MTFCA Forum

Dumb Bass me forgot to raise the wheel on my trailer as I was hauling my Polaris ATV. As I pulled onto the road, I thought it was riding a little rough. As I looked in the mirror, I noticed the trailer moving from side to side. It had popped off the ball and was held on by the safety chains. I had the tongue locked down with a pad lock but the ball still managed to force its way out. So did I stretch out/damage my tongue or are they made to release under extreme pressure?

Time for an new hitch

check out Bull Dog hitches. They would not have released (though that may not have been the best outcome for your circumstance)

Allen,

Also recommend you check to make sure you had the correct size trailer ball on the vehicle for the hitch/coupler you have on your trailer. When I first started pulling trailers, I thought they were all the same size. And the ones at my Dad's house were all the same size. Then I discovered that they came in several additional sizes. I have never had the hitch come off the proper size ball -- even when the trailer jack on the tongue came down and was bent 45 degrees to the rear from an impact with the ground. (Another lesson learned – I now always bungie cord the trailer jack handle with the jack up so the handle cannot rotate down by accident.)

If you are not very familiar with trailers – stop by one of the trailer shops and ask for advice. You can also hook up the trailer and put a jack under the trailer tongue. You should be able to raise the rear of the vehicle (do not raise the rear tires airborne -- but where the truck or car rear end is higher than it would sit without the trailer attached) and the trailer should not disconnect from the trailer ball. If it does, then something is wrong – worn hitch, wrong size ball for hitch, hitch not properly secured to the ball etc.

I love what John Maxwell says, “Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn.” We have those learning moments – the goal is to have fewer of them as time goes on. Good luck and I’m sure you will get it sorted out.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Hi Allen,

I probably have done just about every dumb @ss thing you could do
with a trailer & a tow vehicle .....

As mentioned above - find a good “ meat & potatoes “ trailer shop
to take your trailer to for a complete safety inspection.

Redneck Trailer Supply is a good source for parts.

There is a location in Columbus off I-70.


FJ

Hap pretty much covers it...


I’ll be careful about replying to what Jim said

Me thinks the wrong ball size was used for the hitch. I'm not saying stuff couldn't have bent and broken free, but I think the lift wheel would have been bent or damaged first.

If you find the correct ball size and hitch were used in conjunction, then I'd definitely would be in the market for a new hitch.

FJ - I'm not too sure that a "Redneck Trailer Supply" store would be very easy to find in the Columbus, Ohio area! .....harold

FJ

Harold

I've had business in Newark, and stayed in Columbus. Honestly, without Jim's ad, I'd have said that ANY trailer supply would have been Redneck Trailer Supply.

"FJ" & Scott - I'll be darned! In checking Google, there's a Redneck Trailer Supply in Fresno, CA. that serves all the west coast too! Guess that'll teach me, huh? .....harold