Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

[Expidia]

But when I did a search on Google I found this item below.

I kept hitting my plastic bumper with the trailer coupler when backing up alone.

Had a rubber U at one time but it fell off or was swiped.

This is a cool invention. For $20 it will not only save my bumper but prevent me from having to jump out of car several times as I'm backing up.

I also ordered the magnets for $5.00 so I don't have to leave them on the car and trailer.

They might come in handy too by using the magnets to hold them on the empty trailer while I'm backing down a ramp and as the trailer drops down I lose sight of it.

I was going to fasten a mirror or something because hitching was becoming a pain when alone.

I don't know who this company is and I have no relationship to them, but this is exactly what I was looking for to solve a problem, just ordered a set and thought I'd pass it along.
"http://www.hitchingguides.com/?gclid=CKKcoqn80o4CFR4ZgQodHSOf8w"

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

You have a light boat (if its the 14 footer in your post). Grab the tongue and pull it to the truck rather than the other way around. If you don't have a tongue jack, install one with a wheel so you can easily move the boat.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

You have a light boat (if its the 14 footer in your post). Grab the tongue and pull it to the truck rather than the other way around. If you don't have a tongue jack, install one with a wheel so you can easily move the boat.

Thanks for your feed back but it's close to 1000 lbs with the motor and gear and already is on a big wheel trailer jack. My problem is the driveway is at a very slight downhill slope. Two weeks ago the boat started moving towards the car too fast as I was rolling it under the hitch and I had to hold it back with my shoulder and back. Stupidly, I sprained my lower back doing this. Now it's been two weeks and my low back still aches and my legs tingle. It's getting better each day but I hope I didn't damage a disk!

So now you see why I just bought the trailer guides. I hitch the boat up 3-4 times a week. It will be a lot easy to guide the car back into the hitch than to roll a 1000 lbs rig on an incline into the hitch.

For $20 bucks it's cheaper than back surgery if it works as advertised. I don't see why it wouldn't.

Also saves me from yelling at my Wife when she says "Oops, sorry I had back up too far"

 

[boatflounder]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

Hope it works for you I bought a similar system with two posts and a flip up thingy when you were back far enough, unfortunately I couldnt ee it over the tailgate.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

Hope it works for you I bought a similar system with two posts and a flip up thingy when you were back far enough, unfortunately I couldnt ee it over the tailgate.

Thx, I'll post back to this thread if it works out OK!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

there is a stainless V that has a plate with a hole in it, you use the ball to mount it on the hitch, then when backing it lines up perfectly.then just move forward an inch. there around $80 and i don't have the link for it.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

there is a stainless V that has a plate with a hole in it, you use the ball to mount it on the hitch, then when backing it lines up perfectly.then just move forward an inch. there around $80 and i don't have the link for it.

Is this what you are talking about: http://ballandjack.com/pricing.htm

Would be kinda ugly on a passenger car though.

This companies unit looks to be for RV's etc. $180 and too heavy duty for my needs. I'd like to find one of those stainless steel V's thats removable!

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

That's a good idea, thanks for posting.

I like how it doubles as a boat guide when the trailer is submerged.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

it is similar, but only use the ball bolt to mount, and in not as massive. it mount to the reciever insert, so when not towing, the insert would be removed.

found the item i was talking about, and they have really come down in price. copy and paste with out them ""

"http://www.watersports.alphanautical.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=717"

 

[jddenham]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

Here's another place where we order from:

"http://www.tiedown.com/aballseye.html"

 

[Expidia]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

Here's another place where we order from:

"http://www.tiedown.com/aballseye.html"

Thanks, I checked this one out. not cheap though since it's replacing your ball with a new one.

Cabelas $100 and up.

From what I see not a lot of room for error either and this one review concurs.

Customer Reviews for Balls Eye Coupler/Ball Centering Device
Overall Rating: 1 out of 5

Balls eye Coupler, April 24, 2007
By patn


"Does not work as promised. Does not fit trailer correctly. Y guide piece does not swing properly and the pin holes do not line up.Came with wrong size lock nuts, had to purchase new ones in the correct size.VERY little margin for error when hooking up.I see no advantage to having this product am sorry I bought it."

 

[Expidia]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

it is similar, but only use the ball bolt to mount, and in not as massive. it mount to the receiver insert, so when not towing, the insert would be removed.

found the item i was talking about, and they have really come down in price. copy and paste with out them ""

"http://www.watersports.alphanautical.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=717"

This might fill the bill . . . Cheap enough and detachable, I like that.

My only concern is that it's zinc plated. I don't mind galvanized, but zinc plated still tends to rust out and I'm not even near the ocean. I wish they offered a stainless steel version I wouldn't mind paying extra.

My last trailer was about 8 years old and galvanized, left outside all year and showed no rust except for the tongue part about 12 inches zinc coated and started rusting out years ago.

I know each time I back up it's going to scratch the zinc coating off and will start to rust.

I have the gadgets I bought above coming shortly. If they don't work out I'll box them up and ship them back.

I'll probably give this a shot since I can put it into trunk and keep it dry when not being used. $39 is pretty cheap too. Until I see the possibly $19.95 for shipping!

I'll put one in the cart and see what the shipping is to NY.

Not too bad on the shipping $12.41 UPS ground.

or

only $69.95 for next day air . . . . hahahaha

 

[hankll]

Re: Was going to ask about easier trailer hitching

The ballseye idea seems to be a good one but I think I could make it out of heavier steel bar thats galvanized fairly easily and even come up with a guide that would hook under the ball hitch that would be very similar. I have a hard time believing the negative comment, but I guess its possible that its that finicky to get installed. It just doesn't seem like it would be that hard to line it up while your trailer is hitched up to install the ballseye unit in a way that would work correctly all the time. But then I'm not an expert = A DRIP under pressure!