Tug ball and escape hitch connection

[Chapitre]

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.

[KarenH]

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.

[Donna D.]

Jim, posted a neato solution about a week ago! Check it out!!

Direct link: http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f7...html#post46523

[Jim Bennett]

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.

[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

[Ellentob]

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.

[MyronL]

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.

[dbailey]

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.

[MyronL]

Or carry a ball-peen hammer.

[dbailey]

before I figured out the trick about pulling the tug forward, I did resort to whacking the lever with a chunk of 2x4...

[escape artist]

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

[nealmccarter]

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.