Securing trailer balls

[Travelover]

So I guess she thing to do is weld the ball all around after tightening.

Yes, then drill a hole through the nut so it can be safety wired.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Then sell the trailer and put the hitch on the shelf..

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Yes, then drill a hole through the nut so it can be safety wired.

????

If you are going to weld the ball, you might as well just hit the nut with the welder too. It would be a whale of a lot easier and faster than drilling a hole.

 

[drizler]

Use a Jam Nut..

Eactly. Stone simple and 200% reliable. No need to go drill pressing and pinning or welding. Like the old Sarge used to say, "Keep It Simple Stupid"

 

[Travelover]

????

If you are going to weld the ball, you might as well just hit the nut with the welder too. It would be a whale of a lot easier and faster than drilling a hole.

This suggestion is what used to be called a joke before people got so uptight.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

On the Internet there are so many stupid people that it is no longer safe to assume that obviously stupid suggestions will be taken as humor. Too often, they are dead serious.

I'm glad to know it was an attempt at humor in this case. One less idiot giving advice!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Eactly. Stone simple and 200% reliable. No need to go drill pressing and pinning or welding. Like the old Sarge used to say, "Keep It Simple Stupid"

I don't have a single bar and ball setup with more than 2 to 3 threads showing. No way a jamb nut would work. I bet that's the case with 99% of the bars and balls out there.

Chris

 

[clemsonfor]

If it was a wide spread problem, they'd come with cotter pins and castle nuts - the ball manufacturer's lawyers would make them. Like others have said, a little common caution and maintenance and your problems are elsewhere.

I think I am in this camp.

But anything can and does happen. There are many easy solutions. One is the second nut. THis will cost you a dollar or two at TSC for another nut. Being cheap I would go with blue locktite and or bugger up the threads with a chisel for the first few under the nut. It wont come off before you notice, you should start hearing a clunk when accelerating stopping or a bump as the extra gap created as the nut loosens allows the ball to shift around.

At work there is one truck with a cotter pin under the nut. I think this came this way from the factory. If I remember I will try and look at it and get a brand and pic maybe.

Edit Until I got the weight distributing hitch I used one of those dual welded ball and receiver things. No way it could come loose