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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Trailer Hitch Ball Size

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Steve Siefken
1st Mate

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USA
81 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/20/2006 : 21:13:08

I need to rent a truck to move my boat. I was calling U-Haul and all they have is 2" balls, but my trailer is 2 and 5/16. (Can't be changed nor can another one be added.) Can I use a 2" ball?

Is there anyone else that I can rent a truck with the appropriate size ball?

I live in the Seattle area.

Thanks,

Steve Siefken
'84 SK/SR #4654 "Nicosha"

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2006 : 21:29:00

If the truck has a removable hitch ball, (most have nowadays) then you can just change out the ball.
check out u-hauls site about hitches
http://store.uhaul.com/hitches.aspx

We have 2 hitches for our truck, one is a 2" hi-riser, and the other is a 4.5" lower rider. So when we swap from the road tongue to the launch tounge, we keep the trailer level, when going from the launch tongue to the road tongue, the hi-riser prevents the underslung launching tongue from scrapping the roadway.
To switch hitch balls we simply unlock the fitted item from the truck tow hitch receiver, remove the hitch, replace it with the other one and reinsert the lock bar. Takes about 2mins to swap them out.
No tools, just the hitch keys :)

Oh,and NO, don't use the wrong size hitch ball!!!!

Paul.

Edited by - britinusa on 10/20/2006 21:29:39

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2006 : 13:38:41

Go buy a 2 5/16 ball...all truck outfitters have them, so does Wal Mart. Then you'll have one the next time you need one. Just be sure you get one that has the capacity to take the load you are pulling.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2006 : 23:23:24

Every component of the tow hitch, including the vehicle, hitch ball, riser, hitch frame, and receiver, should be rated for at least 8000#, which is the weight that a Catalina 25 plus trailer can reach if loaded with lots of cruising gear and full tanks. Most 2-5/16" balls will have the maximum safe working load stamped on them. DON'T tow a Catalina 25 with a ball mounted on a pickup truck step bumper - these are not strong enough, and you could end up ripping the whole bumper off the back of the pickup. I use the ball mount from a "weight-equalizing" type of hitch, these are rated for up to 12,000# if you use the whole "kit" including the equalizing bars and chains (I don't own these parts, just the ball mount).

The stem on a 2-5/16" ball is extra large, and if the hole in your ball mount or riser is too small in diameter to accept the ball stem, you probably have a 3500# rated mount intended for 1-7/8" or 2" balls. DO NOT attempt to use this mount by drilling a larger hole in it - go buy the proper mount. If your tow vehicle is a 4 x 4 with extra-high ground clearance, the hitch receiver will probably be too high off the ground to tow a Catalina 25 with the trailer "level" like it should be. DO NOT attempt to correct this problem by using a 12" to 16" riser! These are intended for light weight utility trailers or pop-up campers that weigh less than 1500#. A Catalina 25 will overstress the riser and probably result in at least bending it, if not snapping it completely. If you have a high-clearance tow vehicle, you need to install a low-rise hitch receiver that places the hitch ball mount socket at the proper height while maintaining a safe rated towing capacity of at least 8000#. Your local 4 x 4 specialty store can point you in the right direction if U-Haul doesn't have this kind of hitch designed for high-ground-clearance trucks.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 01:27:21

Try calling a construction equipment rental company. Seems like I have seen trucks on the job site that bore the rental company logo. The trucks are used to haul trailers with backhoes and such.

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Heartbeat
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 15:33:26

Ok, I don't recommend this, so "do as others say, and not as I have done."

I used a rental truck* to move Heartbeat from Tampa to Detroit. The rental company promised to have a 2" hitch that was good for 2k trailer weight. I was supposed to inform them if I was using it as a tow vehicle, but since there was an extra charge, it may have slipped my mind.

I picked up the truck with the wrong size ball that was welded on. I ground off the weld and removed the ball and then ground out the hole to fit my 2 5/16 inch ball. I torqued the crap out of it, greased the crap out of it, and dropped the trailer on. When I got to Detroit I pulled my ball and put their's back on with a a dab of weld from the old feed welder.

It worked like a champ. It was a new trailer and we speed tested it to a good speed in the Florida flatlands. It tracked straight and solid like a champ. Other than than we stuck to 70-75.

-Matt

* Similar co, btw.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2006 : 21:13:13

I hope no-one at U-Haul is reading this.
If you read the terms and conditions, it is specificly forbidden to tow above a specified weight, which in most cases is between 2,000 and 4,000 LBs, depending on the rental co. moving truck. Other than welding on lightweight balls, they also often use industry specific hitches so you can only use their trailers and car hauler draw bars.
Vehicle rental companies like Avis and Budget and Enterprise etc, don't want their vehicles used to tow anything.
Your insurance would be void if you had had an accident while towing.
I found a rental company that will rent 3/4 ton trucks and Expeditions etc, however, they have onerous insurance and licencing requirements.
I'd sell my 3/4 ton long box 4X4 in a hot second if I could find a reasonably priced alternative.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.