Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

[skargo]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Just a few weeks ago the fellow in experience 2 here,
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=307446

had his cuple latched up nice, with the pin in and everything, except it was sitting on TOP of the ball. Poor guy had a multitude of issues, that's for sure.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Your son-in-law must really hate you.

I was thinking the same thing. I would hope my father-in-law would point something out to me without making me feel like an absolute idiot in front of wife and extended family. I bet they had a real good discussion about you in the car when you where not there.

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Couplers are pretty cheap, I'd just replace it and use some grade 8 bolts to attach it and enjoy the peace of mind. I bet ya can even get one from iBoats!

I just replaced mine. The old one was still functional, but was pretty rusty and hard to latch.

I think I had 20 bucks in the whole deal.

edit: you probably don't even need the whole thing. Most trailer shops will sell you the 'guts'.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Perhaps it's the view?

But the clamping piece that gets pulled into position by the (visible) nut looks worn,,, maybe heavilly?
On mine (and others I've had) that part is much further under the ball when clamped. Actually almost to the shank.
The photo looks as though it's barely under the ball, and tight just to the side of the ball.
The hole in the latch I would guess by looking at the picture may be worn. That would allow it to be adjusted to feel tight,,, but barely clamping under the ball to get a good capture.
Also, (may just be the fuzzy picture) but it looks as though there are heavy gall / wear marks on the trailer side of the ball, but only maybe 1/4" wide.
Could someone else have had a problem before you and replaced the latch with the wrong part (ball sized part)?

Then again,,, maybe it's just the fuzzy photo looking that way? But it don't look right to me.

PS;
More I look at the pic,,, the more it doesn't even look "locked"
Maybe camera angle, but ball looks low and back from front of coupler.
Doesn't even look like it's in the pocket from the photo (to me).

I was sort of thinking the same thing but I have some that meet the ball high, some sit pretty low. I'd check the coupler for being bent, squashed, or dented in some way that may keep the ball from going all the way down.
The tongue or insert should be replaceable on that, (he's got surge brakes so it's not just a matter of a simple $15 coupler).

 

[Stunna980]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Alot of good info on here, thank you very much fellas!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

I mainly think it's just that the lip needs to be tightened much closer to the shank of the hitch ball. If that picture is with the trailer latched on, then you shouldn't be able to see hardly any of the hitch ball.

 

[vintage boat junky]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Actually, I had this same thing happen to me. Except I was at the ramp, and right before I hit the cement bars there's a big pothole. Same scenario, I had everything tight and even tested the tongue by trying to lift it off the ball prior to my trip (like every trip). Something about going in reverse, and hitting the pothole popped it right off. I had the lock on there and everything.

Of course I had a bunch of know it alls coming up to offer their "expertise" and they said without even looking that the ball was the wrong size. I corrected them, and only after inspecting the tongue and ball did they believe it. I tightened the nut on the tongue latch, but it was already tight. I figured it was one of those freak things; it hasn't happened at any other time other than going in reverse and hitting that damn pothole. It never happened again since I learned to slow it down to a creep when going over it, but I know I had all my sh*t together before I left. I think its something to do with the angle that it pushes against, and the play in the hitch receiver.

 

[dave11]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Take a look at the Trailer Guardian.

 

[vintage boat junky]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

Trailer guardian? I've been doing this for a while and must admit that's new to me.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help, my trailer popped right off my reciever ball!!

This was a hard learning experience for both of them including my daughters (who, by the way, have more mechanical moxy than both of the guys). It would have been a lot worse experience had this trailer come undone on the way to this meeting place and since it was the first day of a family vacation, that trip could have been ruined by a lack of care. Do you really think the lesson would have had as much impact if I had meandered away from the group with him, explained what what was wrong, and then had everyone standing around watching him make the correction anyway. Or I could have said " it doesn't look like the coupler is all the way down -- let's check it!" Do you really think that would have had the same impact. I will bet a dollar, neither of them makes this mistake ever again. Some lessons need to be learned the hard way -- too bad if feelings are hurt. This is one of those instances. If this incident keeps someone else (including family) alive, then they are free to hate me.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Welcome to iBoats! Re-opening old threads (this one was dead since 2009) is really frowned upon here, and is against forum rules, so you might do better starting a new thread and asking your question. You're sure to get better responses that way!

Glad you've joined us!