Unhitching

MunchkinJo

Advice needed please. Everytime I try to take the caravan hitch off the towball, it sticks. When I use the jockey wheel to raise the hitch, I only succeed in lifting the car as well! What am I doing wrong?

Mitsi Fendt

I sometimes experience this. I don't know why but I am interestested to find out thy and the solution from others with greater knowledge.

KENNYG

After reversing onto a pitch put on hand break on caravan without unhitching pull forward a couple of inches you should be able to lift hitch of the tow ball good luck.

Kerry Watkins

You may also not be lifting the handle up far enough to to release the tow ball. I know we have done this in the past. We lift the handle and keep it lifted while turning the jacket wheel handle.

EasyT

After reversing onto a pitch put on hand break on caravan without unhitching pull forward a couple of inches you should be able to lift hitch of the tow ball good luck.

My thoughts as well. I have had it occasionally and I use the motor mover to move the caravan slightly as I will be using it to pitch

Whittakerr

I agree with Kerry Watkins.  Likelihood is your not lifting the hitch handle enough when raising the caravan with the jockey wheel

SteveL

I occasionally get this if the van is on a downwards slope, as even with the brake on there is some initial movement, resulting in the hitch being held on the tow bar. In these cases I let the car move back fractionally towards the van. No engine, just on
the brake. Otherwise, I suspect it is as other are suggesting, you are not lifting the leaver enough. If possible you could get someone else to lift the leaver, while you wind the jockey.

Boff

Same as above except to say I have seemed to have had more problem when the hitch is stretched rather than compressed.  It's a question of looking at the hitch either going back or forward an inch or so which ever way takes the tension of the ball.  I would
also wind the jockey wheel down a bit as it can come off with quite a pop if the back of the car has been lifted.  

RangeRoverMan

If you have self levelling suspension , like me, make sure you switch off the engine or the car keeps lifting as the weight comes off.

I have too much nose weight to be able to lift off manually so I have to use the jockey wheel.  This is hard trying to hold the handle up with one hand and wind down the jockey wheel with the other. I have made a wedge to keep the handle fully up whilst
using both hands to wind.

black caviar

My betterhalf went on a cc towing course and he was told after hed reversed onto pitch to edge forward a couple of inches (do you think that might help)?

Pippah45

Jo if your hitch has new pads it can be difficult too and will ease - that is after you have tried the ease forward and other advice already given.  

Whittakerr

My betterhalf went on a cc towing course and he was told after hed reversed onto pitch to edge forward a couple of inches (do you think that might help)?

I always do that so that when the hitch de-compresses it doesn’t hit the back of my car. 

EmilysDad

If you have self levelling suspension , like me, make sure you switch off the engine or the car keeps lifting as the weight comes off. ....

Surely your car lifted to normal ride height when the caravan was hitched up ....... why would it want to go higher still after the caravan has been removed? 

IanBHawkes

Sounds like the pads are not releasing when the lever is lifted. Try tapping the hitch sides with a piece of wood. I was told this by a caravan engineer, so it might be worth a go.

MunchkinJo

Thanks for all the suggestions. It seems I'm not the only one to have had this problem. I will certainly try them out and keep you posted.