IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
Over the next few days I plan to finally write up a couple or so comments about my recent trip from Idaho to Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Idaho, and points between. This included stopping at Lamont's BBQ at the Lamonster Garage where I great time visiting with PrairieSpyder, Billybovine, Lamont, and a number of others.
This first post is a caution about hitch balls.
During my return trip I noticed a clunking sound coming from the trailer whenever I started or stopped. At a rest area in Kansas I looked at it and saw that the clamp, or shoe, that holds the coupler to the ball had loosened up. As the coupler was still snug enough to not come off the ball I decided to wait until the next morning when I could find a wrench from a hotel maintenance person, or at a shop, or wherever, to tighten it up. The next morning the best I could do at the hotel was a Vise Grip wrench, which worked good enough to tighten the shoe bolt. I then lifted up the tongue to make sure all was snug. Horror of horrors, the tongue lifted right up about an inch! :gaah:Upon closer examination this is the condition I found. :yikes: :yikes: I recreated the condition after I got home.
The first thing that went through my mind is, "THAT'S WHY WE USE SAFETY CHAINS!" With this ball the bolt screws into the ball, and has coarse threads. I tightened it up best I could and the next morning at the next hotel an oil field guy used a long crescent wrench to really cinch it tight. I knew I had to do something to prevent the possibility of having a disaster in the future. After I got home I bought a new hitch ball that has the mounting stud machined as part of the ball and with fine threads. I drilled a hole through it and put the wire clip in there. Now, if the nut works loose it can't come off and the ball can't come off the hitch.
While driving in Louisiana someone hollered I was dragging a chain. Sure enough when I stopped to check one of the safety chains had come loose. I bought them from eTrailer Supply when I made the trailer and the S hooks were part of the assembly. Obviously what happened is the hitch, being solid with the swing arm, bounced up and down on rough pavement enough to cause the S hook to jump out. I didn't get too concerned about the situation. But, would you believe it, the very next day while driving Baton Rouge someone hollered I was dragging a chain. I stopped a soon as I could and what did I see but the OTHER chain had come loose. I then knew the hooks were not reliable. The next morning I went to a hardware store and bought the two snap hooks you see in this picture. No more loose safety chains.
The lesson from all this is DON'T take anything for granted with your towing system. What works good today can turn to crap tomorrow! :lecturef_smilie:
This first post is a caution about hitch balls.
During my return trip I noticed a clunking sound coming from the trailer whenever I started or stopped. At a rest area in Kansas I looked at it and saw that the clamp, or shoe, that holds the coupler to the ball had loosened up. As the coupler was still snug enough to not come off the ball I decided to wait until the next morning when I could find a wrench from a hotel maintenance person, or at a shop, or wherever, to tighten it up. The next morning the best I could do at the hotel was a Vise Grip wrench, which worked good enough to tighten the shoe bolt. I then lifted up the tongue to make sure all was snug. Horror of horrors, the tongue lifted right up about an inch! :gaah:Upon closer examination this is the condition I found. :yikes: :yikes: I recreated the condition after I got home.
The first thing that went through my mind is, "THAT'S WHY WE USE SAFETY CHAINS!" With this ball the bolt screws into the ball, and has coarse threads. I tightened it up best I could and the next morning at the next hotel an oil field guy used a long crescent wrench to really cinch it tight. I knew I had to do something to prevent the possibility of having a disaster in the future. After I got home I bought a new hitch ball that has the mounting stud machined as part of the ball and with fine threads. I drilled a hole through it and put the wire clip in there. Now, if the nut works loose it can't come off and the ball can't come off the hitch.
While driving in Louisiana someone hollered I was dragging a chain. Sure enough when I stopped to check one of the safety chains had come loose. I bought them from eTrailer Supply when I made the trailer and the S hooks were part of the assembly. Obviously what happened is the hitch, being solid with the swing arm, bounced up and down on rough pavement enough to cause the S hook to jump out. I didn't get too concerned about the situation. But, would you believe it, the very next day while driving Baton Rouge someone hollered I was dragging a chain. I stopped a soon as I could and what did I see but the OTHER chain had come loose. I then knew the hooks were not reliable. The next morning I went to a hardware store and bought the two snap hooks you see in this picture. No more loose safety chains.
The lesson from all this is DON'T take anything for granted with your towing system. What works good today can turn to crap tomorrow! :lecturef_smilie:
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