My trailer bounced off the hitch

[mike]

Can you turn the nut with your fingers when its locked onto a ball?

[schmir]

No, only when unhitched. You have to pull down on the nut(there is a spring in there) so it can turn in it's "seat". I'm not really technical but that's what I did.

[ftl900]

We were bringing ours home on I-75 and crossed over a bridge, and the bumps on the bridge caused the trailer to bounce and separate. No trailer chains.

I felt the bump and looked in the mirror to see the trailer tongue go up and then down. As it hit the ground in the slow lane, I tapped the brakes until the trailer bumped into the truck, and then started angling over to the median. We successfully got the boat and trailer off the freeway. I had hitched it and double-checked it after the first mile and it seemed okay then.

I strapped the trailer hitch down to the bumper so it wouldn't bounce up again, and we limped it on home.

The next day, I realized what had happened- ATV riding two months earlier, and a borrowed utility trailer that had a smaller hitch on it. One of the boys most likely changed the ball to a smaller one, and I hadn't realized it.

[Woody]

I think its always a good idea to put a pin or lock on the latch.....

I agree. Also remember to keep the safety chains crossed, so they can catch the tongue if it were to come off.

[jessp]

I think its always a good idea to put a pin or lock on the latch.....

I agree. Also remember to keep the safety chains crossed, so they can catch the tongue if it were to come off.

What a great idea. Have towed for many years and have NEVER heard or tried that. I will from this day forward though. Thanks for such a great suggestion.

[Woody]

No problem.....

[jafo9]

I think its always a good idea to put a pin or lock on the latch.....

I agree. Also remember to keep the safety chains crossed, so they can catch the tongue if it were to come off.

What a great idea. Have towed for many years and have NEVER heard or tried that. I will from this day forward though. Thanks for such a great suggestion.

same for me. i've towed for a while and only in the last year or so learned to cross the chains. don't know why its not taught more commonly.

[badmoonrising]

Having a hitch pin or lock installled and the chains crossed is the law here. We had a trailer separate on the bay bridge 2 years ago causing a major accident with a death and multiple injuries. Ever since, the cops here are enforcing the law big time.

[Jerry D]

After having my 2 day old Mastercraft come off my hitch (defective coupler on trailer) I always crank up the tongue jack after I latch the coupler until I see it lifting the vehicle by the ball, this tells me that it has a hold of the ball.

Jerry...

[brumbyvet.1044]

About fifteen years ago I had a 87 Nissan pickup and was pulling my 18' aluminum bass boat. I was using the bumper hitch as it was rated way more then what the boat weighed. On a four lane divided highway, no bumps, a weld on the bumper broke which caused the bumper to bend down and disconnect from the trailer. The boat completely flipped over on it's top and followed me down the highway until I could get stopped. It totaled the 90 horse Evinrude but the AlumaCraft was able to be repaired. The safety chains stayed connected and probably saved even more damage. That was my last bumper hitch!