Jayco owners help!

[csmith2005]

I bought a used 2001 Jayco.  I initally had little trouble hitching and unhitching the PUP. Towards the end of the season it became alomost impossible to get the PUP to latch onto the reciever. Once on it is almost impossible to unhitch the PUP.

I basically have to take a hammer to the PUP to force the matter.

Any ideas on how to fix the problem. The PUP's frame is all one piece. No easy fix.

[HersheyGirl]

I had a 95 Jayco and it did the same thing for me.  Keep all the hitch parts well greased and keep that hammer handy.  Almost every Jayco owner I know has had this little problem.  Good luck.

[rccs]

It sounds to me like something on the coupler is in dire need of oiling and/or adjusting. I would not think that the coupler should be that hard to use. Maybe a call to the local Jayco dealer is in order. Good luck.

[flyfisherman]

I basically have to take a hammer to the PUP to force the matter.

Any ideas on how to fix the problem. The PUP's frame is all one piece. No easy fix.

Don't know what brand coupler your Jayco uses (that's the part on the trailer tongue where the hitching ball fits into), but most that I'm familar with have an adjusting nut, located underneath and towards the back. It's usually a bear to get at and always requires me to have to lie on my back, scooch under the unhitched tailer coupler so I can see what I'm doing!  Anyway, it allows you to adjust the "grip" the coupler has on the ball and you can adjust it so it will release easier. Sometimes they have a tendency to tighten up. Just make sure you have the locking nut tight again after your adjustment ... AND, make sure it's not too loose! Afterall, don't want the ball coming out of the locked coupler while your tooling down the road!




Fly

[Kelly]

I have a 1995 Jayco ... and I second (third? fourth?) what everybody else said.  One other thing that has really helped me ... when hitching up really make the coupler "reach" for the ball.  Make sure the front of the coupler is coming down on the TV side of the ball ~ that keeps the latch from engaging too soon and decreases the need for the hammer.  

(I haven't actually needed the hammer since I started hitching up that way.  It's still in the tool bag, though.  :p )

Oh!  and Welcome to PUT!!

[robpoe]

I was going to cut the bolt that holds the thing together (not really a bolt, but a pin that's smashed to hold it in) .. and then clean it all up real purty with a sander, then use good quality grease on it, find a good bolt and re-bolt it back together (with washers, dual nylon locknuts, etc).

My buddy instead put a screwdriver between the slide area, and tweaked it, just a little bit, so it now works smoothly ..

YMMV be careful ..

[csmith2005]

Thanks for your input. I think I probably need to get the PUP to someone that knows what they are doing.  Hopefully I can get it to work for another season and I will trade it in for something that has less headaches.

On another note I do like the PUP, however the kids don't understand why it takes me so long to get going.

Thanks everyone. Pretty much what I suspected.

[Popupper]

do you have the right size ball? 2" of 1-7/8"

[csmith2005]

yea, ball size is 2". I initially did not have much of a problem with hitching / unhitching, just has progressivly become worse to the point where I fight it for about 30-40 minutes everytime I want to hitch or unhitch.

[bountyhunter]

Sounds like you need some WD-40.  Does this camper(hitch is the problem, not the camper) sit outside regularly?  Sounds like the pin got bent at some time, or the adjustment is WAY out of wack.  30-40 minutes to hook or unhook?  Crap, there would be holes in the camper from me loosing my temper after 3-4 minutes with a hammer in my hands!!

[Squall Line]

I bought a used 2001 Jayco. I initally had little trouble hitching and unhitching the PUP. Towards the end of the season it became alomost impossible to get the PUP to latch onto the reciever. Once on it is almost impossible to unhitch the PUP.
 
I basically have to take a hammer to the PUP to force the matter.
 
Any ideas on how to fix the problem. The PUP's frame is all one piece. No easy fix.

HAMERING A HITCH IS NOT GOOD !!!!!!!!!!
As others have posted, you have to adjust the coupling nut to make an easy fit.
Once this is accomplished and it hooks up easily and you are satisfied that it is working well, add a few [3-4] drops of BLUE "LOCTITE" to the nut/bolt connection. This will keep it in place and end the moving of the nut. Let the "LOCTITE " dry for an hour before moving anything. Then keep everything greased up and you'll be good to go !
ONLY USE BLUE "LOCTITE" !!!!!!!!!!

The RED "LOCTITE" will be almost impossible to remove without heating everything with a torch.

GREEN "LOCTITE" forget removing it with out cutting the bolt, it

[csmith2005]

Thanks for everyone's help. Currently the PUP is in storage, but I'll get at it soon.  It appears that there has been other owners that have messed with the nut in the past as it is pretty scrapped up etc. I'll post after the PUP is out of storage in a couple months.

[sandykayak]

yea, ball size is 2". I initially did not have much of a problem with hitching / unhitching, just has progressivly become worse to the point where I fight it for about 30-40 minutes everytime I want to hitch or unhitch.

Got my Jayco Qwest 8U new in 02 and this has been a consistent problem all the time!!!  It seems to need to be approached at just exactly the right angle...or, really, no angle at all.  I use WD-40 and a rubber covered hammer.  Most times I drive back and forth hitting the brakes til it drops.  Real PITA.