Loud Noise and Trailer Lurching Forward When Unhooking 20ft Travel Trailer From Truck
Question:
Hi. When i try to unhook/disconnect my 20ft travel Trailer Kingsdale by Kingston from my truck the trailer always gets pushed forward and makes a loud boom noise coming from the trailer hitch ball. The steps Im doing are listed below. This has been nerve racking and scary at the same time. \ First of all Im on crushed rock flooring. Not paved cement. I back up trailer on my property. I put down wooden blocks several 2x4s and a 4x4 block on top of that. I then use me electric jack to raise the trailer so I can get the 2 sway bars off the trailer. I then chock the dual axel wheels so they dont roll forward when the ball is free from the coupler. Then I lower the trailer back down to put weight back on truck. Once weight is back on truck, I release the coupler lock so that ball can slide free and unlatch itself. Once this happens, the trailer makes a loud boom noise and the trailer will launch forward making me pee myself. This is scary and every you tube video I watched show NO ISSUES and Im doing the same thing and using the same technique. Is the issue with the crushed gravel I have with the wood sitting on that and its NOT stable enough? And the small wood boards Im using? This shouldnt be happening when unhooking my trailer. I am a greenhorn since this is the first trailer I owned. I cant go on with this kind of danger and having a heart attack. Thanks for your reply.
asked by: Jason
Expert Reply:
I'm assuming that the ground you're de-coupling on is flat; if there is any incline/decline, this could be contributing to what you're dealing with but you should be able to unhook a trailer on gravel without issue-especially crushed gravel since it compacts well. You also don't need to put boards under your tires during this process; if anything, you're cancelling out the ability of the gravel to help keep the trailer from rolling. With that being said, you still need to use the wheel chocks.
It sounds like the "loud boom" you're referring to is the trailer coupler releasing the ball and your rise/drop adapter/weight distribution hitch head having the tension released and dropping to hit the bottom of the receiver tube- you're going to hear some sound and there will be slight movement in the hitch, but not the trailer. The fact that it's a loud boom makes me think that you're not lowering the trailer back down enough and the hitch ball is catching in the coupler. I recommend using some grease on the hitch ball like the White Grease Hitch Ball Lube # 58117 to help with the process, but also making sure that you're lowering the trailer enough to safely release the coupler lock-it's not going to hurt to let it down a bit further than you think you should since you're able to still leave most of the weight on the jack.
If you're already on flat ground, there may be some sort of issue with the way you've got everything set up that's putting extra tension on the hitch ball/adapter, etc..
Products Referenced in This Question
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Lippert Electric Trailer Jack with Footplate - A-Frame - 18" Lift - 3,500 lbs - Black
- Camper Jacks
- Pop Up Camper
- Teardrop Camper
- Travel Trailer
- A-Frame Jack
- Leveling Jacks
- Tongue Jack
- Steel
- 3001 - 4000 lbs
- Electric Jack
- Bolt-On
- 1 Jack
- Lippert
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
Continue Researching
- Shop: Towing Mirrors
- Shop: K-Source Universal Towing Mirrors - Clip On - Flat Mirror - Qty 2
- Shop: K-Source Universal Towing Mirrors - Clip On - Convex Mirror - Qty 2
- Search Results: hitch sleeve
- Search Results: trash can
- Search Results: wheel chocks
- Search Results: tst tpms
- Search Results: tireminder
- Search Results: tpms
- Shop: Curt Hitch Receiver Reducer Sleeves - 3" to 2-1/2" or 2"
- Shop: Pop N' Go RV Collapsible Trash Can - 18" Diameter x 24" Tall - 30 Gallons
- Shop: Trailer Hitch Receiver Reducer Sleeves - 3" to 2-1/2" or 2"
- Shop: Coghlan's Pop-Up Trash Can - 14.1 Gallon - Green
- Shop: etrailer Tongue Weight Scale for Campers and Utility Trailers - 2,000-lb Capacity
- Shop: Vehicle Cargo Control
- Video: Coghlans Pop-Up Trash Can Review
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between a Class II and a Class III Hitch?
- Q&A: Lug Nut Torque Chart for Trailer Wheels
- Article: Trailer Wiring Diagrams
- Search Results: towing mirrors
- Video: K-Source Snap and Zap Driver and Passenger Towing Mirror Review
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between a 4-Way and 7-Way Trailer Connector
- Shop: Trailer Hitch
- Article: Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit (ETBC7)
- Video: K-Source Snap and Zap Driver and Passenger Towing Mirror Installation - 2021 Ford F-150
- Shop: Suspension Enhancement
- Q&A: Best Towing Mirrors for a 2024 Ford F-150
- Article: 5 Things to Know About Weight Distribution Hitches
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Video: K-Source Snap & Zap Custom Towing Mirrors Installation - 2023 Ford F-150
on Trailer Jack
