Caster under hitch ball
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Simi Valley
Caster under hitch ball
I have installed a front hitch for precise positioning of trailers in confined quarters. In many of these places I have to go over a hump where the underside of the hitch-ball digs a gash into the pavement and also screws up the threads, making it difficult to change the ball. If it were just one trailer, I could beef up the caster and jack to solve the problem, but it comes up frequently with borrowed or rented trailers.
Initially, I thought to put on a second nut to protect the threads. Now I'm thinking of welding up a caster on a nut to screw onto the underside of the ball on the front hitch. Has anyone tried this? The hitch is a 10" drop to get the trailers close to level.
Initially, I thought to put on a second nut to protect the threads. Now I'm thinking of welding up a caster on a nut to screw onto the underside of the ball on the front hitch. Has anyone tried this? The hitch is a 10" drop to get the trailers close to level.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,912
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
If your moving the "trailers in confined quarters" with the front hitch why do the trailers have to be level?
If pulling the trailers down the road at speed then yes need to be level.
Would a 8" drop clear the hump and still get the job done?
How often do you need to change out the ***** and to what sizes?
Being you are just moving them it's not like you are going over bumps at speed you could use a 2" ball on a 2-5/16 trailer.
or better yet get other drop hitches with the right ball sizes and swap them with pulling a pin.
Doing the nut on & off must not be easy on you and tuff on the threads.
Dave ----
ps guess you have a 6" lift on that truck right?
If pulling the trailers down the road at speed then yes need to be level.
Would a 8" drop clear the hump and still get the job done?
How often do you need to change out the ***** and to what sizes?
Being you are just moving them it's not like you are going over bumps at speed you could use a 2" ball on a 2-5/16 trailer.
or better yet get other drop hitches with the right ball sizes and swap them with pulling a pin.
Doing the nut on & off must not be easy on you and tuff on the threads.
Dave ----
ps guess you have a 6" lift on that truck right?
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Simi Valley
Thanks, guys! The reason for leveling is to keep the back of the trailer from scraping or digging in. The drop also gets me within the the stroke of the trailer jack, so I don't have to haul my floor jack around or jack it up, block it, block up the jack, jack it again,...etc. I wouldn't mind having a way to stiffen the front suspension for just this operation, but would not want the added stiffness on the highway. Perhaps the best solution is to make some kind of block on the springs to stop the travel for this one purpose. With the 4X4 leaf springs, that wouldn't be too much of a challenge.
Edit for more info:
The front hitch comes out the opening in the middle of the bumper, so it is a few inches higher than the rear hitch. The front springs aren't as stiff as the back, so the sag is much more, hence the jacking issues.
Edit for more info:
The front hitch comes out the opening in the middle of the bumper, so it is a few inches higher than the rear hitch. The front springs aren't as stiff as the back, so the sag is much more, hence the jacking issues.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 726
From: Calgary Canada
If the caster on the bottom of that hitch hits the ground, then it's either going to pop the ball off the hitch, or you will be "lifting" the front of the truck plus the trailer with it as you move along. Both sound pretty unworkable. Can you get across that obstacle with a hitch with less drop, then unhook and swap to the "big drop" hitch for the rest of the distance? This all sounds like low-speed maneuvers.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,912
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Air bags up front with on board compressor.
No air hook up then move and air up as needed from inside the cab.
It would be nice if you had an adjustable height ball maybe something like a high lift jack. One side fits the truck hitch and the other (base maybe?) The ball.
Dave ----
No air hook up then move and air up as needed from inside the cab.
It would be nice if you had an adjustable height ball maybe something like a high lift jack. One side fits the truck hitch and the other (base maybe?) The ball.
Dave ----
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