Torque specs for gooseneck coupler bolts

[Deleted member 995608]

I have a 1993 Circle D stock trailer with a typical round style coupler. I tagged my bed this morning so I wanna lower the coupler a few inches. Any idea how much I should torque 5/8" the bolts too? Online I've read anywhere between 125 lbs to 150lbs. That seems okay to me, but I want to double check.

 

[NIsaacs]

Is it like this, with a load bearing pin? Or does it just have the two pinch bolts? I would think 125/150 lbs torque on the bolts would mash the inner pipe and deform it. Mine all have the pin so I just snug the pinch bolts up tight and stop, maybe 50 lbs. I do tighten the lock nuts real tight.

https://www.southwestwheel.com/p-4740-0289250300.aspx

Nick

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Ya Nick, regular round coupler with 2 pinch bolts. No adjustment pin holes.

 

[TCDiesel]

I'm 160LBS on all mine.. Those bolts and Pipe can take 180-200LBS IMO

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I picked 130 lbs, added some locktite and bit down hard on the jam nuts. I dropped the coupler 3" and opened up that clearance pretty good. Been tugging this trailer for almost 2 years and never tagged the bed until today. No damage to the bed, just ripped off the powder coat of the 3/4" solid rod bed rails that attached to the headache rack.

 

[Mark31]

If I remember correctly, the pinch bolts on my horse trailer and flatbed goosenecks aren't flat faced bolts. The have a taper and a kinda different looking edge that makes them bite into the pipe when tightened. I don't do the torque wrench thang, i just tighten them like I mean it. Look at the marks on your pipe and you will see where the bolts bit in just a little. The bite and the pinch WILL hold. You aren't going to hurt the pipe. There is nowhere for the pipe to collapse. Hold the tight bolt still, then make real sure you get the jam nut tight, then drive and don't look back cause your're good to go unless a Chinese space station or a meteor falls on the trailer!

 

[NIsaacs]

Like I said, my trailers all have the locating pin, so this may or may not apply.

Nick

 

[Deleted member 995608]

The torque specs are all across the board for different mfg's.

Here you can see where I tagged the corner of the bed. Both sides got hit going over a hump and making a tight turn. If it wasn't for the rails, the bed would have eating a crap sammich.

 

[NIsaacs]

Or without the rails it might have missed Your gooseneck hitch must be straight horizontal, note the drop angle in the third picture. Mine has at least a foot of clearance.

Nick

 

[Deleted member 995608]

This trailer is 93 so it was built for yesterdays pickups. I've got about 7" clearance on level ground. Like I said, first time in almost two years......I bet it won't be the last.

I really want a flatbed, but I hate to lose the pickup bed since it stores my beer cans really well.

 

[NIsaacs]

I really want a flatbed, but I hate to lose the pickup bed since it stores my beer cans really well.

:-laf Yes, a flatbed will clear by a mile! The new trucks are tall. Big difference between my '91 4x2 and the '01 4x4.

Nick

 

[Deleted member 995608]

This is after I dropped the coupler 3". I took it for a spin in the back pastures to check clearances.

 

[Bekim]

My Reese goosebox bolt torque is 210 ft lbs