My trailer came off....
05-22-2006, 06:46 PM
#1
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Location: Glen Ellyn IL
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My trailer came off....
Shortly after passing the "Rough Pavement Ahead" sign on I-70W going to Putnam Park this weekend i hit a crater that knocked my brand new Harbor Freight trailer off the ball at about 55 mph. 
No damage to vette or trailer, and i will spare you the account of my heroic driving.
Anyway, the hitch still had the cotter pin inserted and the nut that holds tension on the ball seemed tight. I tightened it to as hard as it can be tightened without me fearing i was about to break it and finished my journey.
Anyone have a suggestion on a high quality replacement hitch that will fit those little HF's? My 5 hour drive back home seemed like 10 due to the wincing everytime i hit any small bump. No confidence left in that hitch even if my tightening cured the problem.
No damage to vette or trailer, and i will spare you the account of my heroic driving.
Anyway, the hitch still had the cotter pin inserted and the nut that holds tension on the ball seemed tight. I tightened it to as hard as it can be tightened without me fearing i was about to break it and finished my journey.
Anyone have a suggestion on a high quality replacement hitch that will fit those little HF's? My 5 hour drive back home seemed like 10 due to the wincing everytime i hit any small bump. No confidence left in that hitch even if my tightening cured the problem.
05-22-2006, 08:40 PM
#3
Safety Car
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I had the same loose hitch problem with my Harbor Freight trailer. The ball clamp adjustment is way too loose as it comes from the factory. I had to crank it down 10-12 turns on the nut to get it suitably tight. Mine never came off, you got very lucky.
05-22-2006, 09:14 PM
#4
Team Owner
I would get another coupler and replace the cheap one that came with the trailer. The bolt hole pattern on the tongue is standard so you won't need to redrill any holes. I got one at AutoZone. The nut that is used for the clamp adjustment is a nylon lock nut and that should hold the adjustment.
Place the ball inside the coupler and adjust the nut so that the fit is snug but the ball still turns easily. You should also grease the ball and coupler each time you use the trailer. You can get grease at any boat shop or if necessary, use wheel bearing grease.
I went with a 2" coupler as that's what ball size I have on my truck so I can use the trailer behind that if needed.
Place the ball inside the coupler and adjust the nut so that the fit is snug but the ball still turns easily. You should also grease the ball and coupler each time you use the trailer. You can get grease at any boat shop or if necessary, use wheel bearing grease.
I went with a 2" coupler as that's what ball size I have on my truck so I can use the trailer behind that if needed.
05-22-2006, 11:47 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Probably a silly question, but any chance that you have a 1-7/8"
ball mating with a 2" coupler"
While I'm glad the tongue didn't engrave the back of the car, I'm
also glad the safety chains were in place and held. I see some
pretty light duty and tired looking chains on some utility and boat
trailers that make me very nervous when I see similar rigs on the
road.
.
ball mating with a 2" coupler"
While I'm glad the tongue didn't engrave the back of the car, I'm
also glad the safety chains were in place and held. I see some
pretty light duty and tired looking chains on some utility and boat
trailers that make me very nervous when I see similar rigs on the
road.
.
05-23-2006, 12:41 AM
#10
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Thanks for the advice and information guys. I think i will buy a new one just in case somehting isn't quite right with that one. Just to answer the questions... Yes its a 1 7/8 ball and reciever and the ball popped out of the receiver, the receiver remained securely attached to the trailer tongue. Those chains worked great, i was really careful on the measurement and attachment, just glad they did their job. Thanks again to everyone that chimed in, checking that fit will be something i do henceforth regardless of where i get a trailer !!!
05-23-2006, 07:06 PM
#12
Team Owner
Originally Posted by jabbott
Does Harbor Freight=China? That may be the problem
One thing I noticed is that the nut is held in place by a stamped steel C-shaped bracket. The only way to adjust the clamp depth is to turn the hitch latching arm a one full turn at a time.
The coupler I bought uses a nylock nut so making fine adjustments is much simpler. The brand name is Fulton and it's stamped with the company name, address and phone number in Racine, WI
05-23-2006, 07:37 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Same thing happened to a friend and I while driving through Buffalo a couple of years ago on the way to Watkins Glen. Tightening the nut underneath solves the problem.
-Matt
-Matt
05-23-2006, 11:27 PM
#15
Platinum Supporting Vendor
Some things from HF are ok, you know like latex gloves, little acid brushes, cutoff wheels and grinding discs. Trailers, I think you need to stick to a trailer dealer who sells good trailers. I can't believe that they could get any type of DOT approval on them. You know a trailer coming off can kill a innocent person in a car. A couple of years ago a U-Haul car trailer came off because the guy was tired and not paying attention when he lowered it on the ball. Well that trailer came of and rammed through the door of a girl on her way to school and killed her. I am sorry and am not trying to call anyone cheap, but some things you do not pinch pennies on.