Always 2" 5/16 balls?

[davida]

I'm in the process of buying an airstream, and getting ready to tow it back. My TV has a smaller ball hitch, and I know I need a bigger one from my memory of looking at the corresponding part on the 79 overlander. Someone mentioned the 2" 5/16 size, but I seem to find 2" balls as well on the net. Can I assume that 2" 5/16 is the right size for that vintage of AS?

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by davida

I'm in the process of buying an airstream, and getting ready to tow it back. My TV has a smaller ball hitch, and I know I need a bigger one from my memory of looking at the corresponding part on the 79 overlander. Someone mentioned the 2" 5/16 size, but I seem to find 2" balls as well on the net. Can I assume that 2" 5/16 is the right size for that vintage of AS?

Davida,

My 1979 Safari has a 2 5/16" ball, so that size is probably correct for your Overlander.

Bill

[CanoeStream]

Gosh -- I forget the exact year. Airstreams did switch over to only the 2 5/16" ball after the mid-1960s. So this is the correct ball size if you're looking at anything from around 1970 or later (ask again if you're back in the '60s era...) The ball shaft should be 10,000 pound rated and you will see how very much bigger it is than a normal ball would have.

You should always check ball fit after hooking up by jacking back up. The hitch should pull the rear of your tow vehicle upward.

[On Edit:] There is no better source than Kevin! http://www.airforums.com/forums/131118-post5.html

[Airboss]

My 65 Caravel has a 2 inch but everything else has a 2 5/16 that I have ever owned. Yours will be a 2 5/16.....

[davida]

Thanks all.

[Hind-Sight]

The 69 Overlander I picked up yesterday required a 2" ball. I was prepared with both and expected it to be 2 5/16" and was surprised that it was 2".

[overlander63]

Most Airstreams went to 2 5/16" with the introduction of the newer body style in 1969, although the occasional "exception that proves the rule" shows up from time to time.

[Phil Gobie]

I will be picking up our "new" 1968 sovereign this week. I have quite an assortment of balls and hitches but I would like to take only 2" or 2 5/16 If I can determine witch it will be for sure. The seller said 2" but did not sound very sure. Does any one know for sure? Seems to me they would have use the larger balls on such a large trailer.
Thanks Phil

[scottanlily]

Sonds like you need to take 2 balls along 2" or the 2 5/16 just to be sure.
You can just put the loose ball up in the coupler when you get there ,one will not fit if its 2" .

Scott

[gmshadow]

My 1969 Overlander also a 2" ball and does not look to have been changed, Was a CA build AS. I keep seeing that the change was made in 1969, but was that at one plant, or all plants as also see other 1969's that have the 2" inch ball pop up on here. Or a midyear change?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by gmshadow

My 1969 Overlander also a 2" ball and does not look to have been changed, Was a CA build AS. I keep seeing that the change was made in 1969, but was that at one plant, or all plants as also see other 1969's that have the 2" inch ball pop up on here. Or a midyear change?

The changeover was supposed to have happened at the same time the new body was introduced, but it looks like some '69's got out of the factory with 2" couplers on the tongues (I guess they didn't read the memo).
I have learned never to go with only what the trailer was supposed to have on it. I have seen 1 7/8" balls all the way up to something I didn't even have (2 5/16" fell out when I put it in the coupler).

[bryanl]

The shank size can be a problem. With the 10k ball rating you will need a ball mount with a larger hole - inch and half shank, 400 lb-foot torque on the nut if I recall correctly.

[Minnie's Mate]

Wow, can you rent a 400 ft-lb torque wrench. I think those would be really expensive to buy. Seems I read $400-600 somewhere on this forum one time.

[SafeHarbor]

There are doohickies called torque multipliers that diesel shops use. They go between the torque wrench and the nut. 200 ft-libs is about much as I've seen for the wrenches but they up to 600 lb-ft, I've heard.

Lamar

[cookeville34]

My 1979 Airstream Sovereign 31' has a 2" hitch, when I went to pick it up all I with me was a 2 5/16 ball. I spent two hours going house to house looking for a 2" ball, finally an old farmer had one. Carry both a 2" & 2 5/16". Airstreams appear to be like Studebakers there are always factory oddballs and dealer changes. My trailer is not supposed to have an astradome skylight, but it does.