Help for the hitch! - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Towing and Hitching
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-03-2018, 01:00 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 17a - now sold
Posts: 36
Help for the hitch!

Of course, today is Sunday, so we can't call Escape.... we are trying to hitch up our 17A to our Tacoma and we just can't seem to get the hitch to lock down in place.
Help?
dusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 01:18 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
Of course, today is Sunday, so we can't call Escape.... we are trying to hitch up our 17A to our Tacoma and we just can't seem to get the hitch to lock down in place.
Help?
This happens to me too sometimes and I have found that by letting the tongue / ball support full weight … then putting tow V in gear and "jerking" forward and back a few times will help to get the coupler to settle down.

Alternatively, have jack support full weight and toggle the locking lever to make sure its free. With the ball as far forward in the coupler as you can get it, lower the jack till the ball sits home in the coupler.

The locking lever controls what is almost like a fork that surrounds and locks the neck of the ball into the coupler and sometimes I seem to get that "fork" pinched and then it wont lock.

Another idea: Have you greased your ball?


Good luck and hope this helps,

Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 01:51 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 17a - now sold
Posts: 36
Thank you for your quick response - we will try your suggestions - as of course, we are all packed and ready to go..... frustrating!
dusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 02:06 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 343
There is an adjustment for the coupler that might be too tight. Also be sure the latch mechanism isn't stuck above the ball. It happens.



__________________
No good deed goes unpunished.
thiggins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 02:22 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Iowa Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,235
Hitch up

Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
Thank you for your quick response - we will try your suggestions - as of course, we are all packed and ready to go..... frustrating!
Make sure you have a little grease on the ball and up on the curved part of the front of the coupler. Then make the couple just barely crawl over the ball. That will put the ball to the front of the coupler letting the clamping part of the yoke fit up under the back side of the ball. Don’t get too happy loosening that adjusting nut, you might check it for tightness when you’re done getting it all seated just so it can’t hop off the ball. On you can crank the jack down and watch the crank try to lift the back of the tow vehicle, you’ll know it’s secure that way too. Same advice as in the other post but in farm vernacular.
Sorry you’re having a little delay.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
Iowa Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 02:32 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2015 17A - Ready for more Maiden Voyages ....
Posts: 881
Sorry …. and understand the frustration. Is your ball the right size? Should be 2".

With coupling jacked up and hoovering above ball, make sure that the locking collar is lifted and all the way back toward the rear of the trailer …. checking alignment, lower jack foot until ball is in coupling …. if it still hasn't seated and if you are on level ground, pull ahead at very slow speed and then slam on the brakes. Expect to hear a loud clank as it seats home. Jack foot should be high enough so it doesn't drag on ground.


Most likely, the locking collar hasn't been pulled up and pushed back enough to open the coupler. When in proper position, there are a couple square teeth that will fit into slots and hold the coupler open for mating. After mating be sure to 'slide' locking collar back forward and down to lock. Be patient … you will get it.


My trailer is a 1000 miles away or I'd go out and take pictures for you. Perhaps someone can help in this regard?

Tom
__________________
Consciousness: That confusing time between naps
StarvingHyena is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 02:58 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by thiggins View Post
There is an adjustment for the coupler that might be too tight. Also be sure the latch mechanism isn't stuck above the ball. It happens.



Dusty, is your coupler actually like that? While the image shows a common design of coupler, Escape normally uses a yoke-style coupler which works very differently and does not require or have an adjustment.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 03:15 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by StarvingHyena View Post
The locking lever controls what is almost like a fork that surrounds and locks the neck of the ball into the coupler and sometimes I seem to get that "fork" pinched and then it wont lock.
In the yoke-style coupler the jaw (or "fork") need to be pulled fully back (by lifting and pulling the yoke which wraps around the front) to provide a clear space for the ball to go up into the coupler socket. If the jaw is not out of the way, you can have the coupler sitting on top of the ball. Dusty, is the ball going all the way into the coupler? Without sticking your fingers in there (pinch hazard!), have a look and see if the ball is all the way in, and if the jaw is moving forward to latch.

As the other posts have suggested, once the coupler is properly down over the ball, the usual problem is getting the ball forward in the coupler socket so that the jaw can more forward enough to completely latch. This is why people suggest pulling forward with the tug, or letting the trailer move back.

All of this depends on coupler design. In the many discussions of hitching and unhitching issues, this (or something very similar) is the coupler which is normally identified as recently (for several years) used by Escape:
A-Frame Trailer Coupler - Yoke Latch - Black - 2" Ball - Weld On - 8,000 lbs
That eTrailer listing shows the jaw underneath in open and closed positions.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 03:24 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Westcliffe, Colorado
Trailer: 2010 EggCamper (#083); 2017 Escape 21 (#053); 2016 F-150 5.0L FX4
Posts: 1,765
Roberta, It will all make a lot more sense if you, without the tow vehicle in the way, lay down on your back and look up into the coupler from the bottom, and then work the latch to see how it is supposed to work. Then if you have a spare 2" ball laying around (or remove your ball mount from your tow vehicle for this), push the ball up into the coupler and latch down on the ball to again see how this all works. You'll see that it's very important for the ball to seat into the front pocket of the coupler for the latch to work. Then as others have suggested, figure out what works for you to drop the coupler onto the ball in a way that will seat the ball to the front of the coupler. Once the ball is in the right location within the coupler, the latch should work easily. Best of luck....
War Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 03:46 PM   #10
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
I've had this problem numerous times with my Scamp. The hitch mechanism was 'jammed' to the back of the ball. Taking the truck out of gear (and releasing the parking brake) and letting it roll forward a minuscule amount was all it would take to get a positive latch on the ball. Good luck!
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 03:49 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 17a - now sold
Posts: 36
Miracle workers! We added a little grease, ensured the truck was pulled forward a little bit extra, and with the working knowledge in our heads about how the mechanism is supposed to work - it clipped on like a dream! Thank you, thank you.
dusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 04:10 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Iowa Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,235
Proper procedure
1. Enroll in Escapeforum University
2. Signup for Hitchup 101
3. Educate
4. Lubricate
5. Matriculate
6. Go Camping
7. Celebrate
Do not get 6 and 7 reversed.
Iowa Dave
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
Iowa Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2018, 05:38 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
kstock11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
I used to just “push” the latch. Now I lube the moving parts, put on a glove and slap the latch. If lined up properly, it works 1st try almost all the time.
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
kstock11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:23 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.