|
03-20-2014, 10:37 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Trailer: 2014 5TA/ *012 17B (previous)
Posts: 442
|
Tug ball and escape hitch connection
HI,
The hitch on the escape is slightly different than most I've used in the past.
It appears that unless the hitch " coupler" - I think that's what you call it- is perfectly lined up with the ball on the vehicle, there is not much room for error.
If it doesn't line up perfectly I can not get the hitch pin lever - the black lever that locks the coupler around the ball of the vehicle. It is very time consuming and frustrating to have to put the front up and down, move the tow vehicle in small increments - the coupler gets stuck - release that and start all over again. Does anyone have any tips or solutions to make this easier>
Most hitches I've used I've never had this problem. Took 1/2 hour of up and down and small movements the other day to get it lined up and clamped on.
__________________
Min D
Chapi II
--------------------
'Have No Regrets'
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 10:44 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Bellingham and Glacier, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15A
Posts: 2,051
|
And here I thought it was just me. Being a single traveler, hitching up has often meant ten or more ins-and-outs of the truck. I just chalk it up to good exercise. If I'm in a campground, oftentimes someone will take pity on me and come over to help. Usually, they think "close enough" is good, but it isn't (unless the coupler is microscopically slightly forward and drops down when I pull ahead).
Amended: I've taken comfort in the fact that the coupler won't fully engage unless it's properly seated.
__________________
Karen Hulford
2013 Escape 15A, "Egbert"
'93 Ford 150 XLT or
'22 GMC Acadia Denali
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 11:29 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
|
I have never had much trouble, but you do have to ensure the tow is not too far back. If anything I make sure the coupler is still just a little bit back of the ball (by up to 1/4"), and the coupler will still drop on nicely. If you are too far back with the tow, the ball will hit under the underjaw (the part of the latch assembly that hooks on the ball) and the ball will not set in place.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 01:18 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Trailer: 21' Escape (June 2014)
Posts: 325
|
I seriously thought there was something wrong with the coupler on our EggCamper until I discovered what Jim is talking about. Now, I lower the coupler onto the ball and then put the truck in drive and let it move forward a fraction of an inch; the ball usually falls right into place and I can latch the coupler with no problem
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 02:42 PM
|
#6
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 74
|
I do an approximate alignment with the hitch and ball the lower the hitch and move the tow back and forth against the chocks until I can close the locking lever. Works for me.
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 04:18 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
|
Consider adding a swivel wheel, which will permit you to nudge the cup over a tad or two. I remove and keep mine in the tow when hitched and traveling.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 05:49 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 743
|
Like others, I found that the locking lever was often difficult or impossible to lock even with the coupler seated completely on the ball. Eventually I discovered, as others indicated, that the ball has to be at the front of whatever play it has in the coupler before the locking lever will easily engage.
My solution if the lever lock doesn't engage easily: apply trailer brakes using the brake controller, put vehicle in drive and let it just inch forward, release trailer brake and put vehicle back into park, go apply the hitch lever lock.
__________________
Doug
2013 Escape 19 ("The Dog House") , 2018 Ford F150
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 07:01 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
|
Or carry a ball-peen hammer.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
|
|
|
03-20-2014, 08:02 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 743
|
before I figured out the trick about pulling the tug forward, I did resort to whacking the lever with a chunk of 2x4...
__________________
Doug
2013 Escape 19 ("The Dog House") , 2018 Ford F150
|
|
|
03-21-2014, 07:29 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
|
Hi: All... I figured out the easy solution to this problem was to go for a 5.0. Easy catch and release right before your eyes. So looking forward to the 5.0TA and wishing success to ETI. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
Ft.Myers Beach Florida for now
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
|
|
|
03-21-2014, 11:48 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Sequim, Washington, Washington
Trailer: "Teachers' Pet" our 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 185
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray N
I seriously thought there was something wrong with the coupler on our EggCamper until I discovered what Jim is talking about. Now, I lower the coupler onto the ball and then put the truck in drive and let it move forward a fraction of an inch; the ball usually falls right into place and I can latch the coupler with no problem
|
We've found this to work most every time.
__________________
Neal & Sharon
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|