I have been trailering boats for 25+ years and IT never happened. Until Saturday. I was on my 400 mile trip back home and pulled off on a short 20mph off ramp to get gas. Laid on the brakes pretty solid and 'boom'. The hitch partially fell out of the receiver, ground off the bottom 1/2" of metal, tore off the jack wheel and was saved by the chain. The ball and hitch were still attached, hanging to the trailer.
I got her stopped going around the outside of the turn. Thank my lucky stars I just upgraded to two 5000lb chains the afternoon before. The only part that hit the ground was the adjustment nut on the bottom of the hitch. Couldn't find the jack wheel, hitch pin or clevis pin. I had thrown an extra hitch and ball and pin set in the back so I had everything I needed.
I wasn't working on it for 3 minutes when a young couple pulls to a stop on the ramp and asked if I was ok. I told her the pin fell out and she turned and asked if hubby has a pin in their car. They pull over and I kid you not, the guy jumps out in blue jeans wearing a pink tutu. He was going to a softball tournament, lol.
Installed the new parts, repositioned the truck to line up with the hitch and we lifted the tongue back on the ball. On my way in less than 10 minutes.
How the heck does a pin fall out? I have never seen that before.
I had it happen a few years ago. I suspect someone was " helping".
Which onea those dealies you described is the thin little springy clip. Could that'a come out? Or did some____er steal one/both of those parts. Did you stop anywhere? Wow, pretty cool when you're prepared like that. A tutu is a balarina dress, right?
No warning signs Tommy? If not, there sure shoulda been.
55 mph road w/ 40 mph curve, downhill & there it was. :o I said that to the City when I filed a claim & they said too bad so sad, sue us. The boat was only a couple of years. When it sheared the sign post off it put a 4' long crease in the side. I fought back and forth with them for awhile but I lived 500 miles away so I eventually gave up. The boat is a Lund (aluminum) so I fixed the crease myself and welding cost $40 so I really wasn't out too much. The principal still iritates the hell out of me. It was prior to e-mail so in my final letter I told them I'd never visit their community again. They obviously didn't give a dang. ;)
Good thing for that city that you weren't on a motorcycle, or a Can-Am motorcycle (less maneuverable), and gotten hurt, crippled, or worse.