Check your trailer hitch!

[Matt Garcia]

This weekend I discovered my trailer hitch ball was very loose. It appeared to me that the locking washer and nut that attaches the ball to the hitch was very loose, so loose that it didn't take any effort to unscrew it by hand.

Thankfully a guy next to me that was loading on the ramp noticed it while I was backing down to load my boat, otherwise I would have never known. I typically wouldn't have checked this because I would assume it would always be tight.

I personally would not want to experience what would happen if my trailer ball popped off while towing. Anyway just a heads up for another item to check before you tow.

[Tequilasun]

what would happen if my trailer ball popped off while towing.

We know what would happen, your boat would come loose and wreck into a cattle yard or a cheese factory or an orphanage for lost and displaced subarus or somthing crazy like that, and there would be like 5 Wakeworlder's there to take pictures of it, and the whole thing would be on the internet before the boat stopped moving.

You are correct though, check those hitches people. FWIW, I bent the living daylights out of the threaded bolt part of at trailer ball two years ago. It had come loose just like you describe, and I pulled the boat a little ways with it like that, had to buy an new ball. Stainless 8500lb one this time though, no more cheap towballs.

[G-MONEY]

We know what would happen, your boat would come loose and wreck into a cattle yard or a cheese factory or an orphanage for lost and displaced subarus or somthing crazy like that, and there would be like 5 Wakeworlder's there to take pictures of it, and the whole thing would be on the internet before the boat stopped moving.

You are correct though, check those hitches people. FWIW, I bent the living daylights out of the threaded bolt part of at trailer ball two years ago. It had come loose just like you describe, and I pulled the boat a little ways with it like that, had to buy an new ball. Stainless 8500lb one this time though, no more cheap towballs.

That's only off you forgot to hookup the E-brake and the cables....


we put marine grease on the ball to help reduce the friction that might cause the ball to come loose wile the trailer is turning back and forth during towing...... but you should always check it...

[gman]

Matt,
Also make sure you have the right ball rating for the boat/trailer weight you are towing. The 2 inch ball comes in a 3500, 5000, 6000 and I have seen a 7000lb rating.

[Tequilasun]

That's only off you forgot to hookup the E-brake and the cables....


we put marine grease on the ball to help reduce the friction that might cause the ball to come loose wile the trailer is turning back and forth during towing...... but you should always check it...

I lube my Ball too.

[G-MONEY]

HA HA HA LOL!!!!

[Matt Garcia]

Ha, how did I know someone was going to throw a "ball" joke in here. Kind Ha, how did I know someone was going to throw a "ball" joke in here. I knew it would happen when I mentioned ball and nut.

gman good point, I have the 6000 pound rating.

[Tequilasun]

Ha, how did I know someone was going to throw a "ball" joke in here. Kind Ha, how did I know someone was going to throw a "ball" joke in here. I knew it would happen when I mentioned ball and nut.

gman good point, I have the 6000 pound rating.

I'm like a fat kid to the free snacks, you know what's going to happen, you just can't stop it!

[jleger98]

I've had mine loosen up too. Typically I'll check mine every couple of weeks. Another solution would be to add a second nut (ok Tequila take it away) and tighten them together. This should not be able to loosen up at all. In fact I may try that this summer - if it ever gets here!

[mtnsmith]

Two nuts on the shaft huh?!?!

I figured I'd take that one

[chpthril]

It's also a good idea to put some anti-sieze on the ball stud (he he, I said ball and stud in the same sentance ) I tried to swap my ball over to a drawbar w/ a little more drop and broke my shop vise before the nut broke loose.

[jleger98]

It's also a good idea to put some anti-sieze on the ball stud

If you use anti-sieze, wouldn't that make the thing come loose??



I like the two nuts better (and so does the wife, but I digress). If you do the lock-tight, its damn near impossibly to switch to a new ball. If you use the two nuts, its better for interchanging.

[dogbert]

[QUOTE=Tequilasun;45985We know what would happen, your boat would come loose and wreck into a cattle yard or a cheese factory or an orphanage for lost and displaced subarus or somthing crazy like that, and there would be like 5 Wakeworlder's there to take pictures of it, and the whole thing would be on the internet before the boat stopped moving. [/QUOTE]

Speaking from experience?

[dogbert]

I like the two nuts better (and so does the wife, but I digress). If you do the lock-tight, its damn near impossibly to switch to a new ball. If you use the two nuts, its better for interchanging.

Just as long as you don't get the application of the lock-tight mixed up...

[jleger98]

No doubt Dog. That could get ugly.

Sort of like American Pie 3 which ever one it was - Superglue.....lotion.....hilarious