450 ft-lbs. torque wrench

[Reeltimer]

I purchased an e2 round bar style WD hitch. I was about to set it up and found out that I need to buy a special thin-wall, short 1-7/8" socket that will fit into the cramped space the nut will be located to torque down the hitch ball. Aaand- the special socket is, get this, $65! Plus, since I own only a 250-ft lbs torque wrench- now I need a 450 ft lbs torque wrench. Any suggestions where one would find a loaner or pay someone to torque it on? So far I'm getting the old, "if we didn't sell it to you we can't help you due to liability, but you can buy one." Really? $350. Ouch. Any suggestions so I can safely get my trailer home. Thanks!

[woodfox45]

Get a 4' long piece of pipe

[openroad118]

Etrailer has the socker, $20. And use a length of pipe.

[Wconley]

Tools like that can cost a fortune for something you will use once or twice in your lifetime. Take it to U-Haul or a trailer place to torque down.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by Wconley

Tools like that can cost a fortune for something you will use once or twice in your lifetime. Take it to U-Haul or a trailer place to torque down.

Very sage advice, as U-Haul will have the socket and the torque wrench to put it on.

Cheers
Tony

[blkmagikca]

Any truck shop should have a 3/4" torque wrench that goes to 600 ft-lbs, as they need it to torque wheel lug nuts.

[thurmanlinda]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Very sage advice, as U-Haul will have the socket and the torque wrench to put it on.

Cheers
Tony

I called the local U-Haul dealer and they only torque down their own hitch ball, which requires purchasing their’s. And they know nothing about the special socket. eTrailer sells the socket for $65 plus shipping.

[paiceman]

I have the same. I weight 172#. I have a three foot long wrench I put the special socket on, with the hitch turned sideways I put the socket and wrench on and stand on the wrench handle and with my wife hold me so I don't fall I bounce no the handle. Might not be 450#, but after about 20,000 miles seems to work. Not an original idea, someplace in the forums someone else recommended this so I tried it.

Bud

[mimiandrews]

A pipe over the handle of the torque wrench will not change the torque the wrench actually measures. It will click over at the set value, regardless of the length of the handle.

However, if you put an extension of the appropriate length on the business end of the wrench and do some math, you can indeed multiply the torque at the fastener and still have an accurate measurement.

However, I must agree that on some heavy-duty applications the actual torque required is "plenty."

[openroad118]

I took my loose ball to a RV dealer. Smart right? Except they were busy, I had no appointment and the $65 an hour.
Etrailer has a generic socket that works, for about $20 plus shipping, but you have to look a little harder for it.
This dealer experience taught me to carry my own tools.

[Reeltimer]

Originally Posted by openroad118

Etrailer has the socker, $20. And use a length of pipe.

The short, thin wall socket for the e2 round bar WD hitch is $65 from etrailer.com

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by Reeltimer

>>snip<< the special socket is, get this, $65 >> snip<<

I don't think the socket is "special". I think they are saying it should not be a thick wall socket like is used on a impact wrench. (for your specific hitch where the nut is not accessible)

Try a flea market. If you are lucky you might find one cheap.

A torque wrench is not necessary in this application. When you are ready to torque, insert the assembled hitch's shank into the receiver on the vehicle. Turn it 90 degrees from normal, so that the ball is to the right instead of up. When doing it this way, tightening the nut and wrench downward, you will be able to use body weight. Use a pipe over the wrench handle to increase leverage.

Calculating torque is simple. Length of the lever in feet x force applied to the lever in pounds = foot pounds. In other words, if the length of the lever from the center of the socket to the point where the weight is applied to the lever is 1', 450 lbs of force must be applied. If the lever length is 2', 225 lbs must be applied. If the lever is 4', 112.5 lbs must be applied.

[Mollysdad]

Amazon sells the socket. $18
https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-14416-...1+7%2F8+socket
Then buy a less expensive 3/4" breaker bar and a 3' section of galvanized water pipe. 450 ft/lbs = 150 pounds force applied at 3'.
Turn the hitch 90 degrees in the receiver so you can stand on the pipe. Gravity is your friend. Don't kill your back.
If you have some threads exposed, drill a small hole and put in a cotter pin.
I never heard of a ball coming loose until I read this forum where, it seems, every malady occurs regularly.

I'd bet 90% of hitch shops tighten nuts with a impact wrench and call it good enough. (I'm not recommending that)

[SetterX]

Took my 2017 27' FC to "The Hitch Man" in Taneytown, MD. Had to change out the Shank due to the fact I couldn't lower my tailgate on my 2017 Ford F250-SD while hitched with the available Equalizer shanks. They set me up professionally with a Curt Mfg shank that was an inch or two longer and setup my WD properly. Had all the tools to do it right. Cost me $99 for the service call and $127 for the new shank. Best $226 I ever spent!! In addition, I took the bill to the dealer I bought the AS from and they reimbursed me. Win-Win! Do it right so you are not bunny hopping down the road! Since we travel with our 4 Setters, (2 English & 2 Irish), we load them in the pickup bed when the season is right. Keeps the Platinum TV nice!

So, my advice... Take it to a hitch specialist, let them take the liability.

[openroad118]

No. Read the comments for the $20 socket. It's thin enough and it works. I bought it, I know!

[tbashin]

Harbor Freight has cheap sockets. Make sure to get the Pittsburgh brand they carry and not the CHEAP ones.

[greghoro]

Sears Craftsman 1-7/8" 3/4" drive 12 point socket is another option, although I prefer 6 point sockets for this type of application. Ace Hardware now carries Craftsman tools as well as Sears stores.

Use a 3/4" breaker bar with pipe extension, as recommended by others.

I would NOT extend the handle of an under capacity torque wrench.

Note, a 1-7/8" socket is also the size used to remove the spindle nut for a Dexter Nev-R-Lube axle.


Greg

[Rzrbrn]

I use this to break the occasional lug nut, tighten bolts etc., and is useful for a number of things:

search on Amazon

Torque Multiplier Lug Nut Wrench - Cheater Wrench

[featherbedder]

You also might find torque multiplier [used with reg. torque wrench] on ebay or amazon for very little $. Prob. I did pur. used once now in tool box, but now if had socket would torque all dif hitches that I use.

[Milo1952]

Auto zone loans tools to people that purchase from them.see if they have the special socket and then borrow the torque wrench from them.