Ball and Hitch

Abbeysdad · 07-23-09, 11:21 PM

I hooked up the trailer today - the tongue goes all the way down on the ball and the 'lock' flips over and clicks in fine (and I pin it) but when I look under, it looks like the semi-circle mechanism rides a bit high up on the ball. It's nice and tight where it is, just seems a bit high.
Is this normal? (I guess I always thought this should be down around the neck of the ball).
It feels really secure and I towed it that way w/o any trouble, but wanna make sure I don't do something dumb for lack of a simple adjustment.

bamabassman · 07-23-09, 11:31 PM

post a pic ofr us dady-o. but i think it's ok.

1FASTLASER · 07-24-09, 07:10 AM

Thats the way the design is bud. If its snugg with no or very very little movement your ok. I have mine tight enough I have to force the lock over. Would rather it be a bit snugg then loose

Abbeysdad · 07-24-09, 08:46 AM

Thanks - I feel better now... It just seemed that even if it's 'tight', it was high up on the ball... so I was thinking, shouldn't this be down further under the shoulder (or around the neck) of the ball to further ensure it can't come up 'n pop off.

Abbeysdad · 07-25-09, 04:18 PM

As you can see, although snug and ball feels tight, the mechanism is high up on the ball...I wonder if I should back off that nut so the lock rides lower on the ball (assuming it remains tight when closed???? Or is the adjustment procedure to close and latch the lock, then tighten the nut until it makes firm contact with the ball (in which case, I'm okay where it is)?
(note that for the purpose of the picture I used another 2" ball (not connected to the hitch) so I could get a better field of view for the camera.)

The more I look at it, the more I think I should be on the low side of the ball, not where it is.???

bamabassman · 07-25-09, 11:14 PM

nope, that ain't right. needs adjusting.

Abbeysdad · 07-27-09, 08:57 AM

Well, I crawled under there and looked again and am comfortable that the adjustment is okay - the camera angle distorts the actual position of the mechanism which seems to cradle the ball nicely.
Thank-you for all the feedback - I'm really green to boat/trailer and looking to make sure I don't make a costly rookie mistake.

Edit: not liking the crusty/rusty under there and need to get some oil/grease there to stop it!

boater · 07-27-09, 07:24 PM

What size is the ball? if it is a 1 and 7/8 is a 2 inch couples that might cause it

WTL · 07-27-09, 07:31 PM

Wouldn't freak out about the rust. I mean you can clean it if its a personal way, but it will take 100 years for that to rust through.

You might try, just as an academic experiment, backing that nut off 3 turns, then hooking it back up. If it seems even more secure or to your liking, keep that setting, if not, tighten it 3 turns and fish on.

07-23-09, 11:21 PM	#1
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	Ball and Hitch I hooked up the trailer today - the tongue goes all the way down on the ball and the 'lock' flips over and clicks in fine (and I pin it) but when I look under, it looks like the semi-circle mechanism rides a bit high up on the ball. It's nice and tight where it is, just seems a bit high. Is this normal? (I guess I always thought this should be down around the neck of the ball). It feels really secure and I towed it that way w/o any trouble, but wanna make sure I don't do something dumb for lack of a simple adjustment.

07-23-09, 11:31 PM	#2
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	post a pic ofr us dady-o. but i think it's ok. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

07-24-09, 07:10 AM	#3
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	Thats the way the design is bud. If its snugg with no or very very little movement your ok. I have mine tight enough I have to force the lock over. Would rather it be a bit snugg then loose __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

07-25-09, 04:18 PM	#5
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	As you can see, although snug and ball feels tight, the mechanism is high up on the ball...I wonder if I should back off that nut so the lock rides lower on the ball (assuming it remains tight when closed???? Or is the adjustment procedure to close and latch the lock, then tighten the nut until it makes firm contact with the ball (in which case, I'm okay where it is)? (note that for the purpose of the picture I used another 2" ball (not connected to the hitch) so I could get a better field of view for the camera.) The more I look at it, the more I think I should be on the low side of the ball, not where it is.??? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Abbeysdad; 07-25-09 at 05:00 PM.

07-25-09, 11:14 PM	#6
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	nope, that ain't right. needs adjusting. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

07-24-09, 08:46 AM	#4
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	Thanks - I feel better now... It just seemed that even if it's 'tight', it was high up on the ball... so I was thinking, shouldn't this be down further under the shoulder (or around the neck) of the ball to further ensure it can't come up 'n pop off.

07-27-09, 08:57 AM	#7
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	Well, I crawled under there and looked again and am comfortable that the adjustment is okay - the camera angle distorts the actual position of the mechanism which seems to cradle the ball nicely. Thank-you for all the feedback - I'm really green to boat/trailer and looking to make sure I don't make a costly rookie mistake. Edit: not liking the crusty/rusty under there and need to get some oil/grease there to stop it! Last edited by Abbeysdad; 07-27-09 at 09:40 AM.

07-27-09, 07:24 PM	#8
boater BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: O'Fallon Missouri Posts: 283	What size is the ball? if it is a 1 and 7/8 is a 2 inch couples that might cause it

07-27-09, 07:31 PM	#9
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	Wouldn't freak out about the rust. I mean you can clean it if its a personal way, but it will take 100 years for that to rust through. You might try, just as an academic experiment, backing that nut off 3 turns, then hooking it back up. If it seems even more secure or to your liking, keep that setting, if not, tighten it 3 turns and fish on. __________________ Selling live waterdogs for less since 2005.

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