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ESCAPE POD · 03-12-2008, 02:07 PM

The AS dealer prepared our Equalizer hitch (which I had to reverse to fit the lower receiver of our Dakota), and secured the hitch ball as part of the assembly. I've begun to notice that the hitch ball has loosened slightly, and I want to tighten the nut, which is recessed on the underside of the hitch, making it inaccessible to a closed or open end wrench. Is there such a thing as a socket that can fit the approx. 2" diameter hitch ball nut?

Minnie's Mate · 03-12-2008, 02:13 PM

Yes there is:

Equal-i-zer Hitch Store: 1 7/8" Thin walled socket

and it cost $74.00!

I have one and have yet to use it. Oh, it takes an extra large socket wrench, too. I think it takes a 5/8" shank?

LHall · 03-12-2008, 02:56 PM

There is most likely a lock washer on the ball shank before the nut. A Pipe Wrench or large adjustable wrench will work on the ball if there are flat spots on the bottom of the ball.

**jcanavera** · 03-12-2008, 02:58 PM

Not many people have these. I usually run up to the dealership every year and have them make sure it is tight. I think my dealer ground down a socket to fit in the tight clearance.

Jack

Toldfield · 03-12-2008, 03:18 PM

Gosh, they are a little pricey. Any competent tool store should have a thin walled impact socket in the proper size. Not being a fan of Harbor Freight Tools I would look at Sears if you don't have a good parts store nearby.

Minnie's Mate · 03-12-2008, 03:31 PM

BTW, the socket requires a 3/4" drive...my bad.

bensonortho · 03-12-2008, 03:35 PM

I found that a 1 13/16 socket from Sears worked ($24). It did require some grinding on the hitch and socket to make it work, and it is still a tight squeeze. The 3/4 inch breaker bar or ratchet is not cheap either. If you are close to the dealer, let them do it for you.

Excella CM · 03-12-2008, 03:50 PM

Remember, always tighten enough to make the balls sweat!

Airstreamer67 · 03-13-2008, 01:17 PM

Although my application is not the same, what I do to tighten the ball when I can't get a socket or wrench on the nut is to jam a screwdriver between the nut and the hitch wall where it's too tight to get a socket in. Then, I use either a large fixed wrench or crescent if there are flats on the base of the ball, or a pipe wrench on the round base of the ball, and it tighten that way. It's a reverse of what's usually done, but a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do. Like asking directions, I just hate to go to someone else to tighten that thing.

Fyrzowt · 03-13-2008, 02:21 PM

No room for any kind of socket or wrench on mine. I do what Airstreamer67 does.
Dave

ESCAPE POD · 03-13-2008, 04:09 PM

Many thanks, Airstreamer '67 and Dave! A pipe wrench on the hitch ball just never entered my noggin. I'm picking up our Bambi tomorrow from the A/S maintenance guy (Rod, at C & G Trailer in Bellflower, CA); he also said he could tighten the ball when I show up. But I'm definitely going to get a decent pipe wrench anyway. Do either of you use any tape to protect the neck of the ball?

-Jerry

Fyrzowt · 03-13-2008, 04:33 PM

I was able to keep the pipe wrench teeth down on the bottom flange. You don't want to chew up the ball or neck.
It may be worth while to watch Rod and see how he does it.

Luckyducks · 03-13-2008, 05:56 PM

I let the local dealer tighten mine. The RV Tech did it quickly using an impact wrench. I believe it was 430 lbs of torque. Dealer didn't charge me either.

Old_Town · 03-13-2008, 06:26 PM

This is the socket I used. My Equalizer is a 2006 vintage. I can't speak for the older ones. The Craftsman socket in the link below fit and worked perfectly. I borrowed, from a friend a Proto 3/4" drive torque wrench for the job. I noticed that my local Tractor Supply had the socket for $19. I prefer the Craftsman.

Craftsman 1-7/8 in. Socket, 12 pt. - Model 47787 at Sears.com

Regards,
Ty

Fyrzowt · 03-13-2008, 07:39 PM

Some of the posts are obviously referencing a different type of hitch set-up than the original post.
The nut refered to is recessed, surrounded on 5 sides. You cannot get any type of socket that I've ever seen on the nut. That is why some of us have used a large screwdriver/prybar to jam the nut while tightening the ball. It's not that we don't know what a socket is.
Just for clarification....
Dave

thecatsandi · 03-14-2008, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Town

This is the socket I used. My Equalizer is a 2006 vintage. I can't speak for the older ones. The Craftsman socket in the link below fit and worked perfectly. I borrowed, from a friend a Proto 3/4" drive torque wrench for the job. I noticed that my local Tractor Supply had the socket for $19. I prefer the Craftsman.

Craftsman 1-7/8 in. Socket, 12 pt. - Model 47787 at Sears.com

Regards,
Ty

Get the six point!!! they are stronger.

Luckyducks · 03-14-2008, 05:32 AM

I just looked at mine and the nut is totally recessed as the original post mentions also. The nut I see is 1 7/8" as the Equalizer website states. As Minnie Mate mentioned earlier and in the link he provided, Equalizer sells the socket for that nut ($74). You need a 3/4" drive wrench too. And to get 430 lbs of torque on that nut is another subject. Check out the Equalizer Hitch website and specifically the installation instructions.

Old_Town · 03-14-2008, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

Get the six point!!! they are stronger.

All 3/4'' drive sockets have the tendancy to be pretty stout. This 12 pt. socket would be impossible to break under normal conditions.

ESCAPE POD · 03-14-2008, 06:18 PM

Well, as discussed above, I witnessed a truly effective tightening of the nut on my Equalizer, with the use of a pipe wrench on the ball flange, and a metal pipe approx. 4' in length slipped over the wrench handle to give some truly CRAZY leverage. The nut was jammed from below with a prybar. The ball will never need tightening again, that's for sure, although the wrench left some significant teeth marks on the flange at the base of the ball (but no marks on the ball or the neck). Since there is no contact between the hitch socket and the flange, I guess the teeth marks are just a cosmetic flaw(?).