Trailer ball mount upgrade

[Frank S]

Are you kidding me? My partner brought over his small trades show trailer that I made for him nearly 8 years ago to have the bearings repacked before going to Connecticut in a couple of weeks. The only reason he brought it over was because I had asked when was the last time the bearings had been repacked. 8 years ago he said.
When he showed up I noticed the tongue of the trailer was about 4 to 5 inches too high.
You need a drop hitch adapter for this thing. yeah I thought it was way too high in the front.
So while I clean repack replace the seals and the spindle nut keepers he heads to town to buy a drop hitch and a ball.
He returns with a ball that has a 3/4" shank and a drop adapter with a 1" hole. This was all they had he said. No problem I'll just make a bushing for it I told him.
Simple right? Just saw off a piece of the 3/4 ID 1" tubing I have in stock I thought.
NOOOOOO, nothing is ever that simple any more, the hole was a punched hole through 3/4" thick material causing it to have over .100" taper or 1.145" diameter on the bottom and 1.022" at the top. So I made a tapered bushing















Yes I tend to be a bit anal when it comes to towing

[DIYer]

Thanks Frank S! We've added your Tapered Ball Hitch Bushing to our Trailers and Towing category,
as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tapered Ball Hitch Bushing by Frank S

tags: trailer, adaptor

[TrickieDickie]

Good save, Frank. You are right the hitch and tow should be close to level.

[Toolmaker51]

Not to mention "being anal" might keep a trailer from becoming a Hyundai hood ornament.

[Beserkleyboy]

Nah, nothing anal about it at all! Whenever we take the 'van away, I see SO many poor hook-ups... I used to sidle up, say G'Day and ease into a convo about the problem with their chains, their ball height, their electrics hookups etc with very little appreciation...I don't anymore, not worth the aggravation. Just hope they don't come a guts and hurt or kill someone...Cheers
Jim

[NortonDommi]

That is some taper there. Great quality control, do you know where it was made?

[Toolmaker51]

That is some taper there. Great quality control, do you know where it was made?

All the parameters to clean punching are well established. Pics aren't clear enough to see fracture ring, that would clue amount of clearance they have between punch and die. The resulting slug reflects that too, amount of deformation, the raised edge (upper), and radius of the down side.

I'll say it was made in a lean-to shed right next to where the clamshell hitch I posted about came from.

The cross bolt holes to position the height didn't line up. No QA or QC, all the parts were bagged, broken down for a compact package. They probably didn't even know. Upon the opportunity to review, believe me; I did a full broadside.

[Frank S]

The only thing I know is it wasn't a Reese or draw tight. it came from one of 3 places True Value, ACE hardware or Tractor supply 5000lb rating made for a 1" shank ball the welds looked to be supreme quality but in my opinion, you do not punch the shank hole in hitch adaptors just to save a few penny's of labor cost.

[Toolmaker51]

Punching is more than acceptable; but tooling must be correct for a proper result.
Everything; punch form, die size, not excessive wear to guide bushings (set up issue) sufficient stripper pressure, positioning of material, application of punch lube, tonnage, condition of press...

[NortonDommi]

Up here in Godzone the gummit passed laws preventing people from making tow hitches unless they pay the gummit lots of monies for a special license. Good in theory but there are still idiots doing the actual work, they are getting weeded out though. Seen some bloody dodgy stuff but all 'legal'. Tow bars bolted through the floor pan with 10 mm bolts and standard washers with those stupid useless split bent bits of wire under the nut are a favorite.
As Toolmaker 51 pointed out nothing wrong with a well punched hole but a nice fit like your bush Frank is better. Shouldn't have to do though.