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06-01-2012, 11:37 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kincardine Ontario
Posts: 163
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Equal-i-zer hitch torque settings
The specs for the shank bolts on this hitch are 320 ft-lb. Most torque wrenches only go to 250 ft-lb. Do people have one of the high end wrenches or will 250 ft-lb be sufficient. I want to be able to adjust the hitch if necessary.
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Owenssailor
Ont. Canada
2017 Chev 4x4 Crew Cab 5.3l 3.42 8 spd trailer pkg
2011 Jayco JayFeather Select 28U
Equal-i-zer 1400/14000
Rotochocks
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06-02-2012, 07:51 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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owenssailor,
IMO I would want to be closer to the 320 ft/lb requirement then 250 ft/lbs.
With my Reese WDH the ball mount bolts (3/4 size) they have a 300 ft/lb installation specification. I torque the nuts to 150 ft/lbs, then I turn the nut another 1/4 turn with a breaker bar to achieve the 300 ft/lb requirement (per Reese).
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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06-02-2012, 12:21 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Manitoba Canada
Posts: 553
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Hmm.. we are planning to adjust the height on our hitch this weekend.. I did not think about this issue.. I am hoping my dad has a tool that will work. He is a retired firelighter and always has a a huge wrench he calls "channel locks" in his trucks.. I'll have to ask him if it will work.
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06-02-2012, 11:12 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
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I really don't think that channel locks on the hitch is a good idea. I would think that a half inch socket and breaker bar would work better.
__________________
2011 Eagle 330RLTS with just about every option.
2017 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 with tow package. (no, we don't tow the Jayco with it.)
2018 Surveyor 265RLDS well equipped.
Life in the slow lane is still life.
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06-02-2012, 11:34 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Manitoba Canada
Posts: 553
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Ok. Thanks.. I will figure out how to borrow that..
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06-03-2012, 05:42 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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I also slide a little cheater pipe over the end of the breaker bar to make that last 1/4 turn on the nut a little easier.
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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06-03-2012, 07:15 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sebastian FL
Posts: 196
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On occasion I write installation instructions and usually put in torque values not because it matters, but rather to avoid a lot of phone calls from customers asking "How tight should I make these nuts? Also, the mere mention of a torque wrench seems to forestall installation with less than desirable tools like "channel locks".
My understanding is that torque settings are important to bolts loaded in tension. When multiple bolts are needed to share the load, having equal tensing is a good thing. Torque values are based on 1) strength of the bolt materials. 2) how the threads are formed and 3) whether the treads are greased or dry when installing. With rougher ungreased threads, it takes more force to achieve the same tension as smooth greased threads. With rough dry threads, having equal torque does not guaranty equal tension because one may have more friction than another.
The bolts through the shank are loaded in sheer and it is only necessary to have them tight enough that they do not back off by themselves and perhaps to pull the bracket snug against the shank to minimize wobble. I pulled out the installation instructions on my EZ-lift and a torque setting is not even mentioned.
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John & Nancy
Jay Feather 25Z 2007
Ford F-150 XLT 5.4 Triton 2008
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06-03-2012, 09:22 AM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TeamFoxy
snip....... I pulled out the installation instructions on my EZ-lift and a torque setting is not even mentioned.
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John,
I'm a little surprised that your WDH instructions lack a torque setting on the 3/4 ball mount bolts/nuts, first time I heard that.
Don't know what year/model EZ-Lift WDH you have, but the following EZ-Lift install instructions state a 260ft/lb torque setting (Ball Mount, Item #4):
Elite Model: http://manuals.adventurerv.net/Eaz-L...structions.pdf
Ultra Model: http://manuals.adventurerv.net/Eaz-L...structions.pdf
Bob
__________________
2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
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06-03-2012, 10:49 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 52
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From a Machinist's POV, I certainly hope the hardware can handle 320ft/lbs of torque. A lot of gear you buy now tends to come with consumer-grade (grade 5) hardware. I recommend upgrading to Grade 8 hardware for that extra insurance.
As far as having a tool for the job- a torque wrench that exceeds 250 ft/lbs (according to my web search) would cost a minimum of $350 USED...
but if you're looking for a tool that you might use once seasonally (if that often), check your well-equipped hardware stores for a boxed end wrench of the appropriate size and a pipe to fit over the opposite end (breaker bar) half the length of the wrench itself to put that final 1/4 turn on the nut. But if the nut refuses to move any further- it is best to stop there in order to avoid catastrophic failure.
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LilWilly
1985 'J' Series 2050
1997 Ram 1500
2004 Jeep WranglerX
Camping and Wheeling...it's what I do!
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06-03-2012, 11:06 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Kalamazoo, West Michigan
Posts: 1,817
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Use a 3/4" drive torque wrench. I think I saw one at Harbor Freight for $79. Also as a general rule you can de-rate torque values 20% for lubricated threads vs. dry.
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2006 23B Hybrid with 10k round bar WDH
2011 F150 4x4 SCREW Ecoboost, Max Tow, Integrated TBC, 3.73 LS axle, Firestone Ride Rite airbags.
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06-03-2012, 11:31 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcfarmall
Use a 3/4" drive torque wrench. I think I saw one at Harbor Freight for $79. Also as a general rule you can de-rate torque values 20% for lubricated threads vs. dry.
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http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...rench-808.html
I wonder why that didn't come up in my search
Silly me- I checked Snap-on, Matco, and Craftsman...
__________________
LilWilly
1985 'J' Series 2050
1997 Ram 1500
2004 Jeep WranglerX
Camping and Wheeling...it's what I do!
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