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Recommend a Hitch Reducer

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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 01:54 AM
  #1  
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Recommend a Hitch Reducer

I need a reducer for my 2020 F350.

I never use anything 2.5" so if its available a 3" to 2" would make more sense.

Do any of them have anti rattle provisions?

I don't mind spending extra for a good product.

Thanks!
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 03:51 AM
  #2  
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Originally Posted by JayCarver
Do any of them have anti rattle provisions?
All I have ever seen are two part, 2 > 2.5 > 3. They are all metal on metal so that will rattle.

Originally Posted by JayCarver
I don't mind spending extra for a good product.
If you are willing to spend a bit, I'd recommend just getting a good 3 inch shank, 6 inch drop hitch, with changeable ball sizes. It will run you a few hundred dollars, but you wont have to mess with lining up reducer sleeves, rattle will be minimal, and you will be able to make the most of the 3 inch hitch.


 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 04:50 AM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by JayCarver
I need a reducer for my 2020 F350.

I never use anything 2.5" so if its available a 3" to 2" would make more sense.

Do any of them have anti rattle provisions?

I don't mind spending extra for a good product.

Thanks!
I used a 2.5” to 2” reducer for a while on my ‘19 F250. I pull a trailer everyday, the rattle and slop in the hitch was ridiculous. The amount of wear from the slop has caused the hitch pin hole to wallow out and I swear I can grab the ball and the whole hitch moves up and down a few inches. Tossed that and went with a Weighsafe 180 hitch, 2.5” shank 6” drop. $229 on ebay shipped. No slop and much less noise. Now my work trailer doesn’t sound like it will snap off the hitch on every bump.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by harmanrk
All I have ever seen are two part, 2 > 2.5 > 3. They are all metal on metal so that will rattle.



If you are willing to spend a bit, I'd recommend just getting a good 3 inch shank, 6 inch drop hitch, with changeable ball sizes. It will run you a few hundred dollars, but you wont have to mess with lining up reducer sleeves, rattle will be minimal, and you will be able to make the most of the 3 inch hitch.
This is what I did. 4 of my trailers are 2 5/16 ball, 1 is 2 inch. So for my F 250 I bought a 2.5 inch shank Shocker Hitch with the 2 appropriate ball sizes. Adjustable drop. Pricey? Yup. But one trailer is used pretty much every day from late March until late October and another gets pulled about 3,000 miles round trip full of motorcycles on vacation every year so it was worth it to me.
Shocker is also available for 3 inch receivers.
​​​​​​https://shockerhitch.com/
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 06:37 AM
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I use this so far https://www.buyersproducts.com/produ...a%205%2F8%20in.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 07:17 AM
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They make anti rattle clips that are ubolts to elimate the rattle.
https://www.etrailer.com/question-318881.html
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 07:27 AM
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I would also avoid any adapter that will push extend the length of the draw bar.
The farther the trailer hitch is from the axle, the more tendency to sway, so short is best. I have even had extra holes drilled in the draw bar to get it up nice and tight to the truck.
Example: I would avoid this:
https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adapt...ese/38735.html
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 09:01 AM
  #8  
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I also recommend getting the matching size shank. I towed with the 2" shank and it was noisy even with the WDH at full configuration. The hole for the pin in the receiver wallowed out a bit from using the reducers. Once I went to the 3" shank that stopped.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 10:49 AM
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+3 on just buying a new 3" shank.
I only have one trailer and its 2 5/16 so I just bought a new 3" hitch and 2 5/16 ball.
I did not want to mess around with any adapters.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 11:27 AM
  #10  
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Go to a welding shop and have them put a sleeve on your 2" to bring it to 3" and weld in place. I have a 2-1/2 inch and use the correct shank, but when a friend bought a new truck it had the 3", I sleeved his shanks to 3" and with the sleeve welded in place on the shank he has almost no rattle and he is not wallowing out the pin hole.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Rjacks258
I used a 2.5” to 2” reducer for a while on my ‘19 F250. I pull a trailer everyday, the rattle and slop in the hitch was ridiculous. The amount of wear from the slop has caused the hitch pin hole to wallow out and I swear I can grab the ball and the whole hitch moves up and down a few inches. Tossed that and went with a Weighsafe 180 hitch, 2.5” shank 6” drop. $229 on ebay shipped. No slop and much less noise. Now my work trailer doesn’t sound like it will snap off the hitch on every bump.
I highly recommend this setup, I bought the same hitch, with the matching locking pin. If you're worried about the hitch rattle, by the Hitch Clamp brand anti rattle clamp. This is a very secure quality setup.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Rjacks258
I used a 2.5” to 2” reducer for a while on my ‘19 F250. I pull a trailer everyday, the rattle and slop in the hitch was ridiculous. The amount of wear from the slop has caused the hitch pin hole to wallow out and I swear I can grab the ball and the whole hitch moves up and down a few inches. Tossed that and went with a Weighsafe 180 hitch, 2.5” shank 6” drop. $229 on ebay shipped. No slop and much less noise. Now my work trailer doesn’t sound like it will snap off the hitch on every bump.
I highly recommend this setup, I bought the same hitch, with the matching locking pin. If you're worried about the hitch rattle, by the Hitch Clamp brand anti rattle clamp. This is a very secure quality setup.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 02:33 PM
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Thanks for the input guys. I will probably get that weigh safe 180 setup with a 3” shank. Seems like the proper way to do it.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 06:25 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by JayCarver
Thanks for the input guys. I will probably get that weigh safe 180 setup with a 3” shank. Seems like the proper way to do it.
Another vote for weighsafe. Slowly but surely I’ve been getting rid of 2” shanks altogether.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2020 | 06:27 PM
  #15  
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My preference is to use a 3in shank. But when I have to use a 2.5 or a 2in... I've been very happy with the Curt reducer set. Much better than the OE sleeve.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0765BVYJR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0765BVYJR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
At some point, I will sell my 2.5in weighsafe and get the 3in version.
 
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