HTF do i tighten this?!

[The Last Cowboy]

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.

Once I bolt a ball to a mount, it never comes off. If I need a different drop, I buy another mount and ball. I have 3 for use on different vehicles and different drop needs.

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[Heimkehr]

Once I bolt a ball to a mount, it never comes off. If I need a different drop, I buy another mount and ball.

Same. I once attempted to remove a hitch ball. It was one that I had originally installed (w/blue threadlock) and hand-torqued myself. That SOB wasn't budging. That's all the excuse I needed to purchase a separate mount and ball. The experience also reassured me that my work probably wasn't going to fail under normal use conditions.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Same. I once attempted to remove a hitch ball. It was one that I had originally installed (w/blue threadlock) and hand-torqued myself. That SOB wasn't budging. That's all the excuse I needed to purchase a separate mount and ball. The experience also reassured me that my work probably wasn't going to fail under normal use conditions.

Plus, switching out takes seconds, vs unbolting a ball and swapping it out.

 

[Apexcars]

Two big pipe wrenches, turn them opposite directions till your eye starts twitching and your tongue sticks out of your mouth and you are good to go.

The 450 ft lbs is so that if the ball fails or falls off and you try to sue the manufacturer they can say, we need to see proof that you installed it correctly and to the correct torque value.

 

[Daytriper]

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.

Take the nut to NAPA and find a socket, or tighten with pipe wrenchs , then take to big truck repair shop, and have them torque to spec. You should check on your pretrip, and subsequent walk arounds that nut is still tight.

 

[Pape]

crow foot wrench,
Useful for oversized lock nut on track bar

 

[6.2Blazer]

I don’t tow stuff, and I am just curious. When you put these on, do you ever take it off? Often they look rusty and permanent, so, why not just weld it and not worry about it breaking loose?

Welding is not a good option in this case. You can't simply slap a weld bead on a chromed hitch ball against a flat receiver and expect to get enough strength. You would need to do a lot of prep like beveling out the receiver hole and such, and multiple passes on the welder. Point being it would take way more work to get the proper weld stength in this situation versus just bolting it.
And if you don't have a wrench or way to tighten the bolt, what are the chances of you having a welder and the ability to properly do it?

 

[Heimkehr]

Plus, switching out takes seconds, vs unbolting a ball and swapping it out.

I just pivoted to an adjustable ball mount, which has served me well.

 

[Pig-Pen]

I plan to buy the nut. Ive got the big daddy impact gun and torque wrench now.
I may need to do another kit for my fathers trailer as well so id like to have the tools. I like collecting tools.

 

[UncleArt]

I bought a Crescent wrench from HD and put a 36” cheater pipe on it. Made it nearly fart-tight…

I have also seen the proper sized wrench in the hitch section of my local HD.

 

[Craigger]

Keep the ball greased otherwise it will rust. If you're going to keep the hitch on your vehicle, cover it with a tennis ball with a slot cut in it so you don't get grease on your pants when you brush up against it every single morning.

 

[Apexcars]

Keep the ball greased otherwise it will rust. If you're going to keep the hitch on your vehicle, cover it with a tennis ball with a slot cut in it so you don't get grease on your pants when you brush up against it every single morning.

Or just don't brush up against it.

 

[Pig-Pen]

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

 

[Heimkehr]

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

That conversation made the rounds on ADV Rider a couple of years ago. The head explody that followed surprised even me. Opinions were evenly split down the middle.

 

[Jeep Wick]

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

My friend had the hitch stolen from his truck in the driveway. Odd robbery.
It's dead weight to me, I remove it when I'm done towing.

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