problem uncoupling Abbey

[SilverBirch1]

Hi,

we just bought an old secondhand caravan on a whim to see whether we like the experience. We checked most things fairly carefully. But when we got home we couldn't uncouple the caravan. Now I am used to towing trailers; so it seemed logical pull the handle up, then lever it forward. Didn't seem to have any effect.

Looking from underneath there is a collar piece which locks in behind the ball; then two cams side by side. I can (with a bit of force) get the cams to rotate until they are slightly higher than the case of the collar. But the collar does not seem to want to move.

IS this knackered? Or is there some trick (or technique) of which I am unaware. I will try and speak to the previous owner but I know he is working a night shift and will be unavailable until late afternoon.

 

[Parksy]

If you reversed your caravan into the drive whilst it was coupled to the towcar the hitch damper may be pushing against the towball and creating resistance.

Try engaging the caravan handbrake and easing the car forward a couple of inches.Use the jockey wheel to raise the hitch whilst holding the disengage lever up. Sometimes a good 'bounce' on the rear of the car may be needed to disengage a stuck hitch.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Does it have the red Alko friction hitch stabiliser?

These often do stick and jiggling with the motor mover is needed on my unit

As Parksy has said extend the coupling by increasing the gap between car and caravan either by moving the van back or the car forward and then check underneath the coupling to see if the locking piece has moved

Also make sure that the jockey wheel is not wound up tight before the finger underneath has released

 

[SilverBirch1]

Thanks for your help. Unfortunately it didn't work. So I detached the tow bar, unbolted the coupling handle and took it to my shed. Huge amounts of gunk were in the mechanism. I have cleaned all that off and refitted. It now works ok. Still a bit stiff but not a concern.

Hopefully tomorrow we will use it.