2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

[tmfd]

Dealer said it was ok to tow? Doesnt sound good to me.

 

[robert graham]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

buy a 2" ball just to be safe...you wouldn't want your trailer/boat to bounce up off the hitch going over a big bump in the road. tongue/ball should be the same.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

its been covered before, the consensus is dont do it. a 2" ball is only $5 anyways.

 

[rbh]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

can be done, "but not recomended". does the tongue have
1 7/8 0r 2 inch ball, stamped in?
use the ball required, and put some grease in the cup.
rob

 

[tmfd]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

buy a 2" ball just to be safe...you wouldn't want your trailer/boat to bounce up off the hitch going over a big bump in the road. tongue/ball should be the same.

Right, thank you. I am going to go and pick up a 2" ball but thought it strange that the dealer did not warn me. He looked at it and said " you'll be fine". It doesnt have it "stamped in" but on the sticker on the tongue it states 2" ball.

Side note: Robert Graham, that was the name of my cello instuctor when I was just a lad in the school orchestra.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

2" ball !!!!!!!!!! Why take a chance !?!?!

 

[DaveM]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

Yikes! If the dealer was correct, then there would be no 2" balls. Everyone would use 1 7/8"

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

I can not believe he would say that. Another thing, 1 7/8" balls are typically not rated for higher than 2000#.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

Dealer said it was ok to tow? Doesnt sound good to me.

I would find a dealer with bigger balls...and more common sense.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

dealer is an idiot-- or is he--he might be selling more boats to people from wrecking them on the highway

 

[skargo]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

Your dealer is a clown, ask him if he will pay the lawsuit that results from using improper equipment.

 

[83Evinrude]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

Most dealers will sell you a boat and trailer that's too much for your tow vehicle but I'm really surprised that he would tell you to tow a trailer with a 2" coupler using a 1 7/8" ball.

 

[Thad]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

Surprisingly, a lot of sales men don't know.
There are many around here who not only do not own boats, but have never been been on ones thay are trying to sell. They only know what they read in the books are someone else tells them.

I know that I would never complete a sale from a man that told me to use a 1 7/8 ball to pull home my new 2' tongue trailer carrying my new boat. I hope he is not the one that went on the sea trial with you. He could have you all messed up.


Make sure you post a pic of the girl.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

despite the fact you aren't 'supposed' to, there are probably many thousands of mismatched trailers that see the road daily. Keep in mind it is entirely possible to have a well adjusted 2 inch coupler on a 1 7/8 ball remain on there for years, whereas a loosely adjusted matching coupler could come off with a decent bump.

If it is a relatively light boat and you aren't doing alot of trailering, it is fine. (pulling a 2000 pound boat 3 miles to your house, perfectly fine if the coupler is tight on the ball)

 

[skargo]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

despite the fact you aren't 'supposed' to, there are probably many thousands of mismatched trailers that see the road daily. Keep in mind it is entirely possible to have a well adjusted 2 inch coupler on a 1 7/8 ball remain on there for years, whereas a loosely adjusted matching coupler could come off with a decent bump.

If it is a relatively light boat and you aren't doing alot of trailering, it is fine. (pulling a 2000 pound boat 3 miles to your house, perfectly fine if the coupler is tight on the ball)

It is NOT fine, please refrain from giving irresponsible, potentially dangerous "advice"

 

[rndn]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

despite the fact you aren't 'supposed' to, there are probably many thousands of mismatched trailers that see the road daily. Keep in mind it is entirely possible to have a well adjusted 2 inch coupler on a 1 7/8 ball remain on there for years, whereas a loosely adjusted matching coupler could come off with a decent bump.

If it is a relatively light boat and you aren't doing alot of trailering, it is fine. (pulling a 2000 pound boat 3 miles to your house, perfectly fine if the coupler is tight on the ball)

It is not fine and not safe. There should never be a good enough, it's either the right way or not. Use a 2" ball for a 2" hitch. Do you really want to tow your boat anywhere wondering if the bump in the road will jar your hitch loose?

 

[rbh]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

took a picture of a tongue on one of our trailer, and it says-
"1 7/8 or 2 inch ball"
will post pic when wife gets home
rob

 

[grahamh]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

took a picture of a tongue on one of our trailer, and it says-
"1 7/8 or 2 inch ball"
will post pic when wife gets home
rob

I think that sometimes the coupler on the trailer can be adjusted.

I did have a friend who lost a trailer though, he was using a 1 7/8 ball when it should have been 2". At least it was a light trailer, (it was just a hobie cat sailboat) and he had safety chains, so he was able to come to a controlled stop.

 

[skargo]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

I understand 1 7/8 hitches were meant for class 1 hitches, and 2" and above were rated for class 2 and above.

Another consideration is shank diameter.

 

[soaringhiggy]

Re: 2" tongue-1 7/8 ball

It depends on the coupler, a bulldog (calm shell) like I have will only work with the size it is intended for. I like these, I have them on all of my trailers.

Some can be adjusted a small amount.

But why, as pointed out a ball is cheap. With a receiver hitch you can get the proper tow angle very easily as well.