Vertical Play at the hitch and ball

[capnTelescope]

I've got about a quarter inch of vertical play when the hitch is on the TV ball. Is that good, bad or indifferent?

There is an adjustment.

[aggie79]

Cap'n,
I snug down the adjustment so there is minimal detectable slack. I used to go beyond that to no slack but found that sometimes I couldn't latch the coupler later on for some reason. I do use a dab of all purpose grease in the ball even though it is messy. Also, I found that the stamped steel couplers take a little use to "seat" which opens up the clearances and causes a need to readjust.
Take care,
Tom

[halfdome, Danny]

Check to see if your ball and coupler are indeed the same size, been there done that.
Danny

[capnTelescope]

Thanks Danny & Tom.

Check to see if your ball and coupler are indeed the same size, been there done that.
Danny

Apparently this is a common mistake. Excellent point, but no cigar. Read on.

I used to go beyond that to no slack but found that sometimes I couldn't latch the coupler later on for some reason.

I had the same problem on the first few hookups. So I loosened up.

Also, I found that the stamped steel couplers take a little use to "seat" which opens up the clearances and causes a need to readjust.

I suspected the same thing was going on with my coupler after running around town getting weighed, etc. By that time I'd already made the adjustment and didn't know what to expect.

I do use a dab of all purpose grease in the ball even though it is messy.

A good practice, I think. Just wipe off the ball when you're done towing. Try not to wipe it on your pants.

Thanks again!

[lrrowe]

I just made the stupid mistake of using my 2" ball on my 2 5/8" CT last week. Very dumb and sloppy checking on my part. I am luckly nothing bad happened. Now I know why I kept hearing clunking sounds coming from the trailer. And I have been pulling trailers for over 50 years.

[halfdome, Danny]

I use something like this to keep the rattles down to a minimum so if something was wrong I'd know it.

Danny

[Nobody]

I just made the stupid mistake of using my 2" ball on my 2 5/8" CT last week. Very dumb and sloppy checking on my part. I am luckly nothing bad happened. Now I know why I kept hearing clunking sounds coming from the trailer. And I have been pulling trailers for over 50 years.

Think maybe you meant to say 2 5/16" ball/coupler. Don't believe I've ever seen a 2 5/8" ball, at least in the USA??

[lrrowe]

I just made the stupid mistake of using my 2" ball on my 2 5/8" CT last week. Very dumb and sloppy checking on my part. I am luckly nothing bad happened. Now I know why I kept hearing clunking sounds coming from the trailer. And I have been pulling trailers for over 50 years.

Think maybe you meant to say 2 5/16" ball/coupler. Don't believe I've ever seen a 2 5/8" ball, at least in the USA??

Yep....I was just testing. Thanks.
See how bad my days go sometimes.

[capnTelescope]

Think maybe you meant to say 2 5/16" ball/coupler. Don't believe I've ever seen a 2 5/8" ball, at least in the USA??

Some of us just didn't know better.

[Treeview]

A 2" hitch on an 1 7/8" ball will work...until a big bump!

My Kamparoo has 1 7/8" and my utility trailer 2".

I painted 1 7/8" the receiver and hitch white to avoid confusion.

Tom

[Alan_H]

Bring it up to snug, but not overly tight. Also, always use a coupler pin on the trailer latch to keep it from opening.

Too much slack can lead to very bad results. Also, too much slack, or too tight of a connection leads to accelerated wear as well.

We build our own to save some $$'s but they still are a valuable investment. Might as well not take chances when towing them to our favorite camping spots.

[lrrowe]

A 2" hitch on an 1 7/8" ball will work...until a big bump!

My Kamparoo has 1 7/8" and my utility trailer 2".

I painted 1 7/8" the receiver and hitch white to avoid confusion.

Tom

I like the painting idea. Thanks
But then again, I think I will replace the 3 sizes HF hitch with a higher quality single size one. With paint and a more conscious effort to pick out the right hitch could be safer in the long run. I never was really that comfortable with the HF anyway.

[capnTelescope]

Bring it up to snug, but not overly tight. Also, always use a coupler pin on the trailer latch to keep it from opening.

That pretty well covers the bases. I guess "overly tight" would be where you have a hard time closing the latch.

I painted 1 7/8" the receiver and hitch white to avoid confusion.

and

I like the painting idea. Thanks

+1, and I only have one size to worry about. I will try to keep it that way.

[Dale M.]

Two things in life I wish they had standardized ... One is one size only for hitch/trailer ball... And other is quick disconnect/connect air chucks for air pressure systems...

Dale

[Treeview]

When I extend the tongue on my Kamaproo it will have a 2" hitch.

I like common things too.

Tom