Ball Size

[EddieWalker]

I'm looking at buying a 16 foot bumper pull stock trailer and I'm not sure that I understand the significance of the two sized available for the ball. Some say they have a 2 inch ball, others are 2 5/16. I understand that bigger is better, but why? Does one hold more weight? If it has the smaller 2 inch ball, wont that be enough?

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[Norm W]

It depends on the gross weight of the trailer. The capacity of the ball should be stamped on the ball. If you have an accident, and the hitch was to small for the load, you could have a major problem with your insurance.

 

[aczlan]

As long as its rated for the weight, the only advantage to the 2 5/16" over a 2" is that less friends will be able to borrow that trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[dstig1]

2 5/16" seems pretty standard for any serious trailer... And they can be rated much higher (if it is the right material/design). I would stick with it.

 

[TomSeller]

As long as its rated for the weight, the only advantage to the 2 5/16" over a 2" is that less friends will be able to borrow that trailer.

Aaron Z

Are you saying size matters?

 

[Scooby074]

If you really want to keep friends from borrowing your trailer, go with ring and pintle Or even better the Euro Ringfeder style ring hitches. Self aligning hookup FTW!

Im only partly joking. Eventually Id like to have all my trailers with rings. Was looking at these guys products and if you use their rings and pintles, there is supposed to be less play than normal.

 

[newbury]

Are you saying size matters?

Reads more like he's writing the strength of your balls matters.

Eddie -
First - you should have both size ball's. I've a 2 5/16 trailer but occasionally pull U-Hauls etc., which are 2". Bigger balls are better.
Second - what's the GVWR on the trailer - make sure your balls exceed that, but I know from experience that finding a 2 5/16 ball w/ a 12K plus rating is difficult at auto stores and Walmart, easy on-line.
And third get rust resistant balls, there's nothing worse than having cruddy balls except having cruddy weak balls.

Investing in an extra ball is only about $10, for an extra $10 I'd rather have 2 balls than one.

And pay attention to the size of your shank, make sure it's 1 inch and your balls fit.

For the trailer I don't think size matters, as long as it's a low GVWR trailer.

 

[Ken45101]

2" balls do not come in the higher GVWR ratings.

One drawback to 2-5/16 hitches is that it is possible AND DANGEROUS to hook them up to a 2" ball by accident. You can't do it the other way around.

If the trailer sits at the right height, one of the "3 way" inserts with 1-7/8, 2, and 2-5/16" balls is great to have and solves the issue. Of course, many trailers require a drop hitch to sit level.

 

[newbury]

2" balls do not come in the higher GVWR ratings.

What's a "higher" GVWR?
Here's a Curt for 10,000 lbs. Hitch Ball with 2" Diameter and Medium Shank, 10,000 lbs GTW - Chrome Curt Balls A-90

/edit - and here's a 12K rated 2" ball
CURT Manufacturing - CURT Trailer Ball #40038

 

[aczlan]

Reads more like he's writing the strength of your balls matters.
Eddie -
First - you should have both size ball's. I've a 2 5/16 trailer but occasionally pull U-Hauls etc., which are 2". Bigger balls are better.
Second - what's the GVWR on the trailer - make sure your balls exceed that, but I know from experience that finding a 2 5/16 ball w/ a 12K plus rating is difficult at auto stores and Walmart, easy on-line.
And third get rust resistant balls, there's nothing worse than having cruddy balls except having cruddy weak balls.
Investing in an extra ball is only about $10, for an extra $10 I'd rather have 2 balls than one.
And pay attention to the size of your shank, make sure it's 1 inch and your balls fit.
For the trailer I don't think size matters, as long as it's a low GVWR trailer.

From what I have seen, in a 1" shank class, both 2" and 2 5/16" are available with ratings up to 12,000#. To get a higher rating, you have to go to a larger shank (such as 1 1/4") and there you can get ratings up to 30,000# for a 2 5/16" ball.

If it were me, and I got a trailer that needed a 2 5/16" ball, I would get a ball mount for it so that I didn't need to swap balls because that it just a pain in the neck so do.

Aaron Z

 

[dragoneggs]

2" balls do not come in the higher GVWR ratings.

One drawback to 2-5/16 hitches is that it is possible AND DANGEROUS to hook them up to a 2" ball by accident. You can't do it the other way around.

If the trailer sits at the right height, one of the "3 way" inserts with 1-7/8, 2, and 2-5/16" balls is great to have and solves the issue. Of course, many trailers require a drop hitch to sit level.

Great points!

As long as its rated for the weight, the only advantage to the 2 5/16" over a 2" is that less friends will be able to borrow that trailer.

Aaron Z

There is a lot of truth to that!

 

[Looking4new]

Even less people will try to 'borrow' your trailer if it is a pintle and lunette setup. Nobody tries to borrow mine. Pintle and lunette rated for 15,000lbs.

 

[RandyT]

The thing is most tandem axle utility trailers be it 14,16 feet are rated for 7000 pounds. Most 2" balls found at walmart and the like are only rated for 5-6000 pounds. Something else that ticks me off, is the number of tandem axles being towed around with no brakes. They can only be licensed at least in IL for 3000 pounds. Most are loaded way over that amount.

 

[JJZ 109]

As long as its rated for the weight, the only advantage to the 2 5/16" over a 2" is that less friends will be able to borrow that trailer.

Aaron Z

And that is an advantage. More by coincidence than anything, all 3 of my trailers are 2 5/16. Nice not having to hunt around or switch balls for the different trailers.

 

[EddieWalker]

The trailers I'm looking at mostly need a 2 inch ball. A few say 2 5/16 inch. My truck is a Ford F-150 and I'm wanting to pull a 16 ft stock trailer. It might haul a horse to the vet, or as many as four cows/steers at the most. They all come with one axle having brakes in the price range I'm looking at. $5,000

I'm just wondering if I bought one needing the 2 inch ball, would I run into some trouble down the road? I've rented skid steers and the trailer to haul them, which always takes a 2 5/16 ball, which they have also provided. I just don't know what the advantage is when pulling with a half ton truck?

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Gary Fowler]

The trailers I'm looking at mostly need a 2 inch ball. A few say 2 5/16 inch. My truck is a Ford F-150 and I'm wanting to pull a 16 ft stock trailer. It might haul a horse to the vet, or as many as four cows/steers at the most. They all come with one axle having brakes in the price range I'm looking at. $5,000

I'm just wondering if I bought one needing the 2 inch ball, would I run into some trouble down the road? I've rented skid steers and the trailer to haul them, which always takes a 2 5/16 ball, which they have also provided. I just don't know what the advantage is when pulling with a half ton truck?

Thanks,
Eddie

I think I would go with the trailer with 2 5/15" ball just so I wouldn't have to swap out the ball or hitch insert when I needed to haul a skidster. Price wise if they are same cost or nearly so, the future convenience factor would be worth a few bucks.

 

[cartod]

I've used a 2" ball for years on my tandem car hauler with no problems at all. I too pull with a 150. More importantly to me is good trailer brakes. I can't see any advantage of a bigger ball if your not exceeding limits. Good luck Eddie!

 

[newbury]

<snip> My truck is a Ford F-150 and I'm wanting to pull a 16 ft stock trailer. It might haul a horse to the vet, or as many as four cows/steers at the most. They all come with one axle having brakes in the price range I'm looking at. $5,000
<snip>

Ford F150's are now specced for towing up to 11,800 pounds.

Taking the average weight of a steer at 1200 pounds your going to need a trailer to hold about 5K, thus if the MAX trailer GVWR your looking at is 7K. If you get a 7K I'd think a 2" coupling on the trailer would do. Just make sure you get a ball rated for it or better, not a 6K ball from Walmart.
If you get a 5.2K a Walmart 6K ball would do.

 

[aczlan]

Ford F150's are now specced for towing up to 11,800 pounds.
Taking the average weight of a steer at 1200 pounds your going to need a trailer to hold about 5K, thus if the MAX trailer GVWR your looking at is 7K. If you get a 7K I'd think a 2" coupling on the trailer would do. Just make sure you get a ball rated for it or better, not a 6K ball from Walmart.
If you get a 5.2K a Walmart 6K ball would do.

At $7.50 for a 12k 2" ball (Amazon.com: CURT Manufacturing 40038 2 In. Diameter Chrome Trailer Ball: CURT: Automotive), I would go overkill with the ball mount and ball...

Aaron Z

 

[EddieWalker]

I have the factory 2 inch ball that came with the truck. I have no idea what it is rated for or if it's a good one or not. I've never even heard of a ball that failed. Does that really happen? I guess my lack of knowledge of this happening is what's behind my question. Does a 2 inch ball fail?

Eddie