Off the Ball - connection issue - Page 2 - 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 07-04-2019, 05:45 PM   #21
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I'm curious why you didn't hook it up yourself, and if you have an electric jack.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 06:15 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
alanmalk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Trailer: 2015 E'21 - 'Velocity'. Tow: Toyota Tacoma V6, 4X4, manual.
Posts: 1,684
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
Better to have the ball slightly forward so that you pull onto it when lowering down - helps to prevent a "false hitch".
That's exactly the procedure I use to attach my '21 - position the ball about 1/2 inch forward of the center line of the socket. The trailer hitch catches, then drops with a bit of momentum and the trailer moves forward a tiny bit. The latch then closes without using any force. Obviously the rig must be on level ground for this to work.

Before I learned this trick it seemed to take a dozen tries to get the latch down to the fully closed position.

--
Alan
alanmalk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 06:41 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
It certainly seems like the coupler was properly latched, and did not fail in any way... but the jaw of the coupler was sitting on top of the ball, instead of under it. This would not have passed either a basic visual inspection or a "pull up" test, so the person doing this didn't do it properly or explain it properly to the new owner.

It would have been more appropriate for the new owner to do the hook-up with instruction from the delivery person; that would force the delivery person to explain the procedure and the error probably wouldn't have occurred. I would not let someone else hook up my trailer, unless I was watching each step and checking it myself; it's easier to just do it than to monitor someone else.

This problem is both more likely and less visually obvious with the style of latch which Kent showed than with the yoke style which has also been used by Escape.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 06:49 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I even double check my buddy if he's helping me, and he owns his own Escape 19'.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 07:06 PM   #25
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Boise, Idaho
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19
Posts: 42
Like the others, I'm so pleased that all ended well. What I find interesting - when we picked up our trailer (March 2016), the fellow that hauled it across the border insisted that I do the hook-up. I was new with trailering - and struggled with my first time - but the gentleman was patient and allowed me to struggle. When I was done, he gave me a few pointers to make it a little easier but I appreciated his desire for me to learn how to properly connect. In the 3+ years we've enjoyed camping, there have been several times when I lowered the hitch onto the ball that "something" wasn't right - and in each case the ball had "nested" above the catch (probably not the right term). I can see how it could happen that you weren't attached. But the experienced Escape guy should have caught that IMO.
I hope you enjoy your trailer as much as we do.
gudmut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 07:32 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Gori's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Trailer: 21' Escape in production 12/05/19
Posts: 132
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kent View Post
This actually is common problem and ETI should have never stated what they did. The problem is the catch that traps the ball into the ball socket can be pushed up by the ball when lowering the tongue onto the ball.

Normally this happens when the ball is biased to the rear of the ball socket and when you lower the tongue, the ball pushes the catch up and behind the ball in the socket thus giving false connection as the latch will fold down.

Two ways to confirm you are hitched;

As already stated lower the tongue jack until the rear of truck starts to rise. If you are not hitched correctly the tongue will pop off the ball mount.

Another way is to just look underneath and make sure the catch is underneath the ball and not pushed up behind the ball.


Thank your for the visual. Having never towed and knowing nothing about hooking up a trailer, that was extremely helpful. Thanks again!
Gori is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 08:18 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: n/a, Texas
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lisa M. View Post
I can’t believe some of you are going on about the text in the original post. Jim addressed it politely, it was fixed, let it go! What I would expect to see is “Oh my gosh! How scary for you! I’m so glad you’re okay and secondly, the trailer was okay. Were you able to figure out what the issue is so it doesn’t happen again.” The rest is small stuff!
Whenever there is a post that suggests that ETI might have been less than perfect a gang of old timers will try to hijack the conversation. Fortunately, ETI will respond positively.
Viajante is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 08:22 PM   #28
Senior Member
 
Farther's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Quimper Peninsula, Washington
Trailer: TBD
Posts: 369
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viajante View Post
Whenever there is a post that suggests that ETI might have been less than perfect a gang of old timers will try to hijack the conversation.
So, are you suggesting that there is a conspiracy to protect ETI's reputation here on this forum?
__________________
Thanks,
~Farther
Farther is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 08:51 PM   #29
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,210
Doesn't seem to be as bad as it had been a few years ago, but yeah there has been lots of examples of people being essentially ridiculed in the past for bringing various issues. Many of them turned out to be legitimate with ETI in several cases doing an about turn in their original position. Fan boys, koolaid drinking have all taken a lot of bytes.
__________________
"We gotta get as far away as we can!"
- Russell Casse, Independence Day
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 09:08 PM   #30
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: n/a, Texas
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by Farther View Post
So, are you suggesting that there is a conspiracy to protect ETI's reputation here on this forum?
Personally, I don’t think ETIs reputation needs protection. Their work speaks for itself. We own and like the trailers. But there is a gang of boosters who have a misplaced need to attack anyone who voices a legitimate question about the trailers. They don’t have confidence that ETI can defend their product, which, I believe, ETI always has.
Viajante is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 09:27 PM   #31
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Where does personal responsibility start and stop? I think that's the big question.

When I bought Ten Forward and Dennis (Tammy's Dad) met me at Bob's, we talked about 'hooking up.' He left with me and my truck and trailer about 10 feet apart. Dennis had to get back to Chilliwack quickly to hookup another trailer and get it across the border before the Commercial Lanes closed for the day. I sweated bullets for 45 minutes to an hour. Here I had a brand new truck, had never hooked up, let alone towed a 5th wheel. BUT I had researched 'positive latch on a 5th wheel.' I took me about 45 minutes, moving about 3 inches at a time, in and out of the truck to KNOW everything was good. Because I knew, through research, if the trailer became disconnected from the hitch, it could fall and maybe crush the bed rails and perhaps bend the tailgate badly. I had only made ONE payment on the truck! IF that happened, who's to blame? Guess what, I learned a long time ago to quit pointing fingers, unless I'm standing in front of a mirror...

Sway happens... how many people towing trailers KNOW what to do if what you're towing starts doing the lane dance? How about going downhill and brakes go out? Knowledge is power and the more you know the better you'll make good/better decisions.

Please be safe, you're sharing the roads with the rest of us.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 10:55 PM   #32
Senior Member
 
Perry Butler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,155
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
When I bought Ten Forward and Dennis (Tammy's Dad) met me at Bob's, we talked about 'hooking up.' .

Enjoy,

Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
Perry Butler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2019, 11:18 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,210
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D
...When I bought Ten Forward and Dennis (Tammy's Dad) met me.... He left with me and my truck and trailer about 10 feet apart. Dennis had to get back to Chilliwack quickly to hookup another trailer and get it across the border before the Commercial Lanes closed for the day. ..
Yeah, when I arrived for pickup Manfred wanted to split immediately. I asked him to spot me while backing up to the ball then he was outta there. Am surprised the dropoff driver hitched up the OP's trailer- bet that won't happen again; was he in a hurry too?
__________________
"We gotta get as far away as we can!"
- Russell Casse, Independence Day
Rossue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 12:24 AM   #34
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2019 Escape 19
Posts: 45
Thanks DT6 for sharing your experience. It has helped me better appreciate the importance of checking and rechecking for proper connection.

I like the idea of looking underneath to confirm.

Besides that ... really glad to hear there were no injuries or damage.

Good success and safe travels ahead
dsbc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 12:36 AM   #35
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
If you use a weight distribution hitch, it's common practice to raise the hitch with the jack to make it easier to install or remove the WDH bars. You would immediately discover that the latch was not engaged as you begin to raise it.

You'll also discover that you should have ordered the electric jack so you don't have to crank it up and down, and up and down.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 02:07 AM   #36
Senior Member
 
akmacs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Trailer: 2018 5.0 T/A "Escaper"
Posts: 209
Thank you for passing on the details and glad you both were ok!

Years of assembling and disassembling trains had already ingrained the need to double check my trailer to truck connections but having the trailer come unhitched going down the road was still my primary fear upon taking possession of our trailer.
akmacs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 10:52 AM   #37
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Felton, California
Trailer: 2018 21' ; 2014 19' (Sold)
Posts: 1,301
Reading the OP's comments was like deja vu. We have towed our 19' and now our 21' for many miles without an issue (knock on wood). We just completed a two week round trip up north and, while hooking back up a few days into the journey, had a similar thing happen with the hitch and ball (but not as drastic as the OP's). We lowered the hitch onto the ball and locked the pin in place. While trying to get the WDH bars on, we were having a heck of a time so, as Dennis suggested during our pick-up, we raised the hitch up a bit (electric jack). Surprise, surprise!!! The hitch popped off the ball!! Needless to say, we were more than a little shocked . It took a while to calm down and assess what we may have done wrong but, even after hitching up again and making sure we were truly connected, it took a few miles down the road before we were comfortable. To be sure, from that point on, we always raised up the hitch and truck together to be sure of a solid connection. (We may have even become a bit compulsive about it ... )

Naturally, the incident is still on our minds so I can only imagine what the OP went through since this was their first trip with their new trailer. We are so thankful that no one was hurt, nothing was damaged and, trust me, empathize with you and your rattled nerves. Plus, a big THANK YOU to Kent for posting a detailed explanation of what probably happened.
__________________

Jan

We do not remember days, we remember moments.
- Cesare Pavese
CADreamin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 11:01 AM   #38
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 280
I keep my foam pad handy, get down on my knees and check the connection EVERY time I am hooking up.Did have an incident years ago with my 17.Just have to be 100 % sure for peace of mind.
__________________
Allan Bornestig
North Vancouver
Trailer Escape 21
2017
Allan Bornestig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 11:12 AM   #39
Senior Member
 
Merlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Left turn at Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: 505 5.0TA
Posts: 147
Not a fan of this type of hitch (have one on a utility trailer). Kent's description is spot on. Glad that you came out of it unharmed.
Merlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2019, 11:17 AM   #40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Central Valley, California
Trailer: 1998 Casita Spirit
Posts: 101
Losing a trailer has never happened to me, but I have heard firsthand accounts from two different people now. I always felt like I could see and feel when the hitch up was right or questionable and had become complacent the last few years about jacking the trailer up again to double check. No longer. Thanks for the good shake.
Lisa M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
safety, towing

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 07:37 AM.


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