Trailer hitch inadvertant disconnect

[Bill Daniels]

This is a fork of the Cobra trailer brake thread.

I encountered an unnerving situation a couple of weeks ago. I was backing
my Komet trailer into a new parking position near my house. This required
moving the trailer less than 15 feet slightly uphill. For such a short
move, I didn't think the .25" safety pin that keeps the hitch handle down
and locked was needed. I just attached the hitch to the ball and started
backing.

The lever popped up and the hitch jumped off the ball. The trailer rolled
forward into the back of my SUV doing damage to the rear bumper cover. The
hitch was tight on the ball and there is no detectable malfunction of the
hitch.

The damage is annoying but the real eye opener is that if the trailer surged
forward against the hitch as the towing vehicle braked, the same disconnect
would likely happen again if the safety pin were missing.

THE SAFETY PINS ARE REALLY NEEDED. Lesson learned.

Bill Daniels

[A. Spindelberger]

"Bill Daniels" > wrote in message news:<8YmJc.82850$%_6.8300@attbi_s01>...
> This is a fork of the Cobra trailer brake thread.
>
> I encountered an unnerving situation a couple of weeks ago. I was backing
> my Komet trailer into a new parking position near my house. This required
> moving the trailer less than 15 feet slightly uphill. For such a short
> move, I didn't think the .25" safety pin that keeps the hitch handle down
> and locked was needed. I just attached the hitch to the ball and started
> backing.
>
> The lever popped up and the hitch jumped off the ball. The trailer rolled
> forward into the back of my SUV doing damage to the rear bumper cover. The
> hitch was tight on the ball and there is no detectable malfunction of the
> hitch.
>
> The damage is annoying but the real eye opener is that if the trailer surged
> forward against the hitch as the towing vehicle braked, the same disconnect
> would likely happen again if the safety pin were missing.

Bill, I do not understand what you mean. Can you send a picture?
Thanks, A. Spindelberger


>
> THE SAFETY PINS ARE REALLY NEEDED. Lesson learned.
>
> Bill Daniels

[Bela]

(A. Spindelberger) wrote in message >...
> "Bill Daniels" > wrote in message news:<8YmJc.82850$%_6.8300@attbi_s01>...
> > This is a fork of the Cobra trailer brake thread.
> >
> > I encountered an unnerving situation a couple of weeks ago. I was backing
> > my Komet trailer into a new parking position near my house. This required
> > moving the trailer less than 15 feet slightly uphill. For such a short
> > move, I didn't think the .25" safety pin that keeps the hitch handle down
> > and locked was needed. I just attached the hitch to the ball and started
> > backing.
> >
> > The lever popped up and the hitch jumped off the ball. The trailer rolled
> > forward into the back of my SUV doing damage to the rear bumper cover. The
> > hitch was tight on the ball and there is no detectable malfunction of the
> > hitch.
> >
> > The damage is annoying but the real eye opener is that if the trailer surged
> > forward against the hitch as the towing vehicle braked, the same disconnect
> > would likely happen again if the safety pin were missing.
>
> Bill, I do not understand what you mean. Can you send a picture?
> Thanks, A. Spindelberger
>
>
> >
> > THE SAFETY PINS ARE REALLY NEEDED. Lesson learned.
> >
> > Bill Daniels

Bill,
I am not sure why you tied the Komet trailer problem to a Cobra
posting, but I did go out to look, my 3 year old Cobra does not have a
safety pin on the handle, however there is a hole in the handle and
one could rig up a safety cable. I wonder if Alfred would recommend
it.
Bela

[Tom Serkowski]

(A. Spindelberger) wrote in message >...
> Bill, I do not understand what you mean. Can you send a picture?
> Thanks, A. Spindelberger

I think Bill is talking about the trailer handle as we had in the
1980's. My old Cobra had it and I think Komet also used the same
part.

The handle was a loop and lifted up and forward. One would insert a
small clip pin that prevented the forward tilt and thus an inadvertent
release. IIRC, I may have been distracted during hook up and
forgotten the pin and discovered it hanging on the little chain at the
end of a trip. But I never lubricated those parts (didn't seem to
need it) so that may have helped.

The new Al-Ko hitch on Cobra trailers is self tightening and should be
lubricated. Alfred and John Murray told me where to use a hammer to
loosen mine after it clamped onto the ball so tightly that I couldn't
budge it. After spraying some WD-40 on it all was well again.

Tom Serkowski

[Doug Hoffman]

Bela wrote:

> my 3 year old Cobra does not have a
> safety pin on the handle, however there is a hole in the handle and
> one could rig up a safety cable.

My boat trailers and my current (homebuilt) trailer for my glider all have
holes that I use for the dual purposes of safety catch and anti-theft
deterrent. A padlock fits nicely in the hole. So, if I am staying in a
motel during transit with the glider and if someone wants to steal the
glider and trailer there is at least something there to make it harder. (I
know, if they *really* want it they'll get it anyway). I sleep better.

Regards,

-Doug

[Bill Daniels]

"Bela" > wrote in message
om...
> (A. Spindelberger) wrote in message
>...
> > "Bill Daniels" > wrote in message
news:<8YmJc.82850$%_6.8300@attbi_s01>...
> > > This is a fork of the Cobra trailer brake thread.
> > >
> > > I encountered an unnerving situation a couple of weeks ago. I was
backing
> > > my Komet trailer into a new parking position near my house. This
required
> > > moving the trailer less than 15 feet slightly uphill. For such a
short
> > > move, I didn't think the .25" safety pin that keeps the hitch handle
down
> > > and locked was needed. I just attached the hitch to the ball and
started
> > > backing.
> > >
> > > The lever popped up and the hitch jumped off the ball. The trailer
rolled
> > > forward into the back of my SUV doing damage to the rear bumper cover.
The
> > > hitch was tight on the ball and there is no detectable malfunction of
the
> > > hitch.
> > >
> > > The damage is annoying but the real eye opener is that if the trailer
surged
> > > forward against the hitch as the towing vehicle braked, the same
disconnect
> > > would likely happen again if the safety pin were missing.
> >
> > Bill, I do not understand what you mean. Can you send a picture?
> > Thanks, A. Spindelberger
> >
> >
> > >
> > > THE SAFETY PINS ARE REALLY NEEDED. Lesson learned.
> > >
> > > Bill Daniels
>
> Bill,
> I am not sure why you tied the Komet trailer problem to a Cobra
> posting, but I did go out to look, my 3 year old Cobra does not have a
> safety pin on the handle, however there is a hole in the handle and
> one could rig up a safety cable. I wonder if Alfred would recommend
> it.
> Bela

Bela, I realize that it's not directly related which is why I started a new
thread.

The hole is where I have always put a 1/4" pin, bolt or padlock that
prevents the hitch release from operating - at least until this incident.
Every trailer hitch I have seen has a similar hole for a retaining device.
A padlock is a very good idea since it serves two purposes.

I got an e-mail that suggested that I was using a 2 inch ball with a hitch
designed for a 50mm ball. The hitch is clearly stamped "use 2" ball" which
is what I was using.

Bill Daniels