Help! Dutchman 2005 TaB Hitch Coupler Latch Position

4malama

Help! I can’t tell if my hitch coupler is latched on my 2005 T@b 2 inch ball that I just bought used. It seems like the latch handle thing should go down about another half inch past 90 degrees to the position it’s in when it’s not on the ball. Can anyone with a similar t@b look at these pics and tell me if it’s on all the way? When I jack up the tongue with a car jack it raises the ball and the back of my SUV with it, and when I drove forward and reverse a little and slam on the brakes it doesn’t come off or down any further. I tried jumping on it and have put it on the ball 3-4 times every time and it stops this far down each time, but it seems like the handle and ball cradle part should go down as far as it does when there’s no ball on it to be fully locked and safe to drive? I’ve had 2 neighbors look at it who have experience towing trailers and my Dad, and a friend who has a newer t@b with a different hitch mechanism. No one is sure it’s safe to drive like this, but everyone is pretty sure it’s safe. I’d like to know for sure. This is my first time hooking it up by myself after the owner hooked it up the first time 3 weeks ago and showers me how before I drive from Montana where I bought it, back to Washington. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide! When the hitch/tongue is not on the ball the hitch coupler handle thing is about 1.5 inch higher than the tongue, when it appears latched onto the ball it is only going down to about 1 and 7/8 inches or so higher than the tongue as you can see in the pics.

Post edited to resize photos.  

rfuss928

You photos look like it is latched properly.  You lift the handle while lowering the coupler onto the ball.   The change you see in the handle position is because the latch is against the bottom of the ball as it should be and can be seen in the last photo.  
Be sure to lubricate the sliding coupler grease fittings and assure the brakes are properly adjusted.  There are instructions in the User manual files
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6382/dutchman-t-b-resources#latest

KB_TAB_T2

Looks like my 2005 when attached to the ball.. 

TABaker

Looks like my 2007, too.  You can always manually pull up on the tongue to make certain.  The bumper of your tow should come up as you do to verify it's properly hitched.  The third photo shows the plate against the ball.

gderrick

rfuss928 said:

... 
Be sure to lubricate the sliding coupler grease fittings and assure the brakes are properly adjusted.  ...

How many grease fittings have you found?  I'm only seeing two; the overrun lever pivot and looking up from underneath the front bushing for the drawbar.  I expected another one for the rear bushing but I'm not finding one.

Thanks. 

pak

Is there a safety pin? If so, do the safety pin holes align? If there is no safety or secondary system of preventing the hitch from popping off the ball, I would get another hitch.

gderrick

Mouseketab

gderrick said:

rfuss928 said:

... 
Be sure to lubricate the sliding coupler grease fittings and assure the brakes are properly adjusted.  ...

How many grease fittings have you found?  I'm only seeing two; the overrun lever pivot and looking up from underneath the front bushing for the drawbar.  I expected another one for the rear bushing but I'm not finding one.

Thanks. 

There are only two grease fittings.

4malama

Thank you all for your comment! It towed fine across WA and OR and over some speed bumps. The coupler lock is missing on mine. I read that it often jammed and was sometimes removed as a result. It’s just an open hole on mine that doesn’t go all the way through. 

rfuss928

The entire lock cylinder comes out to unlock the handle leaving an empty hole.  
The handle and latching mechanism is spring loaded closed and requires lifting then tilting to unlatch.  I have 70k+ miles of towing experience with our T@B with no problems with secure connection.  I have never used the lock cylinder except to tryout for function.
Replacement cylinder and key sets are available for ~$10
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alko-AK7-AKS-Erde-Security-Hitch-Replacement-Trailer-Brass-Insert-Lock-Keys/371312487960?hash=item5673f2ee18:g:RfwAAOxyaTxRQQo9

Mouseketab

I use my cylinder lock all the time and have never had any issues with it, except I lost one once. You just have to have it as part of your checklist to never lift the handle with the lock in place.

dmr139

What I do when I'm not sure is to drop the wheel and try to jack it up.  IF it releases from the ball, yep you guessed it.  NO GOOD.  If it lifts the rear of your tow vehicle GOOD TO GO.