Unhitching caravan troubles

Keith1408
Keith1408 Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited May 3 in Caravans #1

Recently we took our Caravan to Paignton and despite our SATNAV saying it was avoiding the road closure to the site, we ended up going down the road closure. Now being a novice tower (only been towing for under a year) and having not mastered the art of reversing our van, I normally unhitch and move the caravan on the motor mover when in difficult situations. However for some unknown reason the caravan wouldn't unhitch from the van, as such I was forced into reversing myself out of this predicament (I think I've now mastered this). Anyway I'm just wondering if anyone else has had issues with getting their van to unhitch from the car? At the time we were trying to unhitch, the car and van were on a bit of a slope, hand brakes were applied to both car and van and the motor mover was engaged. Would this cause any problems? Appreciate everyone's comments

Comments

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited April 29 #2

    If you had moved the caravan back a little with the car in reverse it would have probably released the hitch I would have thought, had you tried that ?

  • Keith1408
    Keith1408 Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited April 29 #3

    I didn't try this at the time. Was too flustered at the time and worried if I moved the van I might have caused inadvertent damage.

  • GlampersRUs
    GlampersRUs Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 29 #4

    Sounds like the coupling was under tension.

    It can happen - particularly if unhitching on an incline or leveling using the car/ramps. 

    When it does, you need to move the van closer to the car by an inch or so closer (not too close as the hitch will naturally extend back out out when you unhook).

    Either move the van closer to the car using the mover or the car closer to the van applying the van's handbrake and rolling the car back slightly until you see a slight movement in the hitch bellows.

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 550 ✭
    500 Comments
    edited April 29 #5

    Another item to check when you have a uncoupling issue is the stabiliser pads,especially the top one.

    The top one is fitted with a screw and can foul if the securing section breaks.I had two uncoupling issues,and on the second one,the broken top pad fell out,when coupling released.

    It can be awkward to check,as you need a mirror and torch to see up inside.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 29 #6

    Firstly well done on reversing out of trouble. Caravanning is a learning for us all so do not worry. As said above the coupling could be under tension, or it could have been under compression. Now your van is unhitched have a look at the bellows on the coupling. When you next park up with the van on the back you wan to get the bellows to look as they are now, by rolling one or the other back or forwards, whichever is the easier. If your coupling is free of wear and tear then this should solve your problem.

     

    Colin

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited April 29 #7

    It does sound like tension remained in the system. Sometimes ensuring a direct line through the vehicle tow hitch and A frame helps, something to do with angles of tension I’m told. 

  • MikeyA
    MikeyA Forum Participant Posts: 1,072
    1000 Comments
    edited April 30 #8

    If having problems unhitching, invariably I need to move the car forwards relative to the caravan. Apply the caravan hand break and move forwards 50mm or use the mover to move the caravan backwards.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited April 30 #9

    Exactly! That rubber gaiter needs to be extended, not compressed.

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited April 30 #10

    If you were on a downhill slope MikeyA is the correct way the caravan has compressed the gator and the hitch is tight on the towball I put the caravan handbrake on go back  to the car put it in neutral take the car handbrake off and let the car roll forward slightly to take the tension off don't go to far forward or you will extend the hitch to far forward and end up with the hitch locked again which can happen if you stop on a incline in that case you have to reverse the car slightly, the hitch getting locked on is a common problem you will see it often on sites when people arrive and try to unhitch.

  • Keith1408
    Keith1408 Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited May 1 #11

    Thank you all for your advice, we were on an incline at the time so the hitch would have been on tension. I didn't realise this would have caused the issue. Hopefully I won't need to do this in future.

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