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05-21-2014, 12:56 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1997 21' Excella
Carson City
, Nevada
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 213
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What happens if you use smaller ball?
My husband was about to load the trailer to the truck and I told him that was a smaller ball. We could not find the other receiver with the bigger ball. I kept insisting that is the smaller ball. So he was suspecting at some point, someone helped themselves and removed our receiver with the big ball from our truck. Sheesh!!!!
So I am curious, what happen when you use the smaller ball?
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05-21-2014, 01:10 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BessieB
So I am curious, what happen when you use the smaller ball?
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That's something you do not want to do, ever. The coupler will come off the ball, and you will not like the results. Stop him from towing the trailer with the smaller ball!
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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05-21-2014, 01:13 PM
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#3
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,254
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Time for a trip to the auto parts store to get the right size ball!
You don't want to lose your trailer going down the road when you hit a bump!
__________________
Stephanie
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05-21-2014, 01:14 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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Just make sure your safety chains are good and the emergency brake-a-way cable is good. That way when you loose the trailer it will follow you down the road and might save you from the lawsuit of it hitting oncoming traffic.
This is NOT an option you want to take.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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05-21-2014, 01:39 PM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
1997 21' Excella
Carson City
, Nevada
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 213
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Auto parts store away!!!
Yep!!!!
My husband went to the store and brought back new gear. So when he de-winterized and went towing the trailer, he was lucky then. Whew!!!! Common sense was telling me not to try it. So you all confirmed my suspicions.
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05-21-2014, 01:47 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2012 30' International
Vintage Kin Owner
Bad Axe
, Michigan
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 564
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We accidentally hooked up our equipment trailer to the truck with the wrong ball. The first dip in the road the trailer came off and hit the truck . Thankfully we were going slowly and the trailer was empty. ( We had been on our way to get those large, round bales of hay) We had the correct ball in the back of the truck so things worked out.
__________________
2012 30' International Serenity
1947 Spartan Manor
2005 28' Safari LS - traded
1977 31' International Sovereign - sold
2012 Ford F250 Superduty Crewcab
WBCCI# 1007 Air#2158
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05-21-2014, 01:55 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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My first question is how come you are not using a weight distribution hitch? They make locking hitch pins to keep stuff from getting stolen. You don't want to go out on the road with a ball that is too small. It will jump off the ball and bad things will happen.
Perry
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05-21-2014, 02:04 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1997 21' Excella
Carson City
, Nevada
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 213
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What is a weight distribution hitch? I will google it, cause the receiver he bought is shorter than the other one.
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05-21-2014, 02:12 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1997 21' Excella
Carson City
, Nevada
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 213
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Googled it. What a lot of paraphenilia or however that is spelled. For real? We've never had a problem, so I don't understand. Which I really don't understand. We tow with our full sized Chevy truck. So what am I not understanding?
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05-21-2014, 02:18 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
1997 21' Excella
Carson City
, Nevada
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 213
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No sag
I looked it up. The trailer does not sag the truck. We have never had any problems towing, no sway or such. Plus we have heavy duty everything on the truck plus tow package stuff. I don't know if that makes a difference, but never seemed to be issues, unless......... my hubby continued using the small ball. Is he one lucky dude there.
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05-21-2014, 03:00 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BessieB
Is he one lucky dude there.
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Yeah, your trailer could of ended up in someone's living room.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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05-21-2014, 03:41 PM
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#12
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Overland Adventurer
1991 34' Excella
2009 34' Panamerica
Telluride
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
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Wrong ball= fall off Airstream. What is your definition of heavy duty?
W/D and sway control are generally accepted as essential safety equipment, not superfluous equipment. All it takes is one bad event, and you have the potential to hurt or kill my family as you come down the road!
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05-21-2014, 03:43 PM
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#13
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Overland Adventurer
1991 34' Excella
2009 34' Panamerica
Telluride
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
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By the way, tow package is available on a Fiat 500. It is simply a place to stick a ball and plug in lights.
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05-21-2014, 04:04 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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What are you considering a Full Size Chevy Truck? If it is a 2500 or 3500 I would agree but if it a 1500 I would not agree.
While you have never had a problem of sway it is something you plan for rather than react to.
If you are in fact using a 2500 or larger TV you might want to look at the Andersen hitch. My suggestion may bring forth all forms of negative comments but I make this suggestion based on firsthand experience and 40+ years of towing. The Andersen will provide the assurance you want in this area.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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05-21-2014, 04:12 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Weight distribution is necessary to move some of that weight that you just placed on the ball back on the front wheels of your truck, This is an issue even if the truck does not squat with the trailer on it. Especially when the tongue weight is over 500 lbs. The only good thing about using a non weight distributing hitch is that the ball is not far from the bumper. The farther the ball is away from the rear axle, the worse sway becomes. Also single axle trailers are worse about swaying than tandem axle trailers. At some speed your trailer will sway and can cause a wreck. The other advantage is that a weight distributing hitch puts the ball away from the truck so you don't have to worry about jack knifing the trailer such that it hits the truck while backing and does several $1000 worth of damage. The bad is that it increases the need for sway control because the ball is now a foot away from the receiver instead of a few inches. There are real expensive hitches that eliminate sway all together but they cost almost as much as a used trailer.
Perry
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05-21-2014, 04:27 PM
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#16
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Restorations done right
Commercial Member
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
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I want to back things up…
What exactly is the smaller size? 1 7/8"? Is the bigger 2" or 2 5/8"? This is rather important stuff not some kind of testing one's luck. Towing on a ball too small is simply foolishness and puts everyone on the road around you in danger. Your hitch is a 2 5/8" ball and you are dragging a lot of weight down the road. Please take this stuff seriously.
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05-21-2014, 05:17 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 62overlander
I want to back things up…
What exactly is the smaller size? 1 7/8"? Is the bigger 2" or 2 5/8"? This is rather important stuff not some kind of testing one's luck. Towing on a ball too small is simply foolishness and puts everyone on the road around you in danger. Your hitch is a 2 5/8" ball and you are dragging a lot of weight down the road. Please take this stuff seriously.
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Uh, isn't that 2 5/16"? Don't think I've ever seen a 2 5/8" ball.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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05-21-2014, 05:26 PM
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#18
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Restorations done right
Commercial Member
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
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yes thank you for the uh, correction. I am easily befuddled since I feel real Airstreams have 2" balls.
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05-21-2014, 08:01 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
asbury park
, New Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 905
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Hahahaha!!!!! Love it!!
"Real airstreams have 2" balls"
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05-21-2014, 08:43 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Currently Looking...
Durango
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,112
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Back before the internet imparting all of this wisdom on towing was available, we used a chunk of rubber from an inner tube (remember those?) on a 1-7/8" ball when pulling a trailer with a 2" hitch. Never even a close call!
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