Hitch Ball Fit

[ct430]

I'm sure there was a prior thread on this but can't locate it.

I had to purchase a hitch ball yesterday to mount on my OEM hitch and the while the lock washer was crushed into normal position, the ball itself was still able to spin around.

Is there a "special" hitch ball we need for the OEM hitch tongue?

Sorry if there's already a thread on this....

Thanks.

2006 Limited, Shadow Mica

 

[majmattmason]

Did you use the spacer that came with the OEM tongue? Hitch balls have different shaft diameters and the OEM tongue has a 10,000# rating with a 1,000# tongue weight. This means the diameter of the hole in the tongue is larger to accept the larger shaft of a hitch ball that can accommodate this weight. I'm guessing you used a lighter weight ball, like say a 6,000# or 5,000# rated ball, which has a slimmer shaft and which would allow for some slop or play in the hole even after you tightened it. That's my guess.

 

[TechWrench]

I'm sure there was a prior thread on this but can't locate it.

I had to purchase a hitch ball yesterday to mount on my OEM hitch and the while the lock washer was crushed into normal position, the ball itself was still able to spin around.

Is there a "special" hitch ball we need for the OEM hitch tongue?

Sorry if there's already a thread on this....

Thanks.

2006 Limited, Shadow Mica

Yes, there was a thread on this, some time ago. But, as the previous poster mentioned, your problem may be with the spacer sleeve. My oem ball mount came with such a spacer, which you need for the 5,000# ball shaft. The spacer is slightly longer than the hole in the ball mount, so you have two options, grind the spacer down a bit so it doesn't interfere, or use a large HD flat washer that the spacer just fits through. The washer will give the lock washer something better to grab onto, and it will help to keep the ball shaft stable in the ball mount.

 

[Falls]

Its the length of the threads on the shaft. Mine also turns but does not wiggle in the hole at all..... lol . I pull all the time like that , no problems as long as it's not loose in the shaft hole.

 

[PredBlue]

Same thing happened to me. I exchanged the ball twice for another model, and it still had something like 1/32 or thereabouts of space which allows it to spin. I stopped by an RV dealer months later who had the 6,000 pounder hitchball with the larger shaft that didn't need the spacer--for about $10 more than a regular ball. He said "no big deal" and not to worry about the small amount of gap and spin since I'm only towing about 4,000 pounds/short distances/under highway speed anyway. I figured if it was really any issue, the RV sales guys would have been more than glad to liberate some green from my wallet.

Who knows for sure, but it's not like it's going to snap off or something (knock on wood). I'm more worried that the piece of crap trailer that came with the boat I tow will break in half!! It's like I'm pulling a rickshaw!!