Inspect your trailers and hitches

[deepNdirt]

Good advise, another thing to keep a watch on is the pin that hold the hitch into the receiver sleeve, I seldom remove this pin because its the locking type that requires a key to remove it, Its been on my truck since the truck was new in 1999, in the beginning I used to take it off to replace with 1 7/8 ball I had mounted onto another hitch for a smaller trailer, but after selling the smaller trailer with 1 7/8 coupler, I had no need to change them out anymore, until 5 years latter when we got our camper that required a 2 1/4 ball, when I removed the the Pin that held the 2" hitch in I seen that on all around the pin were deep 3/16 wear grooves, I'm sure this was due from towing almost Every Day for the past 7-8 years, Before removing the pin I had been noticing a bit of slop in the hitch then it occurred to me why,
I also noted the hitch itself holes had became oval shaped, so i had to replace it as well,

So Yes! as the OP has suggest, it's good practice to periodically inspect all of the towing components,

 

[Travelover]

I shouldn't admit this, as it was one of the dumbest things I've ever done.
Once hooked up a small 5'x8' utility trailer and drove 60 miles .........

Don't feel bad, I drove 250 miles with my travel trailer just sitting on the ball - coupler not locked. It was a little noisy, but I thought it was just the road. Now I drop my tongue jack and jack it lightly to ensure it is locked properly, as a double check.