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Caravan won't unhitch
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Member Since: 17 Mar 2010
Location: Stay at Home. One of the lives you save could be your own.
Posts: 5104

Scotland 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4
Caravan won't unhitch

Has anyone ever had their caravan/trailer refuse to unhitch - and found a solution.

What is happening is that the black handle raises as normal but underneath, the part that slides forward and goes under the lip of the ball does not slide back. As far as I can see (lying in mud and peering upwards with a torch) this sliding bit should be free to move, and in use it is held forward by the spring that raising the black handle pulls back.

It shows no sign of moving even when hit with a drift and a big hammer, so something has gone wonky with it. All ideas welcome!
 A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.  
Post #236302627th Feb 2024 5:32 pm
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JordsDisco
 


Member Since: 22 May 2020
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 1489

United Kingdom 2008 Discovery 3 3.0 SDV6 GS Manual Santorini BlackDiscovery 3

Try winding the jockey wheel up and, when it starts to lift the car, just carry on winding until the hitch and towball part company. Seen it work before, no guarantees.
  
Post #236303327th Feb 2024 6:37 pm
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Hardware
 


Member Since: 28 Jun 2016
Location: Hiding under the M60
Posts: 12711

United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Sumatra BlackDiscovery 4

I have no experience of towing, just trying to think how it could get stuck ... can you rock the Discovery (presumably) backwards/forwards ? or even up/down with the air suspension ?
  
Post #236303427th Feb 2024 6:40 pm
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kevin-t
 


Member Since: 12 Nov 2007
Location: sheffield
Posts: 680

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

Had exactly the same problem last summer Big Cry Big Cry Big Cry

arrived at caravan site Scarborough, could not get the van off the car Whistle Whistle Whistle

Had two or three guys helping me.

In the end I ended up busting the jockey wheel handle trying to free the unit.

Eventually got a piece of wood with a bottle jack fixed under the hitch jacked up high and kept lowering and raising suspension on car. took ages to free it.

These two little Censored was the culprit.

Amazon :Friction Pad Kit Front and Rear Hitch Pads Compatible with Alko AKS 3004 3504 691418 Caravan Stabiliser Spares

Easy fit, cheap as chips, not in my case tho! had to buy a new jockey wheel.

Used van many times since no probs.... Thumbs Up
p.s also changed the side pads whilst at it. very easy also. Thumbs Up

Kevin
 Rangerover sport 4.4 A/B
Discovery3 gone….250k miles. Original engine, and gearbox.
Discovery2
Discovery1 
 
Post #236303527th Feb 2024 6:42 pm
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kevin-t
 


Member Since: 12 Nov 2007
Location: sheffield
Posts: 680

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

This might help show you how to fit..... Thumbs Up

 Rangerover sport 4.4 A/B
Discovery3 gone….250k miles. Original engine, and gearbox.
Discovery2
Discovery1 
 
Post #236303727th Feb 2024 6:47 pm
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Member Since: 17 Mar 2010
Location: Stay at Home. One of the lives you save could be your own.
Posts: 5104

Scotland 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

Thanks for the suggestion folks. It has worked normally for nine years just jumping off when caravan raised on jockey wheel. Not today even with up and down and to and fro on motor mover. Found a chap who knew what to do. Push caravan back on mover, apply handbrake and mover it forward with the small handle pulled up.

The hydraulic damper was pushing the locking ring forward. Oddly, the hitch bits that contact the ball, and the damper, are not on Alko's parts diagram.
 A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.  
Post #236303827th Feb 2024 7:12 pm
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JackNorris
 


Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 HSE Auto Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

I have had the same as above. If you don't have the stabiliser fully up, even if it's a couple of mm down, you'll see the friction pads slide and trap the hitch on the tow vehicle.

You also see similar when the van is holding pressure, either if the handbrake on van has been applied and then vehicle moved forward etc.

I was at Brighton CC when I had the issue I think.
 MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD 
 
Post #236305927th Feb 2024 10:46 pm
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Member Since: 17 Mar 2010
Location: Stay at Home. One of the lives you save could be your own.
Posts: 5104

Scotland 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

Although the stabiliser pads were not the cause in this case I have found out that they can break up and jam the hitch in a similar manner.
 A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.  
Post #236309328th Feb 2024 11:53 am
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