i bought a used trailer a few weeks ago to haul quads to the desert and trash to the dump. there seems to be a lot of up and down movement where the trailer tongue goes onto the ball. both the ball and trailer are 2 inch.
i looked under the tongue and i dont see any adjustment. it cant come off but it sure does move around a lot. about an inch up and down. normal or not?
excessive trailer hitch play.
- Thread starter Chris142
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a little play is normal but i would say an inch is way too much.
there isn't a nut underneath to adjust it at all?
if its a bolt on coupler it would be easy enough to replace if you can't find an adjustment on it.
should be able to find one for 15 to 20 bucks brand new.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2023
If you have an extra 2-5/16" ball around throw it on and see how it fits. If it latches into place I'd call it good.
no nut at all under it to adjust. . and a 2-5\16 ball wont go in the hole. i need like a 2-1\8th maybe
Originally Posted By: Black_Thunder
if its a bolt on coupler it would be easy enough to replace if you can't find an adjustment on it.
should be able to find one for 15 to 20 bucks brand new.
Maybe go blacksmith on it? Heat up the tongue and hammer it tighter? On second thought, probably just grinding the old one off and getting a new one sounds like a better idea. I find the angle grinder fun anyway.
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This...
Originally Posted By: Black_Thunder
a little play is normal but i would say an inch is way too much.
there isn't a nut underneath to adjust it at all?
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...and this...
Originally Posted By: Black_Thunder
if its a bolt on coupler it would be easy enough to replace if you can't find an adjustment on it.
should be able to find one for 15 to 20 bucks brand new.
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...NOT this!
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
If you have an extra 2-5/16" ball around throw it on and see how it fits. If it latches into place I'd call it good.
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Get your money back. If not, take it to a trailer shop and have it repaired/welded correctly and move on. Or you can buy new.
In the unlikely event your defective/improperly repaired trailer injures or kills someone, you will get sued and you will lose.
its welded on and part of the whole tongue
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: Black_Thunder
if its a bolt on coupler it would be easy enough to replace if you can't find an adjustment on it.
should be able to find one for 15 to 20 bucks brand new.
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
...NOT this!
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
If you have an extra 2-5/16" ball around throw it on and see how it fits. If it latches into place I'd call it good.
I would go to the trailer shop , as they deal with this type stuff all the time. They can tell if the coupler is worn out or if the ball size is incorrect.
http://www.yellowpages.com/apple-valley-ca/trailer-repair
Have you looked up inside the hitch itself? There should be a 3/4 inch nut you can tighten that will draw the "shoe" against the ball. You will need a deep well socket to do the job. The way I do it is to put the hitch over the ball and tighten the nut until the hitch just barely slips off the ball when released.
You can also buy replacement parts if necessary and swap out the guts of the hitch, (bolt, tension spring and top lever). They're not very expensive.
You can also buy the entire hitch set up at Harbor Freight for anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars, depending on the size of your drawbar. This can be welded or bolted in place, (I just did that myself on an old farm trailer I have - works great).
Good luck and congrats on your new trailer 
Originally Posted By: Rand
you most likely need a 2 1/8 ball
2" balls were mostly used on very low capacity trailers
max 2000lb
2 1/8 on upto 6000lb or so
2 5/8 were for stout "bumper pulls"(vs gooseneck etc).. ie 10000lb
the hitch says to use a 2" ball and thats what i have. i bought it used as i cant afford a new trailer. ill have to get this one fixed.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
the hitch says to use a 2" ball and thats what i have. i bought it used as i cant afford a new trailer. ill have to get this one fixed.
Here is a pic.
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