Securing trailer balls

[CCWKen]

I just get my B.I.L. to tighten mine.

We were installing a receiver hitch on his truck once and he didn't have a torque wrench. The bolts were new 9/16" grade-8 and he asked how tight should they be. I told him to get them as tight as you can with the 1/2" ratchet. He promptly sheared the bolt just before where it entered the nut. I'm glad I wasn't close when it let go. I heard a pop and the nut and lock washer ricocheting under the truck. I bought him a torque wench for Christmas after that.

 

[aczlan]

Never had an issue with one coming loose, but I tighten them by putting the ball mount in sideways and put all my weight on the wrench.

Aaron Z

 

[sklunk]

We got slightly off topic talking about keeping the balls locked in the mount (I don't think that's what the OP asked about) but tons of good info! If you are really worried about the ball coming loose from the hitch you can get ones where the ball is permanently attached (most of the dual and triple ones are this way). You can also Google "locking ball mount" and some other options will come up. Also Reese now makes ball mounts with a hex machined into them. The ball then has a mating hex that locks it into the mount when you tighten it (but you have to buy the balls from Reese as well):

Reese Towpower 2 1/2 in. drop Interlock hitch ball mount 219- ReadReviews onReese Towpower #219
(one example but they make larger capacities)

 

[Midniteoyl]

How do you guys secure trailer balls? I have had them come loose in the past and it is always a fear of mine so I always put a a small tack weld between the nut and threads after I torque it down. I don't get it hot enough to affect the temper of the ball just enough weld to prevent it from unthreading. Was talking to a buddy and he said he tacks the base of the ball to the mount so he can tighten the nut without it rotating then tacks the nut to the bottom of the mount without using a lock washer. Just curious what others are doing.

Use a Jam Nut..

 

[MESSMAKER]

Jam nut and some safety wire or lock tite.

 

[CanDo]

Wow! Good topic - and good posts. I just never thought about it before!

I've always just used a big lock washer that comes with the ball and then tightened the snot out of the nut with my biggest breaker bar. Never have had a problem. However, reading these posts makes me realize that the trailer with a coupler that is adjusted to tight could grab onto the ball and act as breaker bar that is a heck of a lot longer than what I will have used.

I don't like the idea of welding or otherwise buggering up the threads as I have changed them around when I've gotten a new vehicle that needs a different drop distance.

Loctite alone might not be sufficient as Loctite's own literature says that the breakaway force required is somewhere around 250-300 lb/in. Check out the Loctite info here: http://www.loctiteproducts.com/tds/T_LKR_RED_tds.pdf
Many of us have cussed a bit as we've worked to get a nut or bolt loose that has been put on with Loctite but they will come loose if enough force is used (if they don't snap first.)

Perhaps drilling and wire or pin... Gotta think about it but in the meantime I'll just have to keep an eye out - which should be easy enough as I don't leave the hitch in the receiver until I need to pull a trailer.

Again, interesting topic.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Lock washer and good torque is usually enough.

Yep. Never had a problem. Don't know what the big deal is. Some of y'all must be doing something wrong.

 

[Travelover]

Yep. Never had a problem. Don't know what the big deal is. Some of y'all must be doing something wrong.

We are coming into the slow season. Time to start solving problems that don't exist.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep. Never had a problem. Don't know what the big deal is. Some of y'all must be doing something wrong.

I've seen them come off. My 18,000# trailer could loosen a ball in 600 miles. I finally drilled the nut and shank and put a cotter pin in it. It still spun the ball on the Mount. At that point we gave up and welded it about 1" on each side and problem solved.

Never say never.

 

[Turbys_1700]

If you pull a trailer more than occasionally it can happen. I've been on the farm all of my 57 years. Stuff happens even with the best of precautions.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I pull regularly. Haven't seen a problem yet. Oh, well.

 

[Morning Wood]

I put the bar in the truck and use a 3/4" welded ratchet with a cheater bar and crank on it as hard as I can. After 1 winter of salt that thing is never coming loose

 

[Cord]

We are coming into the slow season. Time to start solving problems that don't exist.

See post #17 and then tell me how the problem "Doesn't exist".

 

[cat fever]

I'm going to put myself in the lucky category; I pull all the time and have never had a problem.
One example of a typical load.

 

[Midniteoyl]

See post #17 and then tell me how the problem "Doesn't exist".

Well, that looks more like you failed to check the trailer, and possibly the load, during pit stops as you should do. The ball should also be greased.

 

[bdog]

Trailer balls coming loose isn't a daily occurrence but it does happen. Many forum memebers tow infrequently and it never may be an issue or they are real meticulous and check it before every trip which is always a good idea. We have some trailers that get pulled over 1000 miles a week on a regular basis. With that much use and heavy tongue weights the balls can work loose. Not daily, not weekly, not even really monthly but I have seen it happen. For what it is worth I got the gooseneck ball I was concerned about in the original post as tight as I could with my impact and put two small tack welds in the threads to the nut.

I never move trailer balls. I either cut them off and replace them when worn out or buy a new one if I need to use it somewhere else.

 

[Travelover]

See post #17 and then tell me how the problem "Doesn't exist".

If it was a wide spread problem, they'd come with cotter pins and castle nuts - the ball manufacturer's lawyers would make them. Like others have said, a little common caution and maintenance and your problems are elsewhere.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Piloon's suggestion of altering the threads works great. After using a cheater bar to get the nut tight first. I take a chisel or punch and mess the threads up right under the nut.

 

[yomax4]

In the land of 10.000 lakes there are a Lot of boat trailers. Not much mentioned about trailer balls coming loose but there is a lot of mention of thieves removing the ball nut to steal a trailer. We hot tack the nut to the hitch in several spots to spare the threads. If you need to take the ball of you can easily remove the weld with a cutoff wheel. Sad to have to do this but it's a different world out there now.

 

[Cord]

5 minutes of Google searching turned up these:
RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Towing: Nut backed off ball caused accident
Check your trailer hitch ball. - Moderated Discussion Areas

Convert-A-Ball Interchangeable Ball Set - 1-7/8", 2" Balls - 3/4" XL Shank - Nickel Convert-A-Ball Balls 8B
Tow Ready Hitch Ball - 3,5 lbs Tow Ready Balls 63912
Switch Ball Sets