitch: un-hitching and hitching TennisMan Hitches, Couplers & Balls 6 05-11-2007 07:49 PM
Easier links to. . . maxandgeorgia Off Topic Forum 3 03-02-2007 10:58 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:19 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.