Ball Size

[aczlan]

I have the factory 2 inch ball that came with the truck. I have no idea what it is rated for or if it's a good one or not. I've never even heard of a ball that failed. Does that really happen? I guess my lack of knowledge of this happening is what's behind my question. Does a 2 inch ball fail?

Eddie

The weight rating should be stamped into the top of the ball and onto the ball mount.
I wouldn't run one over capacity, but it should be good up to that weight.

Aaron Z

 

[cartod]

I used to have a photo of a ball that broke, I think it might have been the only one that ever failed. :laughing:

The old guys I used to run into when we pulled Airstream trailers always said to change your ball out every ____ years. I don't recall the number. The idea was that something that cheap that withstood that much stress should updated.

 

[s219]

I have heard of all sizes of balls failing, but mainly when used for something that is "not" towing (like as an attachment point when yanking another vehicle out of the mud). Ultimately, the rating probably has to do with the shank and not the ball size. I'd get one from a trusted manufacturer that has the rating stamped on, and wouldn't worry whether it's 2" or 2-5/16" really -- that's more of a convenience/compatibility issue than anything else from my experience. Both sizes can be rated pretty high for towing capacity.

When I bought my new truck that can tow up to 9500# or so, I got all new balls (2" and 2-5/16") and drawbars rated to handle at least that much (I think the balls are rated 11,000# actually, but the drawbars 10,000#). The balls and drawbars I had for my previous tow vehicle were rated closer to the 5000# limit of that old vehicle. I won't necessarily tow up to my new truck's 9500# limit, but I wanted to make sure all the hardware was rated to do so just in case.

 

[dragoneggs]

The trailers I'm looking at mostly need a 2 inch ball. A few say 2 5/16 inch. My truck is a Ford F-150 and I'm wanting to pull a 16 ft stock trailer. It might haul a horse to the vet, or as many as four cows/steers at the most. They all come with one axle having brakes in the price range I'm looking at. $5,000

I'm just wondering if I bought one needing the 2 inch ball, would I run into some trouble down the road? I've rented skid steers and the trailer to haul them, which always takes a 2 5/16 ball, which they have also provided. I just don't know what the advantage is when pulling with a half ton truck?

Thanks,
Eddie

Honestly, I think you are fine with a 2in ball from what you are saying. More universal for sure.

 

[Billrog]

Eddie do you mean your bumper or a receiver hitch on your pick up ? I do not think bumpers are rated for more than about 500#. Both my larger trailers take 2 5/16" balls.

 

[Fallon]

They all come with one axle having brakes in the price range I'm looking at. $5,000

Pulling is easy. Stopping is the hard/scary/important part.

Personally I won't ever buy a trailer with only 50% braking capacity, that's just asking for problems. Pretty darn sure its illegal in most states too. I didn't pay to much attention as it was moot for me, but last I read Oregon & Colorado laws anything over 3k lbs needed brakes on all axles.

 

[MH8675309]

Iv'e got one of those outfits with three different balls that you flip around if you need a different size ball. It was a little pricey but it adjusts up and down for different trailer heights too. The whole thing probably weighs 60 pounds and it is solid steel. You can find just the hitch with three balls for cheaper though.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Pulling is easy. Stopping is the hard/scary/important part.

Personally I won't ever buy a trailer with only 50% braking capacity, that's just asking for problems. Pretty darn sure its illegal in most states too. I didn't pay to much attention as it was moot for me, but last I read Oregon & Colorado laws anything over 3k lbs needed brakes on all axles.

Nope. All the law says in most states is it has brakes and a brake away kit capable of holding the trailer for 15 minutes.

All the 7K trailers I have sold have had brakes on one axle and a 2" coupler rated at 7,500#. Bigger than that get brakes on both and 2 5/16" couplers.

Chris

 

[Looking4new]

Anything over 3,000 lbs MUST have brakes on all the axles if I am going to hook up to it. Period. But that is just me. I have seen some people go down the road with no brakes on trailers, you people have seen them too. They are the ones that end up in trouble on a wet road.

 

[RandyT]

IL is below 3000# no brake requirement, 3000-5000# brakes on one axle, over 5000# brakes on all axles. The thing is at least here, people will buy a 7000# rated tandem axle 16' trailer with no brakes and license it for 3000#, then haul way more than that.