Don't let this happen to you...

[doug hodder]

This last weekend I went up the hill to escape the heat. It was fairly crowded and lots of PWC's on the lake. A guy with a trailer carrying 2 of them, going a bit fast for the bumps, in the campground had his trailer come off the ball and it banged around the back of his pickup and bounced off the asphalt a couple of times before he could get stopped. I'd think that the coupler could have possibly been damaged. I'd heard him banging around the bumps the day earlier and thought, "WOW...you'd think he'd slow down on those".

Quite some time ago, someone had questioned crossing the safety chains, which is required by law in Ca. Had he done that, it may not have had the chance to do the damage that did occur. Safety chains can be too long, however a crossed chain will cradle the coupler if it comes off provided they are the correct length. Of course, #1...make sure you actually did couple the coupler and it's adjusted correctly. Just a few seconds of double checks could have prevented this. Don't be a dumb bunny like this guy was. Doug

[S. Heisley]

With my trailer, I seem to be learning a lot of things the hard way. Mine came off the ball the second time I used it. (Ignorance is NOT bliss.) Luckily, when the hitch came off the ball, I realized it immediately and stopped within a foot of the bump and was in a camp where there were people who gladly helped. (Thanks, guys.) After that, I learned to stick my finger up inside the hitch and feel to see if the latch is under the ball, on the neck portion. Of course, that's with the vehicle stopped so as not to pinch my fingers! Also, I jerk the connection up and down as well (again, not with my fingers inside); but, I don't have a lot of faith in that because I had picked the whole back end of the tow vehicle up just before the time that the hitch came loose. Having experienced this, I also noticed that there's a difference in the sound and feel when the hitch isn't on tight. So, if something doesn't sound or feel right, stop and check everything.

[planovet]

I have always crossed my chains for this very reason. And I always check to make sure everything is tight before I leave.

Not long ago I was driving in town when someone passed me in traffic pulling a work trailer. I looked down and the nut that is supposed to hold the ball on the hitch was missing. The ball was jiggling in the hitch and it was a matter of time before it popped out and the trailer would nose dive. I tried to catch up with him to try and say something but he was going too fast and the traffic was too heavy. I always wondered what eventually happened...

[deleted]

On my way to MI two weeks ago I saw the aftermath of a trailer that had come off its hitch on I-80. The thing is I'd seen the same type of cargo trailer (a 6'x10' or 12' model) a few hours earlier on the highway and noticed not only was it speeding going around 80 mph, it's chains weren't crossed. At the base of a downhill section it appeared the trailer (maybe the same one, maybe a similar one) became disengaged from the TV. The TV was right side up but now in the median turned just a bit to face oncoming traffic. The trailer was off the shoulder on the right and over the embankment. It looked as if it has slid off the embankment rear end first then tipped over onto its right (passenger) side. The tongue was clearly visible and looked intact. It didn't appear any other car had been impacted and nobody was hurt. So that was good but it was a sobering reminder to me of how much responsibility I would bear in keeping everyone else on the road, The Glampette, and myself safe once I picked up my trailer from Fred.

[Todah Tear]

I don't know if it is a law in Texas, but I always cross my chains as well!

Todah

[atahoekid]

Don't learn the hard way like i did and take off in haste. The night before a departure, I hitched up and didn't put the coupler lock pin in place cuz I was just getting it turned around to fill the water tank. Unfortunately, the next day I forgot to put the coupler lock in like I intended to do and drove off without inserting it. Well, guess what happened... I came unhitched after hitting a rather nasty RR crossing at too high a speed. Luckily, I always cross my chains just in case I come unhitched and I got it stopped with a minimum of mayhem. Now guess who always double checks that everything is right. I will even take the time to get on my hands and knees to look up to ensure that the clamp is in the right place around the ball. I've learned that taking the time to double check that it is right is cheap insurance.

[Kharn]

Don't learn the hard way like i did and take off in haste. The night before a departure, I hitched up and didn't put the coupler lock pin in place cuz I was just getting it turned around to fill the water tank. Unfortunately, the next day I forgot to put the coupler lock in like I intended to do and drove off without inserting it. Well, guess what happened... I came unhitched after hitting a rather nasty RR crossing at too high a speed. Luckily, I always cross my chains just in case I come unhitched and I got it stopped with a minimum of mayhem. Now guess who always double checks that everything is right. I will even take the time to get on my hands and knees to look up to ensure that the clamp is in the right place around the ball. I've learned that taking the time to double check that it is right is cheap insurance.

I always tug on the ball before hitching the trailer, making sure the locking pin is holding the ball/mount in the receiver. I know someone that did not tug when they put a luggage rack on the back of their SUV, they had not put the rack far enough into the receiver, so the locking pin missed the rack entirely, the rack fell off and skidded down the highway, throwing their bags all over the place (another rule: Never use bungies as the sole retention method).

[aggie79]

I've never failed to hitch a trailer correctly, but I have failed to raise the tongue jack before pulling away. Plus, my memory and common sense isn't what it used to be.

So...I now have a check list.

1. Check tightness of ball to drawbar.
2. Check/install draw bar into receiver. Make sure hitch pin or hitch pin lock is correctly installed.
3. Disconnect teardrop electrical connection, side tents, and canopy from teardrop.
4. Raise rear teardrop stabilizer jacks.
5. Remove teardrop wheel blocks.
6. Roll the teardrop tongue in place over trailer ball.
7. Lower tongue jack and hitch the teardrop to the ball and drawbar.
8. Remove wheel from trailer tongue jack.
9. Check hitch to be sure it is latched. (One way I do this is to lower the tongue jack again after it is hitched to see it will raise both the trailer tongue and draw bar.)
10. Install hitch lock.
11. Cross safety chains and install to truck.
12. Connect trailer lighting.
13 Raise tongue jack (and use bungee cord to tie down handle so the jack doesn't unwind/lower while going down the highway. Don't ask me how I knew to add this step.)
14. Latch rear hatch
15. Check door and tongue box locks.

And finally...ask the Mrs. to double check everything because even with a list I get in a hurry and forget something.

[oregonguy]

Great List! Everybody should use a list like this...could save a lot of heartache.

I've never failed to hitch a trailer correctly, but I have failed to raise the tongue jack before pulling away. Plus, my memory and common sense isn't what it used to be.

So...I now have a check list.

1. Check tightness of ball to drawbar.
2. Check/install draw bar into receiver. Make sure hitch pin or hitch pin lock is correctly installed.
3. Disconnect teardrop electrical connection, side tents, and canopy from teardrop.
4. Raise rear teardrop stabilizer jacks.
5. Remove teardrop wheel blocks.
6. Roll the teardrop tongue in place over trailer ball.
7. Lower tongue jack and hitch the teardrop to the ball and drawbar.
8. Remove wheel from trailer tongue jack.
9. Check hitch to be sure it is latched. (One way I do this is to lower the tongue jack again after it is hitched to see it will raise both the trailer tongue and draw bar.)
10. Install hitch lock.
11. Cross safety chains and install to truck.
12. Connect trailer lighting.
13 Raise tongue jack (and use bungee cord to tie down handle so the jack doesn't unwind/lower while going down the highway. Don't ask me how I knew to add this step.)
14. Latch rear hatch
15. Check door and tongue box locks.

And finally...ask the Mrs. to double check everything because even with a list I get in a hurry and forget something.

[jss06]

I really like the hitch I have. It is really easy to see if it is locked correctly.

[deleted]

After hearing a weird thunking noise one day after taking off I had to add #16 to Tom's checklist:

16. Make sure brake controller box is not lit (as you pull away) from having somehow bumped the manual control slider to its full on position. Duh

But seriously I don't just hop in the car now and turn on the stereo with the trailer in tow. I like to drive for a few miles with no music so I can listen for any potential problems.

[aggie79]

Good point slow.

I have three sets of keys. One is mine. One stays in the glovebox. And the third set I get from my wife when I can't find the other two.

[Roly Nelson]

I guess I don't understand this..........cross your safety chain stuff. My safety chains are attached to the same single bolt on the tongue hitch, so crossing or un crossing doesn't make much sense. Just in case, I do try to cross the chains, but in the event of a, hop-off-of-the-ball, I can't see that it would make much difference. I can't see that crossing or uncrossing, would help catch the tongue and hitch, in the event of a failure of the hitch connection, which seems fool-proof, if connected correctly. What am I missing here? To cross or uncross, that is the question........
Roly, 35'000- miles so far, with no problems.

[rowerwet]

the crossed chains will catch the coulpler instead of letting it hit the road, unhitch your hitch with the chains crossed and let it drop, now unhitch with the chains straight, the coupler will hit the road, the crossed chains will aslo keep the trailer inline behind the TV, uncrossed chains will let it wander all over, possibly jack-knifing your day...
If the crossed chains don't keep the coupler off the road they are probably to long.

[nhstt]

I know growing up we always crossed the chain on our beloved Cox, best tent trailer ever made. But more than that and the check list was the attitude of being safe. Seems like this guy wasn't really thinking about that at all. I haven't towed in a while so thanks for the reminders everyone
KarenB