Hitch ball

[mattwahm]

I just bought a new receiver and hitch ball, unassembled. How do I go about tightening the ball down on the receiver. I have one of the big wrenches for it, but I can only tighten it down just so far, and then I can't prevent the ball from turning when I continue tightening down the nut. Any tips? Thanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Hitch ball

drive thru a construction site, find a plumbers truck. if you ask nicely, and a $10 bill he'll use his pipe wrench on the ball to hold. take the wrench for the nut. stop at any trailer place and they will help you. service station, mechanics shop.

 

[JB]

Re: Hitch ball

Booo that pipe wrench! It will mar the ball.

Strap wrench should do the trick. Good tool to have anyway.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Hitch ball

You use the pipe wrench at the flange...not on the ball itself.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Hitch ball

Next time go to Wally world. They sell a ball with a hex flange and the matching drawbar with a stamped hex in it. you only need the one wrench.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Hitch ball

Make sure there are enough threads to fully tighten the nut. The nut may be running out of threads before it can tighten.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hitch ball

Lock washer has held it still for me without using anything to hold the ball, however if that fails then a pipe wrench with an old towel over the ball stops any damage to it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hitch ball

While JB has a Point, that the Strap Wrench is probably a Better Choice,.......

I've installed,+ removed countless hitch balls with a Pipewrench.........

 

[sc_shane]

Re: Hitch ball

For the hundred times I've changed mine out for different trailers, I've marred the heck out of the ball with a good ole pair of vise grips! Works like a champ, and gets a start on the beauty marks that are bound to get all over the ball after a year of use anyway. If you want to keep the really nice finish, then strap wrench is definitly the way to go.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hitch ball

Consider the pipe wrench marks "grease grooves"