Hitch ball / coupler near disaster

[workinonit]

For lubrication pretty much anything is better than WD40.

 

[MH8675309]

I used to spray WD40 on the ball and the hitch; that solved all of my “stuck hitch” problems.

What he said. Just about anything mechanical needs lubrication from time to time

 

[zzvyb6]

The fork is bent from dropping the coupler on the ball when it was closed/latched. Change it out with new part(s).

 

[WinterDeere]

Thank you for the replies. It is a light duty dump trailer. 5x10 with 5,000# payload capacity.

Tongue weight? I don't know but the dump function could not raise the load until I raked some material out and I also charged the battery.

Standard gross trailer weights are based on the sum of axle capacity, and standard axles are 3500#, 5000#, etc. A dump trailer with a 5000# payload rating is likely grossing at least 7000# (two 3500# axles), if not 10000# (two 5000# axles).

I will get some pictures of the coupler. I have used WD40 but wondered if grease is better.

Yes, you should always grease your trailer ball and hitch components, but it's so damn messy that many choose to just do without, and replace components as they wear. I use a regular NLGI #2 grease on the ball (a squirt from the grease gun, smeared over the ball with my finger), and a lighter lithium spray grease in an aerosol can for the working bits of a bulldog type hitch. I don't bother lubing the working bits of regular lever hitches, they pick up enough grease under them from the ball to not have to bother.

Carry a hitch ball condom for each hitch, if you do this. It's the only way to keep the crap off your interior if you remove the hitch and stow under back seat, when not in use. I hate leaving hitches in their receivers, as I or others will always bang a shin on them.

 

[plowhog]

I hate leaving hitches in their receivers, as I or others will always bang a shin on them.

Years ago, I had just freshly greased a hitch ball that was still in the receiver hitch on the back of this same truck.

Then my friends wife walked past it, wearing white pants, and getting a little too close. She wasn't a happy camper.

btw this trailer has a placard saying 5,000 payload only if evenly dispersed ...

 

[WinterDeere]

Yeah, wasn't arguing with you on the payload, just trying to guess actual GTW based on that number. If it can handle 5000# payload, then it must have at least tandem 3500# axles. But given the weight of a dump body, cylinder, batteries, all that jazz... it might even be a 10k trailer, in order to achieve 5000 lb. payload.

It's possible it's a 10k trailer by axle rating, but the dump body is limited to 5000 lb. GTW might come in around 8000 lb, with 5000 lb. payload, given assumptions about the weight of the trailer itself.

 

[dodge man]

It’s probably a 7000 pound trailer but they are easy to overload.

 

[plowhog]

It’s probably a 7000 pound trailer but they are easy to overload.

This says 7,000 gross weight and 5,200 payload.

 

[ruffdog]

The fork is bent from dropping the coupler on the ball when it was closed/latched. Change it out with new part(s).

Agree....something sure isn't working like it should. The OP should lay on his back and take a good look at it from below.

 

[CliffordK]

Standard gross trailer weights are based on the sum of axle capacity, and standard axles are 3500#, 5000#, etc. A dump trailer with a 5000# payload rating is likely grossing at least 7000# (two 3500# axles), if not 10000# (two 5000# axles).

There is a lot that goes into the "payload".
Axle weight rating
Tire weight rating
(perhaps rim weight rating)
Trailer Coupler weight rating.
For the dump, one should have hydraulics that are capable of lifting the load.
The frame should also be strong enough to carry the weight. A 20,000 pound equipment trailer will be much heavier than a 5,000 pound utility trailer.

Then as mentioned in a few posts, the trailers can be massively heavy. So, it wouldn't be unexpected for an all steel dump trailer to weigh a ton. Thus, a 7,000 pound GVWR rating on the trailer, and a 5,000 pound weight rating for the cargo.

Then, of course, there is
Trailer ball weight rating (on vehicle).
Vehicle hitch weight rating (also on vehicle)
And, whatever the vehicle is rated to tow.

A yard of gravel is between 2,400 and 2,900 lbs.

So, 2 yards and one has a load.