hitch coupler latch will not close

bigO1218 · 03-29-2021, 07:18 AM

I have a 2019 Hideout 178LHS - just finished de-winterizing it and making it ready for the first camping trip of the year. Problem - the hitch coupler latch will not close, even without the hitch ball in the socket. I have spent several hours online looking for a solution, to no avail. There is no adjusting nut that I can see, and there is a steel plate welded to the frame underneath the coupler, so I would not be able to get to it even if I could see it. The latch moves freely and there is good spring tension - it just will not move fully forward. I almost resorted to the "sledge hammer" method, but thought I would give the dealer a call first - still waiting to hear from their service tech. I would appreciate any and all ideas...my vacation days are dwindling.

Javi · 03-29-2021, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigO1218

I have a 2019 Hideout 178LHS - just finished de-winterizing it and making it ready for the first camping trip of the year. Problem - the hitch coupler latch will not close, even without the hitch ball in the socket. I have spent several hours online looking for a solution, to no avail. There is no adjusting nut that I can see, and there is a steel plate welded to the frame underneath the coupler, so I would not be able to get to it even if I could see it. The latch moves freely and there is good spring tension - it just will not move fully forward. I almost resorted to the "sledge hammer" method, but thought I would give the dealer a call first - still waiting to hear from their service tech. I would appreciate any and all ideas...my vacation days are dwindling.

Check this out...

bigO1218 · 03-29-2021, 07:34 AM

Thank you Javi for the reply. The picture you sent shows a lever style latch ~ mine is a finger/thumb style. The bigger issue is that I have no (or, at least, have no access to) an adjustment nut.

Javi · 03-29-2021, 08:08 AM

You mean like this..

**chuckster57** · 03-29-2021, 08:09 AM

I would take a torch, heat it up. Then a heavy shot of Pb blaster where it goes through the plate and some gentle taps with a regular hammer.

bigO1218 · 03-29-2021, 08:49 AM

Hi Javi - thanks for the pix. Unfortunately, neither one of those matches what I have. The latch handle on my trailer moves up/down and forward/backward. If I lift up on the rear of the latch and pull it forward, it is supposed to drop down into a rectangular hole in the top of the hitch cover. The problem is that I cannot pull it forward far enough to have the rear of the latch "sit" in the hole; the underjaw does contact the base of the hitch ball, but without the latch properly seated, I cannot insert a locking pin.
By the way, I see you are in Waco? My oldest daughter is a Dominican Sister in Georgetown...not too far from you, if memory serves.

Thank you, chuckster57 for the advice. I just sent pictures of the hitch to the Tech department at Keystone; if I do not get a reasonable response from them, I will follow your recommendation!

Texas Steve · 03-29-2021, 08:58 AM

I have the same problem sometimes with mine. I pull the truck forward slightly until the latch fits into the hole. Good luck.

travelin texans · 03-29-2021, 09:05 AM

Are you sure you have the proper size ball?

bigO1218 · 03-29-2021, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Steve

I have the same problem sometimes with mine. I pull the truck forward slightly until the latch fits into the hole. Good luck.

Thanks, Texas Steve. I have used that trick in the past, as well. The problem I am having is that the latch will not completely close, even without the ball in the hitch.

Javi · 03-29-2021, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigO1218

Hi Javi - thanks for the pix. Unfortunately, neither one of those matches what I have. The latch handle on my trailer moves up/down and forward/backward. If I lift up on the rear of the latch and pull it forward, it is supposed to drop down into a rectangular hole in the top of the hitch cover. The problem is that I cannot pull it forward far enough to have the rear of the latch "sit" in the hole; the underjaw does contact the base of the hitch ball, but without the latch properly seated, I cannot insert a locking pin.
By the way, I see you are in Waco? My oldest daughter is a Dominican Sister in Georgetown...not too far from you, if memory serves.

Thank you, chuckster57 for the advice. I just sent pictures of the hitch to the Tech department at Keystone; if I do not get a reasonable response from them, I will follow your recommendation!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Steve

I have the same problem sometimes with mine. I pull the truck forward slightly until the latch fits into the hole. Good luck.

Okay, your predicament is becoming clearer now... Texas Steve is correct... Chock the trailer wheels and rock the truck forward slightly to seat the ball fully in the coupler... That should fix the problem... I've had that coupler on another trailer.. it's fussy about position

bigO1218 · 03-29-2021, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Are you sure you have the proper size ball?

Thanks, travelin texans, for the reply. I double-checked the hitch ball size with a digital caliper - exactly 2-5/16". It is the same ball we used last summer on our trip to Montana. The latch was "sticky" then - we just assumed the spring was stiff from being new. Now the latch will not even close when there is no ball present.

**flybouy** · 03-30-2021, 06:29 AM

I'm guessing you have this style https://www.etrailer.com/A-Frame-Tra...CA-5335-B.html

Lots of PB blaster and sometimes a little "persuasion" from a prybar underneath will get it loose. Spray it with rust penetrant several times a year to keep it free.

bigO1218 · 03-30-2021, 07:04 AM

That's the one! Thank you for the reply, flybouy. I have used close to 2 cans of WD40 and a full can of PB ~ had not thought of the "persuasion" from the underside, though. I'll give that a try.

By the way, has anyone ever had any luck having issues resolved through the Keystone factory? I emailed them pictures of the latch over 24 hours ago, and have yet to hear anything back - didn't think this would be such a major problem. So much for the camping trip...

JDDilly · 03-30-2021, 07:11 AM

I sent in a request a few weeks back and it took about 4 days to get a response. Once I connected with a person, things were handled to my satisfaction. I think the volume is high at this time.

**sourdough** · 03-30-2021, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigO1218

By the way, has anyone ever had any luck having issues resolved through the Keystone factory? I emailed them pictures of the latch over 24 hours ago, and have yet to hear anything back - didn't think this would be such a major problem. So much for the camping trip...

Why are you dealing with the Keystone "factory" vs your dealer?

bigO1218 · 03-30-2021, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

Why are you dealing with the Keystone "factory" vs your dealer?

I went to my dealer first; the service manager there is the one who told me to contact Keystone directly.

notanlines · 03-30-2021, 09:20 AM

BigO, that is a terrific cop-out from your dealer. No way was that the correct action on their part. Keep that in the back of your mind when buying a new RV years from now.
I also would get my hands on a large persuader bar and while having as much pressure as you can muster, have someone give the head a few light love-taps. Not heavy enough to dent the hitch. That could come back to bite you badly down the road.

bigO1218 · 03-30-2021, 09:31 AM

[QUOTE=notanlines;441746]BigO, that is a terrific cop-out from your dealer. No way was that the correct action on their part. Keep that in the back of your mind when buying a new RV years from now.

That was my gut reaction, too, notanlines; at that point, there was still a chance of salvaging the vacation, and I thought I might at least get some useful information from the factory.

My problem now is I have a trailer that I cannot even hitch-up to take back to the dealer for repair. I thought about hiring a flatbed, but the dealer is almost 2 hours away from me.

**sourdough** · 03-30-2021, 09:51 AM

[QUOTE=bigO1218;441747]

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

BigO, that is a terrific cop-out from your dealer. No way was that the correct action on their part. Keep that in the back of your mind when buying a new RV years from now.

That was my gut reaction, too, notanlines; at that point, there was still a chance of salvaging the vacation, and I thought I might at least get some useful information from the factory.

My problem now is I have a trailer that I cannot even hitch-up to take back to the dealer for repair. I thought about hiring a flatbed, but the dealer is almost 2 hours away from me.

I agree the dealer is shirking their responsibility. Have you tried contacting Lippert (frame manufacturer) to see if they could offer some help? Also, I have freed a ball coupler in the past with PB Blaster and some "persuasion" with a hammer - just be careful.

bigO1218 · 03-30-2021, 10:07 AM

[QUOTE=sourdough;441750]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigO1218

I agree the dealer is shirking their responsibility. Have you tried contacting Lippert (frame manufacturer) to see if they could offer some help? Also, I have freed a ball coupler in the past with PB Blaster and some "persuasion" with a hammer - just be careful.

I have not contacted Lippert directly; however, the frame's serial number is one of the things the factory rep wanted a picture of. As far as the PB Blaster - just finished spraying a second can on every accessible part of the coupler. I'll let it soak for a while, then begin "persuading."

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