shaft for hitch ball too short

[ztim]

Has anyone have this trouble? The threaded shaft for the hitch ball is just a tad too short. About 1/4 inch. This for an Isuzu pickup. I had to use a dremmel to trim the top plastic bumper cover surface down to the metal so the hitch would seat flat. That still leaves me about a washer thickness too short. I don't need the hitch bracket that bolts to the frame because the boat I have is so light. The only thing I can think of is to go to a 2" ball which has a longer shaft. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[clarkbre]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

The only thing I can think of is to go to a 2" ball which has a longer shaft.

I think a better solution is to take the ball truck shopping and find a truck that fits!

Sorry, I couldn't resist being a smartass. Yes, go to your local auto parts store and get a new 2" trailer ball with a longer shaft. Just make sure that whatever ball you get, it seats solid on the mount.

 

[Proselect]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

I could be wrong here, but I am sure if you do some looking around there are manufacturers that make balls with longer shafts on them. I have seen receiver bars before with the nut just barely on and others with an inch up to two inches of threads hanging out the bottom. I think it is just the matter of finding them.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

Not sure how long you need I just looked on here and they have some with 2" shank may have longer also just was a quick look.

 

[marcortez]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

The only thing I can think of is to go to a 2" ball which has a longer shaft. Any suggestions? Thanks!

You can't go to a 2" ball if your hitch is 1 7/8ths and visa versa.

This is pretty simple Ztim......if your bolting something together and the bolt comes up short....???
Even a caveman would know he needs a longer bolt!!!!!

 

[ztim]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

Needless to say, marcortez, both would have to be changed.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

no both don't need to be changed.... get the proper size ball with the proper diameter and length shank.... if your store doesn't have it you are at the wrong store

 

[ztim]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

The problem is the thickness of the bumper itself. It isn't like I am mounting the ball on a frame mounted bracket. There were several threaded shanks that came close to being the correct length and one that would work IF I didn't use a lock washer. I even thought about using a liquid lock washer and trust that would hold it. I suppose I will keep on looking or switch over the trailer to a 2" ball.

 

[NYBo]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

You are better off removing the plastic bumper cover from the ball mounting area anyway, IMO. How thick is the bumper? Here is a 1 7/8" ball with a 2" shaft. I can't imagine that wouldn't long enough.

 

[rentprop1]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

I believe its Reese that makes a bumper hitch ball with about a 2 inch longer threaded shaft, I have one in 2 inch on my Dodge Ram 1500, my bumper is the rear cross frame.....
my buddy picked it up for me, I think he went to a trailer specialty store, but I also heard some hitch places offer them

 

[ztim]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

I may have to do that, rentprop1. It is getting too close to the best fishing season to be messing around with this. Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

Gee whiz Dude -- buy a ball that uses a bolt rather than one that has a threaded shank. If the bolt that comes with the ball is too short, as was suggested buy a longer bolt. Gosh people make the simple tasks way to complicated. And as was suggested, the plastic bumper cover is supposed to be removed when mounting a ball. Why would you want a flimsy piece of plastic that can crack, come apart and hence create a loose ball situation (yikes -- can't believe that came out like it did!!!).

 

[ztim]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

No Silvertip. The plastic bumper cover was removed with a Dremmel around the hole so the hitch ball would fit close to the bumper's metal. The shaft threaded bolt is the shank. It seems different people call it different names. Thanks rentprop1. I'll check out your suggestion.

 

[mattpyle]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

How long is the shaft on the one you have now? Hell even autozone has some that are 3 3/8th long shafts!

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ca...e+standard+hitch+trailer+ball&brandName=Reese

If you need longer then that, then That must be one serious bumper you have on that rig!!!!

 

[rentprop1]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

Ztim,

that ^^^ is real close to what I have

and silvertip, it was kinda hard to follow your ramblings, I guess you were calling the shaft the bolt

 

[rentprop1]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

whatever you do...do not run it with a nut only a couple of turns on the threaded shaft, this was a guy at the ramp who tried to use a regular hitch ball on a truck bumper set up, the nut worked its way back off ( look at the end of the threads ) and then while heading up the ramp after loading the boat, the nut sheared off and the ball shank part started out of the hole in the bumper, luckily he made it to flat ground with the boat on the trailer
.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

silvertip, it was kinda hard to follow your ramblings, I guess you were calling the shaft the bolt

What Silvertip said makes perfect sense. Instead of buying a ball with a shaft coming out of it, buy a ball with a hole and threads. That way, you can just use a regular grade 8 bolt to bolt up through the bumper and into the ball.

His idea was right on. However, I still say take the original ball car shopping

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

I would not trust a boat on a bumper...... Invest in a real receiver hitch for the truck.

 

[avenger79]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

wow i cannot believe this was not actually answered yet. there are two types of hitch balls one for a reese hitch type system and one that goes in a bumper hitch as you are trying to do. the difference between the two is................the length of the shaft. find a ball (1 7/8) that is made to be used in a bumper hitch and you'll be good to go. you should not need to modify anything on your truck the ball or the trailer to use it.

 

[rentprop1]

Re: shaft for hitch ball too short

I would not trust a boat on a bumper...... Invest in a real receiver hitch for the truck.

I do agree, but my truck 05 Dodge 1500 Ram was made with a sport towing package, where the rear cross member of the frame is the bumper and the nice chrome part is attached to that, so in reality it's just as good or better than any real hitch ( actually less connection points to worry about )