Seeking Ball Mount Advice

[weldingisfun]

I have 2001 Dodge Ram, 4X4, Cummins Diesel, 6-Speed manual tranny with a 2" receiver hitch. I have four trailers, 2 stock (8 foot two wheel and a 16' tandem) and 2 utility (a 12' and a 20' both tandem) that I tow frequently. Three of the trailers have 2" hitch balls and one is a 2 5/16". Each trailer tongue height is different. The heaviest load is a 4WD tractor with FEL on the 20' utility, approximately 9,000 pounds. What I am looking for is advice on the best type of ball hitch mount to accomodate all of the trailers.

 

[RollTideRam]

check out etrailer.com the sponsor for this part of the website. Order an adjustable 10k ball mount. I have one made by putnam, but need an extra ball mount for it to use both sizes. I currently use the adjustable one on one trailer and non adjustable on the 2 5/16 one because the hitch is adjustable on that trailer. JC

 

[aczlan]

look on ebay, there are several on there that are 6/10k with 2"/2 5/16" balls.


Aaron Z

 

[smitty9266]

OK here is my 2 cents...I have a B+W adjustable 2+2 5/16 they also have them with a tree way head with the two above sizes and a 1 7/8 or pintle.

I love mine, comes in several drop lengths 6 10 or 12 inches.
AZ Truck Accessories | B & W Custom Truck Beds Tow and Stow Ball Mounts 

Jeff

 

[coobie]

This is what I use for my 2004 dodge cummins diesel. TractorByNet.com | John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, and more! a little pricey but well worth it IMHO.coobie

 

[kennyd]

This is what I use for my 2004 dodge cummins diesel. TractorByNet.com | John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, and more! a little pricey but well worth it IMHO.coobie

I agree with that recommendation 100%, I love the Rapid-Hitch.

 

[Crash101]

I have the B&W "Tow & Stow" and like it a lot.

 

[weldingisfun]

This is what I use for my 2004 dodge cummins diesel. TractorByNet.com | John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, and more! a little pricey but well worth it IMHO.coobie

Coobie, is your truck a 4X4? Mine is and I need at least a 7" drop for one of my stock trailers. I read about the one you recommend and it is either a 5 1/2" or a 10" drop. And, just how pricey is it? I couldn't find the prices on the link.

 

[coobie]

Coobie, is your truck a 4X4? Mine is and I need at least a 7" drop for one of my stock trailers. I read about the one you recommend and it is either a 5 1/2" or a 10" drop. And, just how pricey is it? I couldn't find the prices on the link.

MY truck is a 2004 Dodge 4X4 2500 3/4 ton cummins diesel with stock 17inch tires.I have the 5 1/2 drop the price I paid was around $179 shipped.I think the 10inch drop is around $210-$225.They are rated for 10,000 GTWR.I just went threw my hitch paper work I bought from these folks the truck box shop located in Utah.They were the cheapest price I found and delivered quickly.I see there price is $189 for the 10 inch drop,coobie.

 

[masscity]

I bought my Rapid-Hitch in 2006 for my move. Paid about $275 for the hitch, the 1 7/8" ball and the locking pins. When I got it I thought it was so pretty I was going to mount it on my wall. The main reason I bought it was it is much lighter than steel. I have arthritis in my hands.

The reason I'm posting though, is don't do what I did. I used it in December 07 and left it in the receiver until the spring of 08. I live in the rust belt. I needed to take it out and I couldn't. The steel pin that holds it in the receiver welded itself the aluminum hitch. My brother and I got it out after a very long time. We had to use my neighbors drill press to drill the steel out of the hitch. I take it out now after each use.

 

[coobie]

I bought my Rapid-Hitch in 2006 for my move. Paid about $275 for the hitch, the 1 7/8" ball and the locking pins. When I got it I thought it was so pretty I was going to mount it on my wall. The main reason I bought it was it is much lighter than steel. I have arthritis in my hands.

The reason I'm posting though, is don't do what I did. I used it in December 07 and left it in the receiver until the spring of 08. I live in the rust belt. I needed to take it out and I couldn't. The steel pin that holds it in the receiver welded itself the aluminum hitch. My brother and I got it out after a very long time. We had to use my neighbors drill press to drill the steel out of the hitch. I take it out now after each use.

I hear you on this one.I leave my rapid hitch in spring,summer,and early fall.Living in michigan as you do with the salted roads I always take it out with each use.coobie

 

[fiddler kelly]

Well until I bought a tractor and needed a trailer for it I never heard of what is called a pintel hitch and now that I have used one I wouldn't go back. They are strong secure and are made to have 2 5/16 " balls on them . They can also be adjusted for different heights. I haul my tractor and trailor in on an old woods road at times down through an brook and back up on the other side and have never had to worry about it letting go or the angle being so great that it would twist the hitch off of the ball .

I am not sure if I have a pic of it right now, if I don't I will get one and post it. I have Dodge megacab and have no trouble pulling the load.
Tractor and trailer with gear weigh about 7000 lbs.

 

[weldingisfun]

Thanks to all you guys who provided input.
I'm leaning towards the 10K Putnam Saddle Style Adjustable Ball Mount with a second ball plate for a different sized ball hitch Putnam.
My receiver hitch is at 24 inches and two of my trailers are 2" with tongue heights of 14" and 19" the other two are 2 5/16" with heights of 17" and 20".
The problem is the hitch is on backorder nationwide. Putnam probably won't be filling all their backorders until the end of the month. Oh yeh, did I mention the price went up 20%?

 

[RollTideRam]

That is exactly what I have. I got mine about 3 years ago for around $60 with free shipping. JC

 

[weldingisfun]

That is exactly what I have. I got mine about 3 years ago for around $60 with free shipping. JC

Wow! I know the prices are higher now because steel costs so much more, but do you remember where you got it? I have had shipping estimates ranging from as low as $15 to $55. Sure wouldn't mind a little FREE shipping.

 

[RollTideRam]

Retail Price: $173.99
Sale Price!: $141.93
Extra 10% Off!: $127.74 (you save: $46.25)
Shipping: Free!
Average Review: (2 reviews)
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Addtional Information

8 1/4 inch Shank Length & 2 inch Shank Diameter

10-7/8 inch Drop, 9 1/5 inch Rise, 1 1/4 inch Ball Hole And 5/8 inch Pinhole

3 3/4 Inches From Pinhole To Support, 2 Inches Vertical Hole Spread And 21/32 inch Hole Diameter

10000lb Maximum Load

Lifetime Limited Warranty!

I looked it up today and man has the price gone up. This is from performancecenter.com
I checked my invoice from May of 05 and I paid $64.21 with free shipping. JC
edit
The website has changed and I could not find ball mounts listed. I searched the part number 30056 and found it.

 

[weldingisfun]

Thanks RollTideRam. They just made another sale. Everyone else I have contacted has their mounts on backorder.

 

[wkpoor]

I currently use the B&W but it is limited to 10,000lbs. I noticed Putman pintle mount with 2 5/16" ball is rated at 16,000lbs. My trailer is 14,000. I was looking for something like that.