I went left it went right

Same thing happened to us on the Little River road in the Smokies.
We had just left Elkmont Campground. I always do the lift the tow vehicle test now every time I hitch up. That was our maiden trip with our R-Pod. Had to pull over in Townsend to do a little recollecting and taking deep breaths. The emergency brake kept us out of Little River.

I lost my fear of losing my trailer about 20 years ago when I started using weight-distributing hitches. To attached the bars, you have to jack the trailer (and the car) rather high to attach the bars.  Use a WDH and the problem is automatically minimized because proper seating of the hitch is tested during the process of installing the bars.  I use a lock not only for safety but also for security, which I assume most of us also do.  Many people also fail to secure their distribution bars by failing to positively lock their bar brackets with detent pins, clips, small bolts and nuts, etc. 

My only fear is that my trailer's electrical plug might come loose from the TV connector.  In theory, the spring-loaded cover on the TV will maintain a secure connection.  I use a heavy rubber band around the cover and the plug, just in case the cover spring should fail. 

The " jack up the trailer" routine is the best way to assure you are hooked up.  Also, remember, there is a tab on the hitch that captures the ball.  It is adjustible by a nut underneath and inside the hitch itself.  If this loosens up, the hitch can rise off of the ball.  This should be adjusted snug to slightly loose, never tight. I read on another forum about someone loosing their new Pod while taking it home from the dealer.  The ball had never been properly ajusted.

I think that's pretty much what happened to us. We do the "lift the tv test" every time now.

My husband kept losing the lock bolt so he uses wire ties!!  They work great.