Tips to Safely Hitch and Unhitch Your Travel Trailer

Now that you’ve got your first travel trailer, you’re probably excited to go on camping trips with it. But before you hit the road, you must ensure that you’ve learned how to hitch and unhitch your travel trailer. We have created this step-by-step guide to help you get started, so read on to learn more! 

Hitching

Before you start the process, it’s a good idea to refer to the travel trailer’s owner’s manual for recommendations for your hitch. It’ll make the process simpler and safer for you.

To begin, remove the hitch lock if your travel trailer has one. Arrange the receiver latch into a vertical open position and lift the front end of the trailer using a jack. You’ll want to lubricate the jack piston once it extends. Make sure to reset the wheel chocks to prevent the trailer from shifting while it’s being lifted.

Keep the hitch and the receiver close, and gently slide the hitch into the receiver. Insert and secure the locking pin and recheck it to see that it’s secure enough. You’ll now want to align your towing vehicle in a way that the hitch can be connected to your travel trailer.

To strengthen the connection and prevent the trailer from swaying during transit, you can consider investing in sway arms. If your trailer already has them, attach them before you lower the travel trailer onto the hitch.

You can now lower the trailer to let the hitch ball fit inside the receiver. Close the receiver, raise the jack, and remove the jack blocks. At this point, connect the brake and the light cable to allow the tow vehicle to send signals to the travel trailer while driving.

Finally, connect the safety chains (these act as backup security if the hitch ball falls out of the receiver while you’re driving) and remove the wheel chocks.

Unhitching

Once you’ve parked your travel trailer on flat, level ground, fit your wheel chocks on both sides of the travel trailer. Use a jack to lift your trailer a little off the ground. Make sure that the trailer is high enough to have lowered the tension of the sway bars. You’ll now want to disconnect the brake cable, safety chains, and emergency brake controller.

Lower the trailer to let it put some weight on your tow vehicle. Lift the ball receiver latch and release the hitch ball. Use your jack to lift the trailer up and off the hitch ball. This should uncouple the vehicles. Drive your tow vehicle forward and use the jack to level your camper.

Now that you know the steps, you can safely hitch your travel trailer before you hit the road. If you need more information, feel free to connect with the experts at Leach Camper Sales of Lincoln. You’ll find us conveniently located in Lincoln, NE, where we proudly serve all those in Omaha.