Welded vs bolted trailer balls

[deerefan]

I use the Reece 3 ball welded straight shaft units as we have trailers with 2” and 2 5/16” receivers. What is safer, bolted or welded? Bolted could work loose, welded can rust and crack *. Thoughts? We just completed a 900 mile round trip towing with my wife’s Armada and three horse trailer with 2 horses (total weight about 5-5500lbs) with above mentioned insert with no issue.

 

[4570Man]

I like the 3 ball hitches but they have the disadvantage of no height adjustment.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I bought my tractor in PA and towed it back home to CT on a U-Haul car carrier trailer. When we got home, we backed the tractor off the trailer and the trailer popped off the truck. During the trip, the nut had completely come off and I had tightened it and the lock washer before we left CT. I have no idea how long we drove with the nut missing. After that I spot welded all my trailer hitches so the nut cannot be loosened.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've had my hitch balls come loose several times. I've always caught on before any damage. If you fell a secondary light clunk after touching the brakes check your hitch ball.

 

[deerefan]

I like the 3 ball hitches but they have the disadvantage of no height adjustment.

Very true, but we lucked out as the trailer sits level on the one we have.

 

[rd_macgregor]

A few years ago we drove a horse trailer to an event in Virginia. When parking the trailer, I noticed the ball was loose. Took it to a shop where the threads were too bunged up to budge the nut either way...just had it welded on and has been fine ever since. I also have one of the three-ball hitches, but it isn't the right height (on our truck) for the horse trailer.

 

[stingray1]

Bolted,but a tack weld for good measure couldn’t hurt.

 

[deerefan]

A few years ago we drove a horse trailer to an event in Virginia. When parking the trailer, I noticed the ball was loose. Took it to a shop where the threads were too bunged up to budge the nut either way...just had it welded on and has been fine ever since. I also have one of the three-ball hitches, but it isn't the right height (on our truck) for the horse trailer.

This is my concern. Welds rust too though, which can fail before notice. Kind of pros and cons with each?

 

[bigtiller]

My 2.5 inch hitch ball has a 1.25 inch bolt that requires 450 ft. lbs. of torque. It is about 10 years old now, and has never come loose.

 

[George2615]

I like the 3 ball welded unit but only use it when moving trailers with my tractor. They are not weight rated high enough for my on the road trailers which are 11,700, and 2-14K trailers. All my trailers are 2 5/16" but I sometimes borrow my neighbors utility trailer with a 2".