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Topic ClosedPlease read & check your hitches
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Please read & check your hitches
    Posted: 13 Jul 2015 at 12:01am
Usually all that is needed is to adjust the latch mechanism if it won't stay on.  Always, always, always crank the tongue back up after hitching up to ensure it lifts the rear of the TV so you know the mechanism has engaged properly.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jul 2015 at 8:01am
We always lift the trailer back up, and the rear of the truck, with the tongue jack, so we KNOW it's properly coupled. It's part of the hook up sequence, so we can attach our WDH with as little effort as possible. Wink
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jul 2015 at 8:05am
We also double check as part of our hooking up. Heard of someones pod popping of, so double check every time.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
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2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jul 2015 at 6:04pm
I've seen folks put a 2" receiver on a 1 7/8" ball. I know it seems obvious that you just gotta have the balls to match the challenge, but...

I have had a trailer bounce off the ball and onto the chains. Fortunately I wasn't moving too fast. Was loud and scary. I forgot to latch it. Learned that lesson and now never tow anything without pin or lock on hitch latch. I'm pretty sure it's a requirement in some states.

fred
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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Posts: 22 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2015 at 7:39pm
Warranty coverage.
leahfoo
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Posts: 23 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2015 at 8:59pm
My trailers/hitch is under warranty and dealership said: They will replace it. My trailer is not towable. Dealership I deal with is 3hrs away from me. I'm paying a local hitch & trailer place to cut hitch off and up grade to a bulldog hitch.
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Posts: 10 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2015 at 11:44am
This happened to me just last weekend.  Hit a small bump (uneven pavement) as I was pulling my 2013 178 with the old style coupler off of the park grounds.  I had just passed through the gate when I felt the transition and a little bump; when I looked in my mirror my trailer had slipped free of the ball (yes, it's a  2" ball).   Thankfully I wasn't going but maybe 25 mph but the trailer still knocked into the back bumper cover on our TV.  

When I got out of the car, the latch was still in the locked position but the trailer was hanging by its chain (yes, only 1, one link on the factory chains snapped!  Trailer ground to a halt on the jackstand.  Wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. 

Reading this post has me perplexed.  What is the purpose of the latch lock if we can't trust that its secure without jacking up the trailer to make sure it locked?  I guess that may be SOP for the R-POD.  If so, I can live with it but that needs to be printed in big red letters on the tongue "This latch has a tendency to fail, raise your jack stand to ensure that our shoddy equipment actually works" 

I've towed trailers and boats hundreds of times in my life.  I have hit many bumps much worse than the pavement transition this past weekend.  Never have I worried about a trailer coming free after feeling positive engagement on the ball and closing the latch.  This really has me concerned about bringing this back out on the road again - especially after hearing the steps other owners are taking to make sure that a locked latch is actually secure.  

Has Forest River made any statements about this risk in their coupler design?  
2013 178
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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Joined: 28 Sep 2013
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Posts: 122 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2015 at 6:22pm
I would venture to guess it doesn't say Forest River on the ball hitch. It's likely manufactured by some one else.
Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod
(and Brewer too)
2011 RP 177
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Joined: 03 Apr 2011
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2015 at 8:03pm
I would suggest that a call to Forest River will tell you what they say about this. I agree with Doug:  when you hitch check if it can lift the TV using the tounge jack.
Keith-N-Dar
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2015 at 9:36pm
Welcome.  Did you raise the jack when you hitched up?
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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