Is this ok - safe?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 4
From: Loveland, CO
Is this ok - safe?
I've got a new enclosed H&H trailer, tandem axle, 7X14 with a 5 foot tongue. Total length of 19'. Empty weight is 2100 lbs, and has a 7100 GWVR rating. I will never get to the 7100 point, probably have total of 3000-3500 lbs total weight.
The trailer came with an adjustable hitch, so the hitch can be raised or lowered, depending what the ball height is for different vehicles.
The adjustable hitch is a good idea, except it has a lot of play - left and right, and up and down. Please see video.
So my question is: is this thing safe?
I've towed lots of trailers over the past 20 years, but never one with the adjustable hitch. I contacted H&H on Feb 8th, and they have yet to decide if the play is acceptable.
Thanks for you help and advise
The trailer came with an adjustable hitch, so the hitch can be raised or lowered, depending what the ball height is for different vehicles.
The adjustable hitch is a good idea, except it has a lot of play - left and right, and up and down. Please see video.
So my question is: is this thing safe?
I've towed lots of trailers over the past 20 years, but never one with the adjustable hitch. I contacted H&H on Feb 8th, and they have yet to decide if the play is acceptable.
Thanks for you help and advise
5th Wheeling
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 42
Likes: 9
From: NW Mississippi
I've got a new enclosed H&H trailer, tandem axle, 7X14 with a 5 foot tongue. Total length of 19'. Empty weight is 2100 lbs, and has a 7100 GWVR rating. I will never get to the 7100 point, probably have total of 3000-3500 lbs total weight.
The trailer came with an adjustable hitch, so the hitch can be raised or lowered, depending what the ball height is for different vehicles.
The adjustable hitch is a good idea, except it has a lot of play - left and right, and up and down. Please see video.
So my question is: is this thing safe?
I've towed lots of trailers over the past 20 years, but never one with the adjustable hitch. I contacted H&H on Feb 8th, and they have yet to decide if the play is acceptable.
Thanks for you help and advise
The trailer came with an adjustable hitch, so the hitch can be raised or lowered, depending what the ball height is for different vehicles.
The adjustable hitch is a good idea, except it has a lot of play - left and right, and up and down. Please see video.
So my question is: is this thing safe?
I've towed lots of trailers over the past 20 years, but never one with the adjustable hitch. I contacted H&H on Feb 8th, and they have yet to decide if the play is acceptable.
Thanks for you help and advise
Since you already have the trailer, and if you want to take advantage of the adjustability, why not make some steel shims to channel and the receiver?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,137
Likes: 7,950
From: Texas
I've got a new enclosed H&H trailer, tandem axle, 7X14 with a 5 foot tongue. Total length of 19'. Empty weight is 2100 lbs, and has a 7100 GWVR rating. I will never get to the 7100 point, probably have total of 3000-3500 lbs total weight.
The trailer came with an adjustable hitch, so the hitch can be raised or lowered, depending what the ball height is for different vehicles.
The adjustable hitch is a good idea, except it has a lot of play - left and right, and up and down. Please see video.
So my question is: is this thing safe?
I've towed lots of trailers over the past 20 years, but never one with the adjustable hitch. I contacted H&H on Feb 8th, and they have yet to decide if the play is acceptable.
Thanks for you help and advise
The trailer came with an adjustable hitch, so the hitch can be raised or lowered, depending what the ball height is for different vehicles.
The adjustable hitch is a good idea, except it has a lot of play - left and right, and up and down. Please see video.
So my question is: is this thing safe?
I've towed lots of trailers over the past 20 years, but never one with the adjustable hitch. I contacted H&H on Feb 8th, and they have yet to decide if the play is acceptable.
Thanks for you help and advise
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 903
Likes: 119
It'll probably wear out the bolts or the holes on the channel. And it'll probably take tens of thousands of miles to do that. It should be easy enough to drill whatever the smaller of the two up to the next size so the bolts fit tight and cram some washers between the channel and coupler.
Your best bet is probably to just take it to the dealer and bitch at them since it sounds like the trailer is new enough that that's an option.
Your best bet is probably to just take it to the dealer and bitch at them since it sounds like the trailer is new enough that that's an option.
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NY requires an inspection (non-commercial). MA does not. Those are the only 2 states I personally have experience with.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,728
Likes: 80
From: New Jersey
My employer just purchased a H&H trailer 5 ton 20 foot Deck over trailer with the adjustable hitch. I know since I picked it up from the dealer. LoL It too has an adjustable 2 5/16 inch coupler. However, we have some up and down play maybe an 1/8 of inch which we expected. Side to side probably a hair. However we towed about 1,000 pounds on the deck during a test run and everything is solid. It felt like any other trailer with an adjustable coupler we have rented and towed. My boss felt if it is an issue we would just find a couple of washers and shim it. Our biggest need right now to getting the correct hieght ball utility head setup for the F150 and T350. My pintle hook on the truck was about 3 inches too low. We need at least a 4 inch raise in hieght with the coupler in the lowest position.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 141
Likes: 21
From: Florida
The aftermarket hitch I installed on the wife's BMW X3 is great. It has a hidden tapered hole pointing down, the ball carrier has a tapered plug pointing up.
Unlike all the square hitch receivers w/ ball carriers, this tapered interface is dead silent when pulling an empty trailer, instead of the typical clunking at every bump.
Unlike all the square hitch receivers w/ ball carriers, this tapered interface is dead silent when pulling an empty trailer, instead of the typical clunking at every bump.