Watch your balls

gilbertmsg · Nov 20, 2010

Made my first trailer mistake this morning. I have a 12' landscape trailer and a 18' dove tail equipment trailer. The 12 footer uses a 2" ball and the 18 footer uses a 2 5/16" inch ball. About 2 weeks a ago used the smaller trailer to take old piano to Salvation Army. Unhooked trailer and did not put larger ball back on truck. Hooked up equipment trailer to go pick up round hay bales this morning. Made it about 1/4 mile from the house and lost trailer. Safety chains held trailer until I slowed to stop. Only damage was the cover for my Ultra Fab electric jack. Felt like a dumba$$. I will always look at my balls before hooking up anything. Could have been worse if I had made to the main road.

Be Carefull All

Eddie

jake98 · Nov 20, 2010

I dropped one right in my yard this year. Thought it had set all the way on the hitch but it didn't. My jack was like a sub-soiler for about six feet..
I think that was the first for me too.

Diamondpilot · Nov 20, 2010

Its happened more than once. My friend was just taking a boat out of the lake to the parking lot. He hitched up his trailer and forgot to latch it down and did not bother with the brake away, light hook up, or safety chains but had the right size ball. Anyway the trailer came off on the boat ramp with no boat on it. It stopped when it hit the curb about 10' from going in the lake.

Chris

mojoinco · Nov 21, 2010

Watch the pin actually going through the ball carrier too (those nice adjustable height aluminum carriers have a short stinger). Finally got to test out how well safety chains worked. I bought the owner of the 0.5 mile old trailer a nice dinner. That would be SWMBO.

I know the dumba$$ feeling all too well.

Ken45101 · Nov 21, 2010

Considering how critical it is, I am amazed that couplers are not marked as to size.

I also think that it's stupid that they are still manufacturing 1-7/8" couplers.

Ken

Diamondpilot · Nov 21, 2010

Ken45101 said:
Considering how critical it is, I am amazed that couplers are not marked as to size.

I also think that it's stupid that they are still manufacturing 1-7/8" couplers.

Ken

I agree. I had one trailer with a 1 7/8" couple on it and the first thing I did was change it out to 2"

Chris

Duffster · Nov 21, 2010

I know where my balls are at all times.

2458n · Nov 21, 2010

Small trailers need small balls. If people had the ability to hook up a 2 5/16" ball to a Astro Van somebody would be pulling a backhoe with it .

RadarTech · Nov 21, 2010

I had a friend many years ago, now gone to guard the Perly Gates.
He was a retired Marine MGYSGT.
He had 5 trailers.

3 different ball sizes.
1 7/8, 2 and 2 5/8

One day I helped him move some junk and we used his old single axle utility. As we were hooking it up to his truck, he told me to grab the green ball mount.

When I did I noticed the trailer had a green trailer light wiring support bracket. It looked very well placed as to mean not out of place.

The hitch bar had a green reflector.

The 2 inch was yellow, and the 2 5/8 was red.

He told me that on two occasions he almost lost a trailer. Then he came up with this system. And found reflective paint for night use.

I have never had the need for multiple hitch balls, but have always remembered this idea..

The ole Master Guns was a highly intelligent and very ingenious fellow.

Maybe this idea will help you or someone else!

cubcadet69 · Nov 21, 2010

i did the same thing about 20 years ago with a 17/8 ball good thing i had chains lol

Canada_CT230 · Nov 21, 2010

I was thinking the same. Paint the ball and tongues different colors.

Ken45101 · Nov 21, 2010

2458n said:
Small trailers need small balls. If people had the ability to hook up a 2 5/16" ball to a Astro Van somebody would be pulling a backhoe with it .

If it has a receiver on it, you can still put a 2 5/16" ball on an Astro van. As other threads have shown, nothing stops the uninformed from doing stupid things. Even so, I will still challenge the need for 1 7/8" couplers.

As we were hooking it up to his truck, he told me to grab the green ball mount.

When I did I noticed the trailer had a green trailer light wiring support bracket. It looked very well placed as to mean not out of place.

Great idea, thanks for sharing. I'm going to pick up some colored tape to do that with.

Ken

RadarTech · Nov 21, 2010

Ken45101 said:
If it has a receiver on it, you can still put a 2 5/16" ball on an Astro van. As other threads have shown, nothing stops the uninformed from doing stupid things. Even so, I will still challenge the need for 1 7/8" couplers.

Great idea, thanks for sharing. I'm going to pick up some colored tape to do that with.

Ken

1 7/8 balls... Small atv trailers. Little cars.. That little john boat my neighbor pulled with his ford escort.
The trailer an elderly neighbor put his battery powered cart on. She only had a civic.

So mostly the small balls for the tiny stuff we would never use any way..

Personally, I don't like to use a big trailer for something small!

Make any better sense?

radioman · Nov 21, 2010

sorry guys- I am in other group- I dont think we really need 1 7/8 any more. There seems to be more and more vehicles on the road not capable of towing anything anyways. I'd say we should have 2" and up balls only. Even with lightweight stuff, the 2" is such a common ball its not any cheaper or easier with smaller ball.

ultrarunner · Nov 21, 2010

Ken45101 said:
Considering how critical it is, I am amazed that couplers are not marked as to size.

I also think that it's stupid that they are still manufacturing 1-7/8" couplers.

Ken

I've got trailers with 5 different ball sizes...

1" ball is the smallest for my Heilite Tent Trailer.

1 3/4 ball for a Model A Utility trailer...

plus the modern ones.

Big Wave D · Nov 21, 2010

Okay Ultrarunner, you win (so far), even though there is no prize.

Can anyone top 5 sizes????

Pintle hitches won't count for this 'contest'.

grnspot110 · Nov 21, 2010

I've changed all my trailers to 2" coupler & the same tongue hight, never pull the drawbar from the receiver (bolted in). ~~ gernspot110

bigtiller · Nov 21, 2010

I think painting them different colors is not a good idea. A lot of us - ME - can not tell the difference between green and red. Numbers or letters work a lot better.