How big are your hitch balls?

[WeRJuliian]

OK, OK, I couldn't resist the topic , but it's a serious question, honest...

We've towed for some time, and our hitch seems "noisy". I'm beginning to wonder if I've got the wrong sized hitch ball. Everything I read, from Jayco and elsewhere, says it's either 2" or 2-5/16" But nobody can tell me which.
I'm pretty sure we have the right one - it seems to be a secure fit, for example - but I wanted to follow up, just to quell my own doubts.

So, I contacted my dealer, who said "It's stamped on the coupler" (It's not...). then referred me to Jayco.

I gave Jayco the make, model, colour, chapter, verse and VIN, so they can look it up in their records.... seems logical, right?

What I got back, was a nice email from their CS people, saying, in effect:

"Dunno, Boss. Might be either..."

... and asking for close-up pictures of the coupler.

Hence, my question, "How big...."?

Anyone else been down this road?

And the obvious question.. Don't Jayco keep records of what they actually build??

[Jagiven]

Supposedly they do keep records. Your TT is small, so it could be either. A 2 5/8 ball will NOT fit in a 2" hitch. What WDH are you using?

My hitch ball was noisy, and I could see a deep wear grove on it. Once I started applying a little grease to the ball and pivot points on the WDH the noise when away. I also no longer am getting additional wear marks on the ball.

edit; I was told the ball size is stamped on the tongue too. I have not seen it, but I have never laid on the ground and looked at the underside.

[SkyBound]

I don't think a different ball size would correlate to noise generated by a hitch... I would start with grease on the ball and inside the trailer coupler, and if you are using a weight distribution hitch, grease the pivot points except for any friction surfaces.

[Danno]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Supposedly they do keep records. Your TT is small, so it could be either. A 2 5/8 ball will NOT fit in a 2" hitch.

2 5/8" ? nope

The ball needs to be lubricated. Most don't because they can get their hands covered in grease.
I use a bit of white lithium grease. It's not the ball that causes noise, its usually the receiver in the truck causing it, or the weight distributing bars.

I can almost guarantee you that you have a 2 5/16" ball on that trailer.

[WeRJuliian]

Well, Jayco's response is that it is a 2"... which is what I'm using, and I do grease it, liberally, every time we hook up.

So, that puts my mind at rest, I suspect the noise is due to a small amount "slop" in the receiver.

[JFlightRisk]

If you've been towing your TT for a while, and it hasn't popped off the hitch and passed you going down the road, you probably do have the right size. A 2 5/16" ball won't fit into a 2" coupler, BUT a 2" will slide into a 2 5/16" coupler, probably without even having to slide the latch open.

[SkyBound]

Are you using a weight distribution hitch? If not then I can see the shank slipping in the truck's receiver hitch a bit. I know that with my WDH engaged, the shank is so torqued in that hitch receiver that there is no way it will move.

If you suspect this is the problem, there are shims you can buy to help get rid of the slop.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by Danno

2 5/8" ? nope

Just seeing if anyone was paying attention

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by WeRJuliian

Well, Jayco's response is that it is a 2"... which is what I'm using, and I do grease it, liberally, every time we hook up.

So, that puts my mind at rest, I suspect the noise is due to a small amount "slop" in the receiver.

If your receiver is a bit sloppy they sell a simple clamp that takes out any “play/wiggle” in the hitch and receiver. I added it to my setup and I lost the clunky jerky sensation I was feeling while towing. My receiver is a 3” with a 2” sleeve in it and there was a good 1/4” of movement that is no longer there with the clamp installed

[Riverman]

Thanks moderator.

[Scott]

He, he, he, he. Love the title of this thread!

When I had a popup, it was 2" on a regular shank. Now with my 32' TT, it's 2-5/16" on the WDH.

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by WeRJuliian

OK, OK, I couldn't resist the topic , but it's a serious question, honest...

I gave Jayco the make, model, colour, chapter, verse and VIN, so they can look it up in their records.... seems logical, right?

... and asking for close-up pictures of the coupler.

Hence, my question, "How big...."?

Anyone else been down this road?

Feelin ya pain!!! The only answer I can give at this point is depends on a couple of things....

Depends on what trailer we are towing... and how cold it is.

[SkyBound]

The title change of this thread sucks! Lighten up and have a little laugh people. Shout out to the OP for having a sense of humour.

[FPM III]

Thread topic titles need to be clear and concise so they're easily understood by our users as to what the discussion is about should they decide to click on it. The title, as entered, did not satisfy this requirement and was edited so it would.

No animals were harmed by this change.

[madmaxmutt]

So, the size literally isn't stamped on the coupler. Are there any markings/stamps of any kind on the coupler? Perhaps a model number that you can correlate?

[Duke4857]

Put a 2" ball in your coupler. If it falls out and smashes your toe you have a 2 5/16 coupler. When you smash your toe, call a tow truck. (toe truck?)