HTF do i tighten this?!

[flightace47]

Tossed all the parts back in the “to do somee day” pile

(not even joking)

OP, is this going into a receiver on your Jeep or were you planning some kind of custom mount for the back of your trailer? I assume the former since you’re talking weight distribution.

Massive torque wrench aside, we bought an Andersen WD hitch for our Gladiator to tow the travel trailer. There are many others that come with balls pre-installed (lol). Save yourself the trouble and use that one as a paper weight or just return it.

Even for non-WD hitches, there are many pre-assembled ones from Curt and other brands for under 40 bucks. Ex: https://a.co/d/3ye8MD9

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[Pig-Pen]

OP, is this going into a receiver on your Jeep or were you planning some kind of custom mount for the back of your trailer? I assume the former since you’re talking weight distribution.

Massive torque wrench aside, we bought an Andersen WD hitch for our Gladiator to tow the travel trailer. There are many others that come with balls pre-installed (lol). Save yourself the trouble and use that one as a paper weight or just return it.

Even for non-WD hitches, there are many pre-assembled ones from Curt and other brands for under 40 bucks. Ex: https://a.co/d/3ye8MD9

ive got a standard hitch (a bunch with different size balls). This is a WD kit from HF. Ill get it on. Just have many other things that are a priority. Not going camping again till late January, even then its local.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I've already posted it once, but will say it again. The high torque value recommended is NOT so the nut doesn't come loose. You torque it to that value for the strength of the ball to hitch platform factor. It's the friction between those two parts, so the base of the ball being clamped against the flat part of the hitch platform that gives you that strength. You do not want the threaded shank of the ball to be providing all of the force, plus it's not a super tight fit in the hole of the hitch. If it wasn't super tight the shank would be sliding back and forth slightly every time to accelerated or braked and causing stress.
You could torque the nut to 75 ft-lbs and the lock washer it won't loosen or back off, but you are compromising strength of the connection. This isn't speculation, this is physics and mechanical engineering 101.

 

[jeepingib]

How the fuck do I tighten this?

Clockwise

 

[Phrank]

I've already posted it once, but will say it again.

Great, now we have to ignore you twice.

 

[DogsRule]

Enlarge that second pic and tell me where and how those threads were made. Then we'll talk torque.

I don't mean to be mean. ~Love you ~~.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Yes. I've had to move the ball to a different drop before. Some never change, but it happens. My wife's SUV and my Jeep are different heights and these things are expensive.

The drop hitches are the expensive part. The balls are usually relatively cheap, and often included with the drop hitch. I'd never move one, just buy a new one.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Love people who leave tow hitches on full time so people walking by in parking lots can get kneecapped

You don't need to be walking up against my vehicle anyway so you get what you deserve. I leave the pintle ring in the Jeep to help protect the spare coming off obstacles (of course you'd run into the 39" tire before you hit your kneecap). The triple ball non-drop hitch stays in the gladiator to try and help keep the bumper off obstacles as well.

 

[Jeep Wick]

The drop hitches are the expensive part. The balls are usually relatively cheap, and often included with the drop hitch. I'd never move one, just buy a new one.

I recently got one of these Gen Y adjustable, the price was much better than the competition.

 

[JLRyder]

Torq multiplier

 

[Jay_NM]

I use a pipe wrench.

 

[Bill Dee]

I picked up a 2 5/16” hitch at home depot for my travel trailer. For a weight distribution kit im going to put on it.

HD doesnt sell any sockets or wrenches large enough to tighten the nut. The biggest they have is 1.5” i cant even use a tool to find out what size it is.

i put a measuring tape on it and it appears to be 1 7/8”

it says to tighten to 450 ft lbs!! So forget an adjustable wrench like HD lady was suggesting.

i know people have trailers here and many DIYers so how do i tighten this thing? Anyone know the actual size? I just bought a monster impact gun and torque wrench.

I have an 18" pipe wrench that I use with a 4' long 2" iron pipe. Works great. Long ago in a past life I would have to torque weapons pylons onto aircraft at 300'
lbs. I'm pretty sure I'm getting at least that with the 4' long "torque amplifier".

 

[EchoVictor]

A set of crow foot wrenches with a torque wrench

 

[Jeffy56]

6 pages in and nobody asked. 2 5/16" ball? Unless there is trend for trailer manufacturers to use bigger balls/hitches, add load distribution, how big is this travel trailer? You may be exceeding the gross combined GVW. Jeeps are poor trailer hosts anyway, the suspension flexes too much. You'll find it squirrelly as hell and any puff of wind may scare to Hell out of the driver. There's lawyer drool on this. A little one or a flatbed around town, no big deal.

 

[yokramer]

Have you tried hitting it with your purse?

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