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Old 07-11-2020, 01:32 PM   #1
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Porterville, California
Trailer: 2020 Bigfoot 25RQ
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Hooking up

My latch is not going down on my 21 ft. I’ve tried rocking forward, backward, still not closing. Decided to take a break and try again in a few. I don’t have white lithium grease. Can I use as-40 once to see if it would latch?
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2016 Ford F-150 3.5 v6 Eco boost
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Old 07-11-2020, 01:43 PM   #2
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The latch has a sweet spot - there is a point where if the hitch is too low or too high once the ball is positioned it just won't allow the latch to do it's job. It took a fair amount of practice and eye-balling to learn just where that is, while lowering the hitch onto the hitch ball. We break into a big smile if we hit it right the first time, but it's not your imagination that it is frustrating! (Especially if you are all ready to head out on a camping trip!)
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Old 07-11-2020, 01:44 PM   #3
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Sometimes the coupler is not oriented quite right- you need to raise it up again and try resetting again. Rocking will work if it is just a tad off but not if it gets way off.
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Old 07-11-2020, 02:04 PM   #4
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Once you get it jacked back up and off the ball, exercise the coupler a couple times then reach up inside the coupler with your index and middle fingers and make sure the yolk that cradles the hitch ball shaft is back and out of the way. Spray a little WD 40 up in there and some on the ball too. When you start to lower the trailer onto the ball, it’s ok if just a little of the ball is showing. As the weight comes down on the ball, watch for the coupler to thump down solid as it crawls over the ball. Then flip your coupler latch down and it should flip pretty easy. Put your cross pin or lock in and jack your trailer back up and watch, the rear end of your tow vehicle should start to come up if you’ve got a solid hookup. As the coupler starts to crawl over the ball it’s ok to put your foot on the A frame and rock the trailer a little to persuade alignment.

Try this.

Later you can pick up a small ( toothpaste size) tube of grease to keep things lubed up. About halfway through the season get a couple shop towels and put some solvent on them like Carburetor cleaner. Wipe the ball down till it’s shiny and wipe out the inside of the coupler getting the old grease and accumulated grit. Once clean, relube , lithium grease is like Brylcreem, “a little dab will do ya.” But don’t get it in your hair or on your pants. Come to think of it, Brylcreem would work.
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Old 07-11-2020, 02:12 PM   #5
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Finally got it! It just wasn’t in the exact right spot!
Thanks for the quick replies!
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Old 07-11-2020, 02:15 PM   #6
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You should always grease your ball. Mmmm... that didn't sound right. I always put grease on my ball hitch and all moving parts. Works better and prevents a rusty ball. Oh my.
Anyway what I'm saying is use grease.
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Old 07-11-2020, 02:20 PM   #7
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Once you find the sweet spot you are a happy camper.........
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Old 07-11-2020, 02:42 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandyb12 View Post
Finally got it! It just wasn’t in the exact right spot!
Thanks for the quick replies!
Hurray!!!
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Old 07-11-2020, 03:17 PM   #9
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Just curious Sandy, wondered how you find usually hooking up the 21 compared to the 5.0. I'm sure you find filling propane much easier.
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