A few of you might remember me mentioning how my enclosed trailer knocked itself of the ball a while back. Diesel, AndyZ, and a couple others told me to check my coupler/ball size, and I did–sort of.
Anyway I took the trailer to the local hitch place (guy that runs it is a grump, but very knowledgeable)…he took one look at the hook-up and said “That coupler’s for a 2 5/16″ ball.” I asked how he knew and he showed me the fine print stamped into the top of the coupler!
Keep in mind there’s a large “Warning! 2″ Ball Required” sticker on the side of the coupler, and the trailer store had sold me a 2″ drawbar with this thing! I’ve been driving around for eight months with the wrong size ball!
Needless to say I went straight home and corrected the problem and I haven’t had any problems since. Thanks for y’all bugging me mentally til I did the proper research.
Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor
Replies
thats amazing. I'm mostly amazed it took 8 months for it to get knocked loose. Glad you have good chains, I suspect.
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
Man, that thing must have been noisy every time you started and stopped. That's quite a bit of slop that you'd hear every time you moved. My trailer is 2 5/16 and my boss's is 2" and I put my trailer on the smaller ball once. I knew as soon as I pulled away something was awry. It sucks that the trailer place led you wrong.
I bet you'll like the way your trailer pulls lots better now. :)
I had a trailer come unhitched because of that once. Took me a while to fingure out what all that banging was behind the truck.
Good thing the chains held...
good thing you put the chains on right!I came upon a wreck once where a trailer had come off and the car behind drove over it and flipped a few times and ended up on the side of the road on one edge. When I got there, the emergency crews hadn't gotten there yet and 2 people were still alive but trapped inside. Scary stuff.
A friend of mine who lives out in the sticks sold a camper to someone and told him to make sure he had a 2 5/16" ball on his truck. The guy paid for it and picked it up while my friend was at work. My friend got off work and as he was driving home passed said camper in the ditch with massive damage to one corner. He pulled into his drive and the putz he sold it to was there demanding his money back. My friend took one look at the 2" trailer ball and said "tough #%@*!" He didn't refund a dime.
Pintle hooks give you a much better feeling that the trailer is gonna stay with you.
When I bought my 20' enclosed trailer, the first thing I did was have the tongue extended and switch to a pintle hook. I pull it with 1-ton dumps and would be able to crush the trailer by jack-knifing in reverse, so I had the tongue extended.
Trucks and other flatbed trailer were already set up for pintle hooks. Actually, the trucks have combination ball and pintle setup which is handy for renting tools.
Bear
EXACTLY! I love how easy a pintle/ball works out. I had a Toyota and an old surplus ammo hauler trailer IR lights and brass chains ( no sparks allowed)..backer up , hooker up, good to go with no worries.
I DID learn about tongue weight the hard way tho'..I wagged that bastard like a dogs tail all the from PA to NC in a blizzard with 3 cats in the front seat with me. Not a fun trip.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
You gotta be kidding me ..Jorge is @ what %? Now?
Yeah, there was a lot of slop in the ball/coupler--I could hear it every time I stopped/started, just didn't think of checking the ball size since the BIG sticker said 2"...that's what I get for being blonde LOL.
When it came off, it locked up the trailer e-brake...talk about some tire smoke! I thought I'd either blown a tire or busted an axle, but instead the jack was toast. I had to use a floor jack to jack the trailer up high enough to slide the ball back under it.
I've wondered about pintle hitches...those are the ones with a big ring, correct?
If only they'd make a 14' gooseneck enclosed trailer, LOL--already got the holes drilled in the bed.
Speaking of trailer maintenance, how often should I relube/replace the wheel bearings? Which grease should I use?
Thanks again.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor
The thing about grease is.... you really can't over grease stuff like that. Once a month or so I pull the grease gun out of the forklift to give it a touch up and when I do, I hit the trailer axles too. Just pump until the dirty grease oozes out and yer good to go. Greaseing stuff is easy, but so many people get lazy and just skip it. Bad idea. FWIW, once a month on the trailer axles is probably way over kill unless you're pulling that thing halfway around the planet every day. You'll probably only need to replace the bearings if you skip the grease.View Image
Well, be happy the trailer e brake worked! I bet 50% of them are non functional! Imagine the damage to the back of the truck when the trailer decided to come a knocking!
I once pulled my race car trailer with my girlfriends big Toyota Sequoia...I was nervous for days before and after. Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I've wondered about pintle hitches...those are the ones with a big ring, correct?
That's them. Serious trailers come that way. Mine's rated 47,000 lbs gross, 8 tires and brakes. Doesn't want a ball/pintle combo. A big swivel pintle has an amazing locking mechanism. As with any trailer, match up the parts.
Good that you got yours figured out.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
in the 80's the guy who wore the lsu tiger mascot costume was hit head on by a lawn care trailer that jumped the ball and crossed the center line. it came through his windshield and killed him instantly.
Dieselpig says his trailer ballz are ok !!
View Image
We spend zillions on smart bombs.....how about spending zillions on creating smart kids? ~jjwalters
Yikes! Couple miles of road rash and those balls won't be doing so good!View Image
Well, I did have to make them Brian-sized !!
We spend zillions on smart bombs.....how about spending zillions on creating smart kids?
~jjwalters
Brian, ya ever notice that them nut-sacks are always hangin' from chevy's...
Fords come from the factory with balls!!!
Mr. T.
"My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions - or bury the results." - Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold.
:) You said it brother.View Image
Glad you didn't have a major incident to learn this lesson Now Lets make a Punch list for Trailers so that we can print it up and paste it to the trailer door and remind ourselves. Here is my first attempt.
DAILY LIST
1 check coupler hookup and safety pin,chains and E Brakes
2 check light hookup and brake and turn signals
3 check tire pressure and inspect for gashes
4 check doors are closed and secured
5 check cargo is secure
MONTHLY
1 tighten all spring and mount bolts
2 lube any grease fittings
3 tighten all screws and door hinges etc.
4 check tread wear
5 adjust brakes they are usually not self adjusting
6 check all welds
7 lube jack and ball coupling pivot points
8 check receiver welds and bolts
9 check wiring on truck and trailer for loose connections or rust or corrosion
10 check nut on ball for tightness
YEARLY
1 repack wheel bearings
2 sand and repaint any frame rust
3 check brake pads and replace if near last 25%
4 check springs in coupler and adjust or replace
5 check all bushings at flexing locations
6 check flooring for rot
7 check axles for bend or sagging
8 replace ball and or coupler if any wear is noted
9 replace all bulbs and clean all connections
10 check all lugs and rims for stress cracks
ANDYSZ2
PS Feel free to add to this list or note and I will edit after consensus
I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
Edited 4/18/2006 10:19 pm by ANDYSZ2
Add check chains and E brake operation.Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
I'll put that on the daily list
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Remodeler/Punchout
Ya know, Brian & Luka, they actually make "TruckNuts" LOL
Thanks everyone for the maintenance heads-up!Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor
My trailer is a girl...
Mr. T.
"My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions - or bury the results." - Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold.