Sorry if this has been covered before, wasn't sure if this belongs here or in the "hardware" section further down.
Anyway, I've not seen a 3" shank and don't see a need to get one. But the stupid adapter is a PITA when plugging / un-plugging that heavy WDHitch. My neighbor has a new GMC and his adapter is flanged so it stays put when plugging in. Mine / ours, not so much.
Anyone have a solution for this?

 

Duct tape?
I was putting the sleeves in and then sliding the pin into the sleeve holes far enough to hold them in place but not block the shank.

My final solution was to get a 3" shank WDH.

 

Weld a flange on?

 

Do you use other ball mounts or just this weight distributing hitch? If only this one you could attach the adapter to the weight distributing hitch. All done to the end of the ball mount/weight distributing hitch that is towards the front of the truck so you are not changing anything between the ball and hitch pin.

Small weld holding the adapter in place.
Drill and tap a hole in the adapter for a setscrew.
Drill a 1/8" or 1/4" hole and drive a roll pin in it.

You would probably want to have another adapter in your truck in case you needed to use a different hitch at some time even if this is the only one you use currently.

 

Not going there, or at least don't want to go there.

Best (better?) solution, it's what GM essentially did, still not ideal.


I have multiple trailers, I need the adapter(s), carrying extras I'm not a fan of either.

 

Why not put the reducer on the wd hitch first then slid it into the receiver

 

Looks like the simplest solution is also the best one.

 

I just installed a brand new 2.5 take off ford hitch onto my 2004 f350 and the factory reducer had a flange so it won't slid too far Into the receiver, but I still put it on the hitchs first

 

Maybe I am the only one with issues (oh I got issues). Perhaps a few pictures will help ya'll smell what I'm stepping in?
Whether you leave it in the hitch or slip it on the drawbar the issue is the same.

 

Doesn't your '12 F-250 have a 2.5" receiver? I thought that the 3" receivers were a more recent offering. Either way I do understand that you still need an adapter sleeve to properly fit a 2" drawbar into it. To me, having flanged end seems like a pretty good solution.

 

which years & models are getting the 20,000lb Class V hitches from factory?? last i knew unless you ended up in the 450-650 models they were still the 14000-15000lb Class V hitches with the 2-1/2" tubes which is what came on my 350.. which for mine just has a curt mfg reducer sleeve to bring it down to a std 2". first time it went in i had to knock it in with a hammer since it was a tight fit.. but ive since ground it down a little to make it easily removable when i need to for 2.5" hitches..

 

My 2017 F-350 SRW long bed has the 3" hitch. Rating? I dunno, but it's a lot, more than my trailer weighs so I haven't really worried about it.

 

My bad all, it is a 2.5", same issue though. If I could get a flanged insert AND the holes lined up, that would work.

 

any pics of insert are you using with yours??