Trailer separation from truck

[Rbjewell]

Does anyone have the secret to disconnecting the trailer from the truck? I have a 2024 Pottery Barn pulled by a 2023 f150 lariat full tow package. Hooking up is not a problem but disconnecting is a nightmare. I raise it with the jack with the release in the up
Position and I have to go up and down, jump on it and make a fool of myself when doing it. It seems there has to be a better way to disconnect without purchasing new equipment. What am I doing wrong. Thanks for you help!

[BGClassic]

What hitch are you using? Do you reduce the WD (Weight distribution) before you disconnect?

[LNBright]

Carry a sizable block, put it under the jack's foot: when you go to raise the jack off of the ball, you'll be able to get it to go much higher, should pop off. May need some grease on there, too.

[djb75]

It sounds like you still have tension between your trailer and TV. Try positioning the trailer, blocking the tires, and then releasing your parking brake and shifting your TV into neutral. Provided you're not on a slope, you might feel the TV shift a little - this is good. Put it back into Park and then try raising your tongue jack.

[Karzman]

I had the same problem when my truck ball was leaning back on my adjustable height hitch. Once I leveled the ball so it was straight up instead of leaning back the release latch arm let the hitch ball go without the my jumping up and down on the tongue. Hope this helps.

[G8trwood]

When you lube the hitch, make sure and do the underside of the ball. Helps greatly. Now add the previous comments about sometimes you have to find where the tension is. A smidge fore aft. Watch the hitch head when using the jack and you can see where it changes attitude.

[kb0zke]

We have found that if the site isn't all that level front-to-rear the truck and trailer can get to be too close together for the hitch to easily slide off the ball. When that happens Jo Ann watches the hitch while I CAREFULLY pull the truck ahead a fraction of an inch.


I have an 8" Anderson block under the jack, so I can raise the tongue quite a bit. I also have a 3" block of wood to use if I need the tongue much higher or lower than what the 8" block does.

[MSDeneen]

I think the truck is backed up against the latch. A better position is the truck pulled forward an inch so that the ball is not under the latch.

Grease the ball!

Put a 6" or more block under the stem of the tongue jack.

Good luck!

Cheers!
Mark

[jeffb831]

I find that there is frequently tension on the hitch. After chocking the trailer, I put the truck in neutral for a second to allow it to release the tension.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Rbjewell

Does anyone have the secret to disconnecting the trailer from the truck? Hooking up is not a problem but disconnecting is a nightmare. I have to go up and down, jump on it and make a fool of myself when doing it.

Been there, done that.
I spent so much time rocking, jumping, swearing, jacking, Truck in "N", pull the shank pin, pulling forward an inch; that I drew a crowd. Amazingly, for no apparent reason, it let go.
I was determined to find the secret and I did.
White lithium grease on the ball. It's never since refused to slip out. "Like butta".
Then keep the ball covered so as to save your pants, and anyone walking behind you.

[MrPickle]

Originally Posted by djb75

It sounds like you still have tension between your trailer and TV. Try positioning the trailer, blocking the tires, and then releasing your parking brake and shifting your TV into neutral. Provided you're not on a slope, you might feel the TV shift a little - this is good. Put it back into Park and then try raising your tongue jack.

I second this way. This is what we do and the hitch comes off without any frustration. With the truck in neutral, the truck will move slightly and let the trailer wiggle off the ball. We also always have someone in the truck while it is in neutral to put on the brakes in case the truck starts rolling after unhitching (it never had). Sometimes the truck will lift a little bit before unhitching, but not nearly as much as you are seeing now.

[superChop]

OP has received excellent advice. NOW it is time for a lighthearted view of jumping up and down on the hitch to release the ball from the might grip of the hitch!

To think that towing and using a travel trailer is easy, is always a mistake. If things were not occasionally difficult or challenging, we might become bored, or complacent? How many of us have forgotten the water faucet is left on in the kitchen sink with the stopper down and flooded the front part of their trailers? I was top entertainer at Land Yacht Harbor in March during that episode!

How about unhitching the AS BEFORE chocks have been placed around tires? Lubbock, TX = true story. AS started rolling and my new best friends jumped into action and stopped the potential catastrophe!

I believe that watching any camper jump up and down on their hitch is free entertainment at the campground! I just wish more of that would occur at international rallies with hundreds of AS owners who could watch, cheer, advise! Even at the R3 Rally, it would have been cheap entertainment in South Carolina!

Please note that my AS was teepeed at a caravan last summer!

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by djb75

It sounds like you still have tension between your trailer and TV. Try positioning the trailer, blocking the tires, and then releasing your parking brake and shifting your TV into neutral. Provided you're not on a slope, you might feel the TV shift a little - this is good. Put it back into Park and then try raising your tongue jack.

This!

[Jake]

Grease. A liberal application. Ask me how I know.

[richard5933]

As mentioned, you are trying to disconnect with tension between the trailer and the TV.

You need to move the TV slightly to relieve the tension.

Make sure that before you even try to disconnect the trailer tires are properly block with tire chocks, and then put the truck in neutral for a second. Keep you foot ready to break in case thing move, but putting it in neutral after you chock the tires should help relieve the tension. If you're on a hill you might need to move slightly (1/2" or so) in forward & reverse to get that tension out.

The hitch should easily lift of the ball with the jack once you have things in the correct position. Make sure you are releasing the hitch latch first.

Chains come off after you are able to lift the hitch from the ball - they are the last safety to be removed after you know that the trailer isn't going anywhere.

[gypsydad]

All important tips for sure. The extra highth of a block of wood or stacked leggo type blocks is important. I use an 8"x8"x12" block of wood with a handle. I also have both hitch grease and also lithium lub, mentioned. I wipe my ball most every time I disconnect with a paper towel I keep in my tank cover shelf. I cover the ball with a tennis ball if storing more than a day or so, and then re-apply new grease. Sometimes I use the spray on lithium grease and sometimes I use the lub grease from the tub. (I had been using grease tub type lub until I found the spray lithium lub.

Important step; if your unhitching, and on even a "slight" incline back, when you raise your ball using the jack, make sure you have chocks under the tires, or you could be surprised if the trailer starts to "creep or roll" backwards once you raise the ball using the jack....happened to me and scared the crap out of wife and I while in Yellowstone one year...I only used "scissor jack" type chocks on the tires, and it had been raining...fool me once!

Curious about your TV; you said its a F150? What is the max payload number on the drivers door sticker? I know my 28' FC is 1150lbs...Many F150s can have low payload numbers, even with the max tow package due to options...I have seen Lariats also that have 2000lb payload capabilities...just wondering how yours set up?

Almost forgot to ask; how do you like the PB model? We have owned our 28 FCTwin now for 7 years after owning 3 different 25'FC models. Wondering about the PB owners experiences...

[englewoodfl]

I've found that by releasing the brake when in neutral with the control located down and to the left of the steering column helps with my 2023 max tow F150.

[Rbjewell]

Thanks for your help!

[Rbjewell]

The pottery Barn is nice but when you build it have AS put a pantry in the closet. Not planned out well for kind trips. The only issue we find is it looks great but not functional. I would have like a banquet instead of front couch. My wife loves the PB so enough said! Thanks for the advice on the tow hitch.

[Rbjewell]

I don't know the name of the hitch, but the weight distribution is disconnected.