Anybody use Back Up Balls?

[Willl]

which change for every situation.

I think I married her sister.

 

[kidr]

Good thing there's no female moderators...ay yi yi.

I mounted a large truck mirror on my horse trailer angled so I can see the hitch..Cleaned up my vocabulary considerably.

 

[firemanpat2910]

my f250 has the backup sensors so it beeps at an increasing rate as you get close to an object. I know the tone each trailer makes when the ball is directly under the hitch. I make my workers mad every time they try and help me line up. The best is when there 2 or more of them all trying to help and they are giing different directions, and conflicting instructions. I just smile and go right under the hitch. Now that Ive said that I have to go hook to a 24' tag along with a kubota already on it so watch it take me 4 tries to line it up LOL. It does help that I hook to 10 different trailers and been doing it for 30 years.

 

[EddieWalker]

I line up on my fenders and use my side mirrors to keep me centered. Then when I start getting close, I go slower and slower until I feel the small bump of the trailer touching my bumper. Isn't that why it's called a bumper? LOL Then I pull forward an inch and I'll be just about right. Usually I only hook up the trailers when they are empty, so I can fudge it a bit to get them over the ball by hand.

Eddie

 

[weldingisfun]

Garden rake.

I carry a garden rake in the bed of my truck. When hooking up to one of my cargo trailers (can't see them in the rearview mirror, too low) I lean the rake against the trailer hitch and back up to it. When it moves a tad, I'm there.

 

[Soundguy]

I used to try to get my wife to help me back it up, but she has a special feminine set of hand signals, which change for every situation.

My wife .. and my stepfather are like that... I hate having either of them try to give me signals to do anything... Luckilly. as another poster said.. my 'computer' works fairly decent.. and I hitch and unhitch many times a week.

soundguy

 

[NHbotanut]

I decided to invest in the backup camra from Walmart after watching a freind use his. Camera was $80.00 and took 15 minutes to install. As I have 3 different trailers, guessing and constanly stop & Look got old, fast! Now I hook up quock & Easy. I also like when I am backing down the drive I can see if any kids or dogs are around.

 

[QuickBite]

First let me say that I am the inventor of Quickbite (somewhat bias) so you will need to check them out for yourself. If you check out all the great features of the coupler you will find out that whatever system you use to hook up easier, the balls or even the cameras. Quickbite makes it easier and you never have to worry about your trailer coming loose. If you have ever had one come loose, you know what I am talking about. If you haven't had one come loose and you pull much, chances are you will no matter how safe you are.

You know unless you measure your couplers capture area everytime you hook up, the only way to know that an old style coupler is worn out is when it comes loose. Just hope that no one gets killed.

Someone mentioned they didn't want anyone to see them using the balls. If you can get it close without using anything, then you will not need our built in alignment rods and you can imagine how good you look when you just back right in and hook up before you ever get out of the truck. It really impresses people. You hook up just like the big rigs.

Just google quickbite couplers and you will see what I mean.

 

[CampD]

I think we divide in two distinct groups here.

Guys who attach trailers all the time and just don't need any stinking little yellow balls, and guys who attach trailers a few times a year and need all the help they can get.

Before I got my yellow balls, I would phone my truck driver neighbor and he would come over and back my truck perfectly under the hitch. Of course, I was watching and signaling to him.

I used to try to get my wife to help me back it up, but she has a special feminine set of hand signals, which change for every situation.

I'd much rather get in and out of the truck a few times then use those special feminine hands any day. They always give a few extra hand signals

 

[Redbug]

I have tried the Back Up balls, and another magnet/stick type system...but I like using the Quick Align Hitch Mirror better. The mirror can be angled, hooks on the tailgate, or suction cupped to the window...

Quick-Align Hitch Mirror

 

[kebo]

I have tried the Back Up balls, and another magnet/stick type system...but I like using the Quick Align Hitch Mirror better. The mirror can be angled, hooks on the tailgate, or suction cupped to the window...

Quick-Align Hitch Mirror

They now have fairly inexpensive backup cameras that you can install on your rig. They have an LCD screen that mounts up in the cab for the driver to see the hitch and trailer. The camera mounts to a frame that goes over the license plate. I guess that would work 95% of time except for when the license plate was mounted offcenter somewhere. Anybody tried one of those yet???

 

[Ken45101]

Ah! Nice to know that my wife is normal...or at least typical

For the gooseneck trailers, I stretch a rubber bungee across side to side and tie a bit of haystring in the center. When I touch the bungee, I'm there.

Ken

 

[JB4310]

When I first saw this thread I laughed and thought that's for Sissy's, never needed any help to couple my truck to my dump trailer, it's a little easier with pintle set up IMO. I'd just line up the fenders equally in my mirrors and at least I'd be right on for windage, the yardage (distance) between the two is more difficult but usually just go by the bump. There have been times where it took me several trips in and out of truck to get it right especially if a straight in approach was not possible.

I just got a 20 ft equipment trailer that has a 2-5/16's ball coupler, I could change it to pintel but for now I want to try the ball set up to keep things a little tighter as I get used to my first long trailer.
I can see it will be more difficult to get right over the ball, even though my very first attempt I hit it close where a little kick got it to drop on, that was empty trailer, with a weighted tongue I'm sure it will be harder to move.

I remembered this thread, so for my maiden voyage I went straight to harbor freight with unloaded trailer and got a "pair of balls" the tag on the shelf said 14.99 but checked out at 9.99.

Haven't tried them yet but can see the trouble finding a level spot to set them, I think I found the right spots and it should make for quick coupling

JB.

 

[trye101]

Obviously no one here has used Backup Ball becouse they are not the cheap ones you get at harbor freight with cheap antenna. I have used them and they are well made from fiberglass and have a clipping system that does NOT use magnets and they glow in the dark. It is way cheaper than a divorce and works GREAT!

Ball Hitch: Backup Balls for Ball Hitch and Trailer Coupler, Fits Any Trailer Coupler System, Hitch Ball

 

[JB4310]

Obviously no one here has used Backup Ball becouse they are not the cheap ones you get at harbor freight with cheap antenna. I have used them and they are well made from fiberglass and have a clipping system that does NOT use magnets and they glow in the dark. It is way cheaper than a divorce and works GREAT!

Ball Hitch: Backup Balls for Ball Hitch and Trailer Coupler, Fits Any Trailer Coupler System, Hitch Ball

Welcome to TBN,

Company rep? If so and we're using a trade marked name improperly, I'm sorry. I never knew there was any other maker of the hitch alignment balls.

The product shown in your link looks well made and I would have seriously considered them over the cheaper Harbor (China) Freight ones. But the magnets seem to work for my needs for now, I set them so when The trailer coupler is right over the ball the indicator will be nudged forward a tad, only used them once so far but worked first time.

JB.

 

[Soundguy]

Yeah.. I'd have to agree.. with that terse rebuttal message.. I'd have to say there is some financial or other link to the co. in question... reminds me of an infomercial..

soundguy

 

[JB4310]

This is quoted from the site:

"Back-up Balls is a trailer loading device used to align any ball hitch to any trailer coupler"

It does not provide any assistance to pintle hitch users, where as the magnet ones would.

I do have sympathy for the company if they invented the idea and had it stolen by a Chinese manufacturer, but I like the magnets and don't mind the fact that they are cheaply made with an antenna.

My friend has a small shop that makes specialty magnesium nuts and bolts through a hot injection process, he went to a trade show one year and all these Chinese guys were taking his samples, well the next year he sees all his parts offered by the Chinese manufacturers. some of these products were 50 years in the making with his father designing the machines to make the parts, and in one year they were ripped off by the Chinese (that's not what he calls them).

JB.

 

[chh]

The license plate mount cameras work pretty good. My F-350 has a blank spot that the LCD fits perfectly on. I hardwired mine in to one of the upfitter switches on the dash. Works good that way and lets me see what is behind me before I put the truck in reverse. I have a feedbox on my flatbed so rear visiblity is very limited.
If I got another one though I think it would have the magnet mount camera. It could be switched from truck to truck and the camera used on the gooseneck and bumper ball both.

 

[newbury]

The license plate mount cameras work pretty good. My F-350 has a blank spot that the LCD fits perfectly on. I hardwired mine in to one of the upfitter switches on the dash. Works good that way and lets me see what is behind me before I put the truck in reverse. I have a feedbox on my flatbed so rear visiblity is very limited.
If I got another one though I think it would have the magnet mount camera. It could be switched from truck to truck and the camera used on the gooseneck and bumper ball both.

Trying to keep the thread count down - Any recommendation for brand etc of backup camera?

For instance:
Amazon.com: WIRELESS BACKUP CAMERA: Patio, Lawn & Garden - $70 - Crappy reviews

Amazon.com: 4UCAM 7" LCD Wireless Truck RV Backup Rear view Camera With Color LCD Monitor + Night Vision: Home & Garden - $210 - great reviews

 

[tommu56]

I got one of the mirror thingys for on your tail gate off ebay and used it last week it worked great to stop directly over he ball.
The field of view to the rear isn't that great but when you are with in 12 " you can see the ball and receiver and loking down on ball and hitch it is amazingly accurate.

tom