Trailer Balls

[DTangstrom]

Anybody know if you can buy an adapter to install a ball with a 1" shank into a ballmount with a 1 1/4" hole, or do I need to make one out of DOM tubing.

 

[Paychk]

Any decent shop that deals in hitches should have what you need. It is called a 1 1/4" O. D. to 1" I. D. reducer bushing.

 

[Matt42]

Any decent RV repair shop will have a bunch of these in a box of stray parts. Check in the repair area before you go into the showroom. Usually, the service person will just give it to you. For liability reasons, don't make one up on your own, although it would probably be just fine.



Consider upgrading to a ball with the correct size shank, assuming you are using a 2-5/16 inch ball. You can find a 2 inch ball, sometimes, with the big shank. They are much less likely to shear off. Also, in my opinion, never buy an imported hitch ball. There is a worldwide problem with counterfeit steel used in bolts. The fake stuff tends to be low carbon steel, or brittle steel with no quality control and tends to originate in the Far East. They might show bolt head rays indicating grade 5 or grade 8, but those tend to be cosmetic. The problem may also extend to hitch balls. Then again, it may not. But I don't want to find out the hard way.



Be aware that a "name brand" hitch ball may be made in China or Taiwan. Look very carefully at the ball and the imprint. I've been using an "Acar" brand USA made hitch ball for years. I won't use an import even as a backup.

 

[paccool]

Just helped my Dad get the right ball for his new trailer. He first looked at a 1"shank and the ball had a load rating of 7000#. (it also had a 1' to 1-1/4" adaptor sleeve included) I told him that was too close to the trailer weight and to get a 1-1/4" shank. The load rating on that one was 10,000#. Make sure the one you get exceeds your loaded trailer weight.

 

[JJ Jackson]

Most auto parts stores have the bushing you're looking for by the trailer wiring and ball section. While you there check out the Convert-a-Ball. It is around 45 dollars but it comes with three different size balls that detach from the 10k shaft, so you never have to wrench the ball off the hitch to change sizes... . Jim

 

[Eric_77]

I have an adapt a ball on one hitch (my Class IV) it is a 3/4 inch shaft, so I keep a 1 1/4 shaft 2 5/16 ball on my Class V hitch