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Old 06-24-2020, 10:10 AM   #1
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2019 25' Flying Cloud
Pala , California
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Hitch Torque 350 Ft Lbs.....

Hi,

I completed final adjustment on my new Equal-i-zer hitch last night. I figured I go to nearest mechanic or RV shop and get final torque on the hitch head to shank of 350 ft lbs.

Problem in NONE of the local shops even HAVE a 350 ft lb torque wrench and say they are too busy if they did!

I'm starting to guess based on this and my previous hitch that was in NO WAY torqued the 350 ft lbs that this just not done. Maybe 250 ft lbs...

A 350 ft lb torque wrench is ~$400 IF you can find on and NO Harbor Freight doesn't sell one.....

I'd loath to tell someone to just go 250 an another 1/4 turn but what do you guys do when faced with this?

Thanks!

Trav
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Old 06-24-2020, 10:16 AM   #2
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I had my local Kenworth dealer do mine, no charge. If that is not an option, I would just use a long snipe on the end of the wrench, I have used large pipe wrenches for this, and tighten as tight as you can get it. The ball should be one of the things that is regularly checked before and during any trip.
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Old 06-24-2020, 10:21 AM   #3
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Trav

Prepare for debate but this is my technique for my equalizer.

I own a 3/4” drive about 40” long breaker bar. I figure I’m applying the tightening force at about 3’ away from fastener. Now the best guess kicks in how much of your body weight are you applying at that distance. I try to setup final tightening so I’m pushing down and breaker bar is roughly horizontal.

100# at 3’ is about 300lb/ft

Good to be questioning means you’re trying to follow owners manual.

Gary
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Old 06-24-2020, 10:25 AM   #4
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It's a matter of leverage.
You want to torque a bolt to 400 ft/lbs? You weigh 200 lbs?
Use a 2' wrench and stand on the end.
I have some breaker bars from Harbor Freight. They're about 24".
I also carry a 3' section of water pipe. I call it a "torque amplifier".
If I slip the pipe over the breaker bar and press down (always down, because if it slips I don't want to bash the tailgate. I might have to stick the hitch in upside down) 150 pounds, I figure I'm in the ballpark of 350 ft/lbs.

I seriously doubt a diesel repair shop torques anything except engine bolts. Most use an air impact wrench and give it a good, Brrrrrp.
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Old 06-24-2020, 11:20 AM   #5
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A diesel engine shop may not deal with that many high torque specs, but a heavy equipment dealer or a heavy truck shop certainly does. Standard practice. I oversaw service shops for both Class 8 trucks, and off road equipment up to 400 ton capacity. Yes, we used torque wrenches. And torque multipliers. One with a 1/2" drive input and a 3/4" drive output is likely the range that would be used.
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Old 06-24-2020, 12:19 PM   #6
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I ran into the same problem mounting the ball of my new Blue Ox hitch which required 450 ft/lbs. I believe the side bolts for mounting the head to the drop arm required around 260 ft/lbs. A good mechanic friend recommended this torque adapter from Amazon and I picked up an inexpensive 3/4 breaker bar from HF. Worked like a charm and was a good addition to the tool box.

https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-20743A-...3022369&sr=8-2
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Old 06-24-2020, 01:10 PM   #7
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When tightening my last ball, it called for 350 ft lbs if I recall correctly. I turned the shank a quarter turn in the hitch and slipped a piece of pipe over a good breaker bar and sat down o it at whatever length I calculated to be about right at the time. I used a dab of paint as witness marks to see of the ball moved after towing a bit. 4k miles later, it hasn't moved
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Old 06-24-2020, 02:57 PM   #8
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I use an extension added to the breaker bar and both feet and a estimate of the amount of torque I am able to generate. And a hitch is not a diesel engine head. The hitch just needs to be darn tight and you are not likely to break a 1" shank bolt unless you are really clever. Every couple of years I put the breaker bar and extension on it and kick it good to see if it is still tight.
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Old 06-24-2020, 06:10 PM   #9
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I use a torque multiplier with a torque wrench.
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Old 06-24-2020, 08:19 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisH View Post
Hi,

I completed final adjustment on my new Equal-i-zer hitch last night. I figured I go to nearest mechanic or RV shop and get final torque on the hitch head to shank of 350 ft lbs.

Problem in NONE of the local shops even HAVE a 350 ft lb torque wrench and say they are too busy if they did!

I'm starting to guess based on this and my previous hitch that was in NO WAY torqued the 350 ft lbs that this just not done. Maybe 250 ft lbs...

A 350 ft lb torque wrench is ~$400 IF you can find on and NO Harbor Freight doesn't sell one.....

I'd loath to tell someone to just go 250 an another 1/4 turn but what do you guys do when faced with this?

Thanks!

Trav
FYI, Airstream Store recommends and sells a Tekton torque wrench that is rated to 150 ft-lbs to use for tightening trailer wheel lugs. My Blue Ox drop bar needed to be moved down two holes (dealer set it at almost 4 inches too high) and nuts torqued to 257 ft-lbs. I found Tekton 3/4” drive torgue wrench up to 350 ft-lbs on Amazon for $85.
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Old 06-25-2020, 01:26 AM   #11
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Hi, I use a 24" breaker bar and stand on it. I weigh just over 200 lbs.
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Old 06-25-2020, 10:23 AM   #12
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Harbor Freight sells a 3/4" drive torque wrench for $79.99, and you can get 20% off with a coupon. To torque my equalizer to 320 lb ft, I used that to go to 300, and gave it an extra ugga dugga.
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Old 06-25-2020, 10:44 AM   #13
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Long lever-arm (long pipe slipped over breaker-bar) and a luggage scale.
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Old 06-25-2020, 12:47 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisH View Post
Hi,

I completed final adjustment on my new Equal-i-zer hitch last night. I figured I go to nearest mechanic or RV shop and get final torque on the hitch head to shank of 350 ft lbs.
<<snip>> but what do you guys do when faced with this?

Thanks!

Trav
I insert the hitch head into the vehicle's hitch receiver so that the hitch ball is horizontal and pointing to the curb side. This will allow you to tighten the nut using your body weight while the vehicle securely holds the hitch head.

Use a wrench (or two wrenches if the ball turns) of any kind that will grasp the parts. It does not have to be a torque wrench, (I've used socket, pipe, box end, open end) but it must be strong enough to extend the handle as necessary to get leverage.

If you want to be precise, measure from center of the hitch ball shaft, and apply weight/force at that point while turning the nut.
350 lbs at 1 foot from center = 350 foot pounds
175 lbs at 2 feet from center = 350 foot pounds
112.33 lbs at 3 feet from center = ~350 foot pounds
56.17 lbs at 4 feet from center = ~350 foot pounds.

I don't worry about over tightening. I use a long lever and apply my full body weight (stand on it). So far I've not had one come loose. I've been doing it this way at least 50 years.
Yes, I'm old ;-) and heavy ;-0

some additional info>
https://www.wikihow.com/Calibrate-a-Torque-Wrench
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Old 06-25-2020, 12:50 PM   #15
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The torque spec for the class 4 Kurt ball I installed on a Blue Ox was 450 lbs. ft. I used a CDI 30-250 torque wrench and a Klutch brand 3X torque multiplier from Northern Tool (max output 2,200 lb. ft.). There is unspecified loss through the multiplier so some guesswork is involved but it's pretty close. If you lived closer you could drop by and torque your part on.
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Old 06-25-2020, 01:50 PM   #16
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Found a huge adjustable wrench for $20 at a pawn shop in an oil town. Can’t guarantee the shank torque is 250 lbs, but it sure is tight.
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Old 06-25-2020, 01:55 PM   #17
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18” box end hitch ball wrench and put all 200 pounds of my weight on it. Never had one come loose.

The ProPride has the hitch ball welded on from the factory. No issues with that getting loose.
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Old 06-25-2020, 03:05 PM   #18
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Quote: "I also carry a 3' section of water pipe. I call it a "torque amplifier."
I like that name and will add it to my list:
Cheater bar
Over torquer
Persuader
Wrench breaker
Wrench bender
Torque amplifier
Any more, folks?
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Old 06-25-2020, 03:06 PM   #19
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There is another thread in here somewhere that has the best explanation that I have ever heard, "Down south we just get it good and tight, just don't break it". I laughed for a week over that one!
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Old 06-26-2020, 07:30 AM   #20
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I had the same issue. I visited a NAPA Auto Part store and rented a Torque Wrench to do torque up to 350 ft lbs
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