We almost had a REAL disaster while towing on our 4,000 mile trip. When we arrived home as I was checking the various parts of the trailer, hitches, connections, etc. I noticed that the hitch ball was not vertical, it was leaning back at about 10-15 degrees. On inspection I saw that the nut holding the hitch ball on had come almost completely off allowing the ball to wobble back and forth. It was not even finger tight and was about halfway down the threads. It appeared that the ball had not been loose too long as the threads and the hole it fits into on the towing piece were not too badly worn. Had the nut come completely off the ball could have lifted up and out on a rough road and the trailer would have been held only by the safety cables!! The surge brakes always clunk as the actuator slides back and forth and I baby any start to reduce the shock on the towing vehicle so I did not notice anything unusual when I took off from a stop. The ball is good quality, the shaft had a lock washer and nut on that I tightened before beginning the trip. This was our first long tow for the boat but I have towed a travel trailer many thousands of miles and have never had this happen. I have no idea how the nut loosened, I'm just damn glad it didn't come off on I5 at 65 MPH. Lessons learned: Add the trailer ball to the routine checks I make before each day's departure and add a wrench big enough to tighten it to the tool kit.
Just Missed a Real Trailering Disaster
- Thread starter colobear
- Start date
A good reminder, Barry. We do carry a BIG wrench just for that purpose... and have had to use it a couple times while trailering. The first time was heading down Baja with our coach, towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Years ago, early in my photographic career, I had to photograph the results of a Buick Electra 225 coming off the back of tow truck, wiping out a family of 4 in a small car. Things like that stay with you forever.
Glad your timing was such that you discovered it before it became a REAL problem.
Looking forward to hearing about the trip.
Best wishes,
Jim
Years ago, early in my photographic career, I had to photograph the results of a Buick Electra 225 coming off the back of tow truck, wiping out a family of 4 in a small car. Things like that stay with you forever.
Glad your timing was such that you discovered it before it became a REAL problem.
Looking forward to hearing about the trip.
Best wishes,
Jim
smittypaddler
New member
I had a similar experience with the nut for the ball coming loose. Now in addition to checking at each stop for gas, the hubs for heat with my hand, the trailer lights and tires, I also check that nut, and have a wrench in the car to tighten it, though it's never come loose after that one time. It only takes one time, though.
matt_unique
New member
Glad you noticed it in time! Good reminder for me to double check.
Captains Cat
New member
BTW, I picked up a BIG wrench at WalMart, box end, each end fits a different sized ball nut and I've yet to find one that isn't one of the two sizes. Good insurance..
Charlie
Charlie
Boont Boater
New member
Sounds like the moral is to get in touch with your "inner anal retentiveness" when you're towing a trailer. I usually check the hubs but I'll add the ball to my list. Thanks!
Jeff
Jeff
Wow, that is scary. My issue has always been that once a ball goes on, I can't ever get it off, so if I need to switch to 1 7/8 for my utility trailer, I just gave in and bought another receiver. I finally bought one that has the 3 different size balls welded to it. Glad it all turned out well.
starcrafttom
Active member
as dumb as it sounds I always check the lock pin that holds the ball hitch insert. why? because i witness a act of terror on lake folsom. some P.O.S. pulled all the pins in the parking lot while everyone was out boating. one guy made it to the public road before the insert pulled out at a stop sign. he went back to the parking lot and him and the ranger counted 20 plus rigs with the pins pulled. it was not for theft but for fun. could have cost some one thier lives.
starcrafttom":3ekjz8od said:
For that reason I drilled out the pin hole and use a paddle lock in it.
Never seen a nut come loose, fact is if you have a good quality lock washer you’d be hard pressed to remove the ball with a 5 foot cheater.
A good rule of thumb is never re-use a hitch ball. Buy the best quality one you can find from a reputable trailer supply store.
Excellent points. We have different ball/hitches for each trailer. (plus one of the universal 3 way ball hitches).
We carry both the "big wrench" and a 36" pipe wrench--which works wonders when necessary. But the comment to not reuse a ball is certainly an excellent suggestion.
We carry both the "big wrench" and a 36" pipe wrench--which works wonders when necessary. But the comment to not reuse a ball is certainly an excellent suggestion.
Roger beat me to it. Blue Loctite should give you an extra bit of hold. Glad it worked out Barry. That would have been a really crappy way to end what was probably a great trip.
I've gotten into the habit of doing a once over walk around when leaving the house and the ramp, much like a pilot would "pre-flight" his aircraft. Towing can be stressful enough w/out catastrophic events.
I've gotten into the habit of doing a once over walk around when leaving the house and the ramp, much like a pilot would "pre-flight" his aircraft. Towing can be stressful enough w/out catastrophic events.
Montana Kev
New member
The threads on my hitch ball bolt stick out below the nut. I drilled a small hole thru the bolt below the nut and put safety wired thru it. Very common practice on aircraft. Loctite first.
Kevin
Kevin
If someone wanted to steal a boat that has the coupler locked to the hitch, and the stinger locked to the receiver, wouldn't removing the hitch ball be fairly easy and quick? Remove the nut, pick up and or roll the trailer to an awaiting vehicle, drop the ball into an "empty" stinger and go.
I agree that a walk around is essential, and my guess is that we all are pretty good about doing it. That being said, the one thing that probably gets the least attention (at least from me) is the nut on the ball. No longer.
Robbi
I agree that a walk around is essential, and my guess is that we all are pretty good about doing it. That being said, the one thing that probably gets the least attention (at least from me) is the nut on the ball. No longer.
Robbi
Robbi":1hpbg8hm said:
I hadn't really thought of that but you're right (and much smarter than the average criminal). However, usually when I have the boat connected to the truck, I'm not too far away from it and stealing a boat/trailer in that situation would be a lot more obvious to on lookers than simply backing in and hooking up to detached trailer. I'm more worried about the trailer going away when I'm out on the water for a long period of time and it's not connected to the truck.
Robbi":d0sg2io3 said:
No perfect solution Robbi and NOTHING is criminal proof. I use a lock instead of just a pin only because I don't want some POS stealing my relatively expensive ball & ball mount while my truck is used on a daily basis (plus I'm too lazy to pull it/mount it each and every time I use it).
Plus, picking up my trailer w/ the boat on it and rolling it to another truck would be interesting, although not impossible. Now on smaller boats...
El and Bill
New member
WHEW! Thanks for sharing with us.
Pete in NY
New member
colobear":26zqkvkb said:
What is the hole diameter the ball bolts into vs the diameter of the threaded shank of the ball? Repeated start and stop loads the ball in opposite horizontal direction and can impart a rotational force that may be greater than the frictional/clamping force of the nut. If the ball was 10-15 degrees leaning , maybe the ball had too much slop in the hole before tightening.