Un-Hitching Problem

[Gagakev]

Any one else get the same problem, if the vehicle is at a different angle to the van I have major issue's
un-hitching, I can actually lift the back of the truck using the jockey wheel. This happened on my previous van
as well so not confined to current one. In the picture below you can see the angle differance.

When I pulled up to the pitch I had to level from side to side first so pulled the van up the yellow leveler, has any one got over this by reversing the van up the leveler?

 

[RogerL]

I'm not sure about the unhitching problem - but I always reverse up the ramp to level, that way the handbrake holds instantly instead of rolling backwards a foot before engaging.

 

[Parksy]

I've had similar problems at times, I'm not certain what causes it but I usually disengage the Alko stabiliser before reversing now if I remember to do it.
I have a short crowbar in the back of the Paj to lever the hitch off if it becomes stuck

 

[Gagakev]

I'm not sure about the unhitching problem - but I always reverse up the ramp to level, that way the handbrake holds instantly instead of rolling backwards a foot before engaging.

Hi Roger, I always chock both wheels before unhitching and then apply the handbrake, but I did have the problem as well when I did reverse onto them on the previous van .

 

[Gagakev]

I've had similar problems at times, I'm not certain what causes it but I usually disengage the Alko stabiliser before reversing now if I remember to do it.
I have a short crowbar in the back of the Paj to lever the hitch off if it becomes stuck

Thanks Parksy, will try the disengage method next time my pitch aint flat.
Had no problems on my levelish drive when I got home and I reverse it approx 12.0 meter's.

CROWBAR, hmy: more expense and weight

 

[Sproket]

Kev

Have you got a mover fitted to the van ??

With the mover i just jog it back & forth to help release the hitch

I always use the mover to get the van cross level with the ramps :dry:

 

[Mel]

Regularly have this problem. we have a winterhoff hitch. Do our best to hitch up and unhitch as square on as possible. Waggling the hitch head back and forth sometimes helps.
mel

 

[Gagakev]

Kev

Have you got a mover fitted to the van ??

With the mover i just jog it back & forth to help release the hitch

I always use the mover to get the van cross level with the ramps :dry:

Steve I do have a mover but when I cross level it using the mover I can never keep it straight, van spins around in circles, but thanks for the tip of jogging it back and forth.

 

[Sproket]

Kev

I have a pair of these they clip together to give a wider foot print & it also makes it easier to use with the mover the other thing i do is, twist the van round a touch so that when the wheel comes up the ramp it twists back strait again when level ....

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi Kev,
I used to have this problem at lot, when we first got the new van. [last one did not have a stabiliser hitch] then one day while i was was having the usual trouble this old guy!!! well older than me!!! :woohoo: came out of his van seeing as how I was struggling, and said it was the stabiliser not releasing :evil: he told me to pull forwards [to release the damper] then lift the handle on the stabiliser before manovering on to the spot, after dropping the jockey wheel and winding up slightly to take the weight off the hitch, lifted the release handle. and the hitch came away instantly :S :S he also said if you do this and it still holds slap the hitch with the rubber peg mallet B) B) guess what !!!!! no more trouble.

 

[Gagakev]

hi Kev,
I used to have this problem at lot, when we first got the new van. [last one did not have a stabiliser hitch] then one day while i was was having the usual trouble this old guy!!! well older than me!!! :woohoo: came out of his van seeing as how I was struggling, and said it was the stabiliser not releasing :evil: he told me to pull forwards [to release the damper] then lift the handle on the stabiliser before manovering on to the spot, after dropping the jockey wheel and winding up slightly to take the weight off the hitch, lifted the release handle. and the hitch came away instantly :S :S he also said if you do this and it still holds slap the hitch with the rubber peg mallet B) B) guess what !!!!! no more trouble.

So Ive got to buy a crow bar and now a rubber peg mallet :lol:
Seriously though Colin thanks for the informative response, seems to make sense so will try it next time I'm away.

 

[Gafferbill]

Hi Kevin.......don't forget the hitch also works the overrun brakes and is best hitched or unhitched when the workings are at rest.
It is always at rest when you hitch up as you have to position the tow car relative to the hitch. This is not the case when unhitching and it will be more difficult to unhitch as a result.
The best way round this is chock the caravan wheels and slowly move the towcar to fully extend the hitch and then let the towcar move back a bit towards the caravan.
Unhitching should then be easy

Still in the New Forest enjoying a relaxing umpteenth birthday today.

 

[Parksy]

Happy Birthday Bill :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
Enjoy............

 

[Gozza]

Thanks everyone - I'd never had this problem before, then twice this season - I hadn't noticed the correlation with being lined up right. I have a Winterhoff, in future I'll try always releasing the stabiliser before final manoevering and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Kev

They all beat me to it.
Gaffer Bill summed it up perfectly as did Colin.
When the hitch is under any tension the release problem is as you describe.
If you look under the hitch you will see a moving piece of metal moves away from the towball when you pull the release lever.
Under tension with the caravan resting heavily against the car release is hard.
You know the rest.