Running out of ideas, stuck gooseneck hitch

[immortl]

I'm 'stuck', somewhat literally and am down to my last idea.  Curious if I'm missing something, thought I'd check with the collective knowledge here for inspiration.

 

I currently have a 40ft goose neck cargo/car trailer hooked up to my truck, and I cannot get it unhitched. The truck and trailer are parked on an incline, which I know does not help, however, it's the same parking spot, same incline where I had no problems unhooking the trailer 3 times previously. Not sure why this time is a problem.  This is a downhill incline that the truck/trailer is backed down, so truck is higher than the trailer.

 

I have used boards under the truck tires to get the truck within 1" or so of being perfectly in line with the trailer front to back and side to side.

I have rocked the setup back and forth both with and without wheel chocks in place.

I have done the rocking above both gently and somewhat vigorously, hoping to jostle whatever is bound loose.

I have 'tapped' the coupler with a 10lb persuader.

I have verified the retaining bar in the coupler is in fact sliding back (can feel up there with my fingers, very carefully) when the release is held back.

I have jumped up and down in the bed of the truck when it's lifted by the trailer.

I have left the truck in neutral when raising the trailer so the truck could roll back/forward as necessary.

I have tried removing the pin for the ball from the receiver so the whole ball could be lifted out.

Throughout all of this, I can easily move the latch release/bar open and closed and feel it moving, there doesn't appear to be any excess tension on it. In other words, I don't feel the bottom of the ball hitting the bottom of the coupler.

 

Every time I lower the jacks on the trailer, it just lifts the rear of the truck.  It seems like it's hung up, but I cannot figure out how.  I looked at the goose box coupler on my RV and it's just a concave bowl up in there where the goosneck ball goes.  I was thinking the cargo trailer coupler would be similar. I don't understand what it's hanging up on since there appears to be no tension on the coupler lock bar when the truck bed is being held up by the trailer.  

My final attempt it going to be pulling it over to a level parking lot and trying to disconnect there.  I'm not yet skilled at backing up these trailers and it's a tight spot, so it takes me a bit to get them back in when I pull them out.  If it still doesn't, off to the trailer shop.  If I does, then I don't know, guess I'll try at home again, maybe something got unstuck on the drive over.

 

This seems simple, but I'm obviously missing something and it's driving me (and my brother) crazy.  Someone please show me how much of an idiot I am and tell me what I'm missing, please...

 

attached pic show the truck and trailer when I made things 'inline' with assorted levels of boards under 3 of the trucks tires.

[GreenPig]

Our 5th wheel must have a rearward load on it to unlock, but that doesn't seem to be your problem since it's unlocking. I've never worked with a gooseneck but a quick online search shows many videos that may help you. Goodluck. 

[immortl]

Thanks!  I've check out a ton of videos but nothing yet.  I think something is broken or actually wrong.

 

This afternoon I went at it again. I sprayed a good bit of penetrating oil up in there using the tube on the can. I raised the trailer by backing it on to 3 stacked 2"x12"x8' boards. Nothing, still just lifted the back end of the truck.

I then pulled it out, drove it around, hit every bump I could find, hit the brakes, hit the accelerator, got some chucking going on and tried again, in a perfectly level parking lot. Same deal, just raises the back end of the truck.

I have tried both at home and in the parking lot with the truck in neutral so it can roll a little, didn't help at all.

When you push the coupler lock back by hand, if I reach up into the coupler, I can feel the bar across the bottom of the ball retract. Interestingly enough, I would think the ball would be putting some tension on that when the back end is lifted but I cannot detect any.

It's as if the ball somehow broke through the roof of the cavity and is stuck up in there. But if that happened, the coupler would be lower, hitting the bed of the truck and it's not, it all looks pretty normal.

Still stumped, I'm now officially out of ideas and think I'll be hauling it over to a trailer repair shop this week to see what they think.  On the phone they were stumped too, saying goosenecks are pretty forgiving.

[Darth-Baiter]

totally guessing here.  can you chock the trailer wheels so you can take the forward/reverse load off the ball?  maybe the trailer coupler is hard up on one side or another?  get it perfectly centered?

[Crappiebasser]

Do you have a removable ball? If so can you pull the pin from the ball and take it off with the trailer?

 

It sounds like it’s under pressure. Usually chocking the tires and putting the truck in drive or reverse is all it takes to free them.

[Jar11591]

58 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

totally guessing here.  can you chock the trailer wheels so you can take the forward/reverse load off the ball?  maybe the trailer coupler is hard up on one side or another?  get it perfectly centered?

My first thought as well. That, or going to town with the angle grinder. 

[Darth-Baiter]

2 minutes ago, Crappiebasser said:

Do you have a removable ball? If so can you pull the pin from the ball and take it off with the trailer?

 

It sounds like it’s under pressure. Usually chocking the tires and putting the truck in drive or reverse is all it takes to free them.

to be clear.  chock the trailer tires.

 

the hitch ball is a sphere, so leveling the truck and trailer shouldn't be a concern because the ball is the same dimension all around anyways.  a slight angle..it's a sphere to the coupler.  

 

I think it is under tension from the trailer wanting to roll down the slight incline, putting a lateral load on the ball.  

[immortl]

So yes, I've chocked trailer tires in both directions and have pushed the trailer up against the rear chocks,  pulled it against the front chocks, trying to release the ball in each position to no avail.  I've tried chocking the trailer in place, and position truck so no load is on the ball, even rocked forward and reverse while trailer was lifting the rear of the truck hoping it would pop loose. 

 

I really thought it was the angle/torque because I did try pulling the pin out of the ball but it wouldn't come out either.  That really stumps me. Today I tried all the same stuff in a perfectly level parking lot and it still wouldn't release. 

 

My latest idea other than taking it to a trailer shop - I was thinking, how would they try to pry them apart?  I could put a stack of boards in the bed and then try a 12 ton or whatnot bottle jack with boards on top of it.  Boards below and above would help distribute the pressure across the bed and across the frame of the trailer...  Not sure if that's a good idea or not yet.  Maybe if done very carefully checking often to not bend anything?  Any thoughts or opinions on that?

 

Something odd is going on, I just haven't figured out what it is yet.  I've disconnected this trailer in the same exact spot several times with no issue.  I've never had a problem with the RV which uses a goose box adapter.  It won't even release on level ground with truck in neutral after a spirited ride around town.  Something is weird, but I've not yet identified it...

Edited May 23, 2023 by immortl
aded last paragraph

[TnRiver46]

Trailer shop is a wonderful idea if there’s one close, bet they’ve crossed that bridge before. My first thought was to ask @GreenPigbut sure enough he was the first reply 

 

maybe call the shop ahead of time and they can offer things to try 

[12poundbass]

[immortl]

1 hour ago, Crappiebasser said:

Do you have a removable ball? If so can you pull the pin from the ball and take it off with the trailer?

 

It sounds like it’s under pressure. Usually chocking the tires and putting the truck in drive or reverse is all it takes to free them.

Interestingly enough, I pulled the lever/pin out of the ball and it didn't come out either.  That really had me thinking it was the angle.  Alas, still wouldn't release even on level ground even with rocking truck forward and reverse while mildly suspended from the trailer. 

 

I'm going to hit up a few trailer places tomorrow and see what they think.  There even happens to be a good place up north where I trout fish.  Drop it off, have someone shuttle me to the stream and they can futz with it all day while I fish   The geek in me wants to watch and see how they finally get it loose though.  Anyways, we'll see what I can figure out tomorrow.

6 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

So in this vein, here is a copy paste of a reply from the RV forum where I also asked.  I replied saying it was with the utmost respect and admiration that my first thought was "Bubba of 'here hold my beer and watch this' fame" had entered the chat.

 

 

You could try putting the trailer jack legs on 6 x 6 blocks; crank the jack until you've got the rear wheels of the truck at least 6 inches off the ground; open the end gate; put the truck in 4 wheel drive and pull ahead causing the jacks to fall off the 6x6.... If that doesn't work you could try stacking up two 6x6 blocks under each leg and suspend the truck a foot off the ground before puling ahead. It seems as though your latch is not opening but I've never seen a gooseneck latch that couldn't be tapped open with a hammer.

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

Flummoxed!!!

[immortl]

Ok, so I am a special kind of idiot, seriously.  Have a laugh at my expense, I deserve it.

 

In short - I wasn't raising the trailer high enough.

 

What I observed - lower the electric landing gear, watch the truck bed rise, landing gear would start to struggle a bit, truck bed would continue to rise, trailer would make creaking/popping noises, would see side of the trailer over the truck bed start to 'bounce/flex' a little.  I'd go a little further, but then stop.

 

What I thought was happening - I thought trailer was lifting the rear of the truck, weight of the truck was starting to distort the frame of the trailer a little, anticipated bad things happening if I proceeded further.  Well, today on flat ground, I proceeded further.

 

What I now think was actually happening - The landing gear struggled as it they took the weight of the trailer (it's mildly loaded), it wasn't actually lifting the rear of the truck, the springs were still raising the bed.  It's an older battery now that I look at it closer and probably needs replacing.  The flexing/popping of the trailer, I now believe that was the tongue weight being relieved as the weight was transferred off the coupler to the landing gear.  Pushed through where I had stopped previously and within another inch or two, the ball popped out.

 

Sigh, I am an idiot at times.  This particular gooseneck trailer is new to me.  My RV with the goosebox doesn't really flex/pop when unhooking. 

 

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.  Hope my idiocy provides a little chuckle to your day.

[TnRiver46]

17 hours ago, immortl said:

Ok, so I am a special kind of idiot, seriously.  Have a laugh at my expense, I deserve it.

 

In short - I wasn't raising the trailer high enough.

 

What I observed - lower the electric landing gear, watch the truck bed rise, landing gear would start to struggle a bit, truck bed would continue to rise, trailer would make creaking/popping noises, would see side of the trailer over the truck bed start to 'bounce/flex' a little.  I'd go a little further, but then stop.

 

What I thought was happening - I thought trailer was lifting the rear of the truck, weight of the truck was starting to distort the frame of the trailer a little, anticipated bad things happening if I proceeded further.  Well, today on flat ground, I proceeded further.

 

What I now think was actually happening - The landing gear struggled as it they took the weight of the trailer (it's mildly loaded), it wasn't actually lifting the rear of the truck, the springs were still raising the bed.  It's an older battery now that I look at it closer and probably needs replacing.  The flexing/popping of the trailer, I now believe that was the tongue weight being relieved as the weight was transferred off the coupler to the landing gear.  Pushed through where I had stopped previously and within another inch or two, the ball popped out.

 

Sigh, I am an idiot at times.  This particular gooseneck trailer is new to me.  My RV with the goosebox doesn't really flex/pop when unhooking. 

 

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions.  Hope my idiocy provides a little chuckle to your day.

Hahaha! It happens. My boat has gotten stuck a time or two and picked my truck bed up pretty high. Everything is a lot lighter on my setup so I always just jumped on my bumper and it came loose in a blaze of glory 

 

maybe smear some axle grease on the ball hitch 

[Darth-Baiter]

Haha. So the planks you drove up on actually exasperated the situation!   Haha. 
 

been there before 

[Woody B]

On 5/24/2023 at 6:21 AM, TnRiver46 said:

maybe smear some axle grease on the ball hitch 

 

I've got a tub of grease that's made just for hitches.  I don't know what's special about it, except it's not supposed to attract dirt/grit like "regular" grease might.   I bought it ~40 years ago when I was racing, and towing all over the Eastern US.   I think it came from Camping World.   I think some kind of lubricant on a trailer ball is a good idea.  This is all I've ever used, and I've never had any trouble.  

[TnRiver46]

35 minutes ago, Woody B said:

 

I've got a tub of grease that's made just for hitches.  I don't know what's special about it, except it's not supposed to attract dirt/grit like "regular" grease might.   I bought it ~40 years ago when I was racing, and towing all over the Eastern US.   I think it came from Camping World.   I think some kind of lubricant on a trailer ball is a good idea.  This is all I've ever used, and I've never had any trouble.  

Grease is ok, WD40 makes your boat come off in rush hour traffic according to Chris zaldain hahah

[Bird]

Ok thanks for the laugh ?

 

I didn't hook up completely one time on a decent and took off, separated from trailer and folded the landing gear..... don't tell anyone ok.

[immortl]

So Wednesday afternoon I practiced backing the trailer up again and got it back into its spot.  It takes me a bit and a spotter.  I really need to rig up some cameras.  The driveway is off the inside of a curve of the main road which is a hill and I'm backing it in uphill, then once it crosses the sidewalk the driveway slopes downhill pretty rapidly.  I just about make it without the trailer hitting the bed.  Then I'm threading it between a few large trees.   I'm getting better.  Watching me attempt that is probably entertaining for the neighbors.  I see what they say about turning with triple axles.  The way those tires bow out sometimes as I swing the trailer around to get in in the driveway, I keep expecting the tires to pop off. 

 

Anyways, I got it back in it's spot and it unhooked just fine, once I raised it high enough.  Goose neck couplers and balls are as forgiving as I thought they were, it's a pretty good downhill angle still.  Upon close inspection I found the ball and coupler were very well greased.  It really was just me not raising it high enough.  that said, I'll seek out some of that grease @Woody B mentioned.  The RV goosebox is pretty dry.  I'm always up for a trip to Camping World.  Need to replace the shower skylight that a large branch came through this winter.

 

@Darth-Baiter you have no idea just how accurate your statement is.  There was a mishap with those boards earlier in this process as I came forward off of them and let's just say I need to replace a section of diamond plate on the front of the trailer now.  The boards I used were too long and my spotter wasn't able to keep his eyes on both sides of the truck and truck bed all at the same time.  When I was researching trailers and  RVs, I understood there were lots of random extra expenses, but I don't recall anyone telling me there would be $500+ of pressure treated boards to cut up, use, lose, etc...  I have quite the collection of 2x12 in assorted lengths going on over here. 

 

Knock on wood, in my limited trailering experience of a few years now, I have not yet had one come off the ball while driving down the road.  I was behind a friend back in college when the nut came off the ball and the smallish trailer separated from his truck.  I guess the chains kept it attached to him and saved other drivers from issues, but man, the way it whipped his old Blazer around, I almost think I'd want the trailer to go it's own way.  @Bird your secret is safe, I know and say nothing.

[GreenPig]

Glad you figured it out.

[Bolar]

Late to the party here.  My goose-neck horse trailer will often pull up on the truck bed some when separating.  At least you didn't get to the point you were cutting and grinding parts off.  Glad to hear you got it worked out.