Tow Hitch Ball - 50mm or 2"?

I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

Thanks, John

On 27 Oct 2006 13:06:48 -0700, "ContestID67"
wrote:

I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

I'd suspect lubrication first. Trailer hitches exist in a really sucky
environment. The metal heats up in the sun, the lubricant gets thin,
and it eventually drips out...and the lubricant that doesn't leak out
picks up dirt on the road and gets gritty. The movable part that
slides in under the ball to hold it in place very often gets stuck.
Clean up the hitch and grease its innards with lithium bearing grease,
and see what happens. Then keep the hitch wrapped in plastic or foil
when the trailer is idle, and give it a cleaning and lube at the start
of every season.

rj

ContestID67 wrote:
I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

Thanks, John


How sure are you that it was a 50mm hitch on the trailer? Did the
trailer get imported with the glider? Usually you can find 2" stamped
somewhere on the trailer if it's english. I'm sure we could fill the
newsgroup many times over with people's stories of having a hard time
either connecting or disconnecting trailers even when they are a correct
match.

With that said, the following link shows a picture of a bulldog coupler
(made by HammerBlow). I've only used this on one trailer, but it was
awesome when it came to hooking and unhooking the trailer. It looks
ugly, but it always dropped on with a snap and the way it pops loose by
swinging the jaw open when you're ready to unhook make it a piece of
cake every time. I'll convert any future trailer to this style as a
result. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant...y_Code=COUPLER

Metric hitches are designed with a different shape, more egglike, than
imperial types. This is why you must always use the proper ball, even
though sizes are soo close.

2c
Gary Emerson wrote:
ContestID67 wrote:
I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

Thanks, John


How sure are you that it was a 50mm hitch on the trailer? Did the
trailer get imported with the glider? Usually you can find 2" stamped
somewhere on the trailer if it's english. I'm sure we could fill the
newsgroup many times over with people's stories of having a hard time
either connecting or disconnecting trailers even when they are a correct
match.

With that said, the following link shows a picture of a bulldog coupler
(made by HammerBlow). I've only used this on one trailer, but it was
awesome when it came to hooking and unhooking the trailer. It looks
ugly, but it always dropped on with a snap and the way it pops loose by
swinging the jaw open when you're ready to unhook make it a piece of
cake every time. I'll convert any future trailer to this style as a
result. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant...y_Code=COUPLER

Kevin,

After reading your theory about egg-shaped metric hitches my anal
retentive engineering mind kicked in. I rushed to get my digital
calipers and measured the ball dimensions on the 20-year old Mercedes
we brought to this country once. I measured an incredibly precise
50.01 mm at any point of the (machined) surface of the ball. (This is a
removable hitch, it lives in the trunk)
There are lots of egg-shaped objects in this world but the European
hitch ain't among them! BTW, when towing with said Mercedes I notice
that the ball has (of course) noticable play in the imperial size
American tongue part of the hitch.
John is right in saying that a 2" ball will likely bind in a finely
made metric 50mm receptacle.

Herb, J7

wrote:
Metric hitches are designed with a different shape, more egglike, than
imperial types. This is why you must always use the proper ball, even
though sizes are soo close.

2c
Gary Emerson wrote:
ContestID67 wrote:
I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

Thanks, John


How sure are you that it was a 50mm hitch on the trailer? Did the
trailer get imported with the glider? Usually you can find 2" stamped
somewhere on the trailer if it's english. I'm sure we could fill the
newsgroup many times over with people's stories of having a hard time
either connecting or disconnecting trailers even when they are a correct
match.

With that said, the following link shows a picture of a bulldog coupler
(made by HammerBlow). I've only used this on one trailer, but it was
awesome when it came to hooking and unhooking the trailer. It looks
ugly, but it always dropped on with a snap and the way it pops loose by
swinging the jaw open when you're ready to unhook make it a piece of
cake every time. I'll convert any future trailer to this style as a
result. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant...y_Code=COUPLER

Howdy John (aka Mr. Tyrebiter),

Mudhead in Marfa here. As you might recall, I towed my Blanik (L-23)
trailer back and forth from Miami to Marfa several roundtrips until I
settled here. I used a 1 /7/8 ball and the trailer stayed on. I also
drive relatively slowly (55-60 mph), even on a long 2,000 mile journey.
I get there when I get there, and without the fatique of a stressful
fast pace. Sometimes it's best to avoid the Interstate routes with
those 75 mph big trucks blowing you around.

In any case, you should stick with the 1 7/8, or buy a 50mm ball from
www.HitchCorner.com They have a terrifc website about hitches,
grease, etc. They are located in Littleton (near Denver) Colorado,
USA.

I can also tell you that a 2 inch glider trailer hitch WILL jump off a
1 7/8 ball going over railroad tracks. Chains did their job - no
damage - no breakaway.

One of the most important trailering tips (besides "slow down") is to
alway put the pin or bolt through the safety latch on the glider
trailer hitch. Some folks skip this for a short drive and later regret
it when the latch moves aft and pops off the ball.

Ask me someday how I (and my Dad) learned all this stuff (pre- r.a.s.)
! It's a bit scary but we never put a dent in the gliders - just the
trailers.

Burt
- taking it slow in Marfa, west Texas USA, enjoying the "Firesign
Theatre", and a beautiful sunset after a long day of great soaring.


ContestID67 wrote:
I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

I use this set up for all of my trailers - 1 7/8", 50mm & 2":
http://www.convert-a-ball.com/
They don't list the 50mm ball on their website but they have them if
you ask.
Steve

ContestID67 wrote:
I needed to move a Blanik L23 trailer over the weekend. Using my 2"
tow hitch ball and I had a heck of a time disconnecting the two. I
knew that the Blanik trailer has what I assume is a 50mm tongue.

I was kind of surprised that my 2" ball (which works out to be 50.8mm)
would be a problem disconnecting. 8/10's of a millimeter difference
doesn't seem like enough to worry about.

What is the tolerance on a 2" setup? Is it so close that 0.8mm can be
a problem?

Thanks, John

Mudhead,

Thanks for all the helpful hints. Did you learn all this at Moore
Science High?

Say hello to Bottles. See you at the convention.

- Porgie

PS Anyone else in RAS get the odd references that Burt and I am
bandying about?

I forgot to mention that I installed some sneeze thru wind vents on my
DG. And the radio can pick up Tierra Del Fuego! Sorry I couldn't
resist.

ContestID67 wrote:
Mudhead,

Thanks for all the helpful hints. Did you learn all this at Moore
Science High?

Say hello to Bottles. See you at the convention.

- Porgie

PS Anyone else in RAS get the odd references that Burt and I am
bandying about?

of course, left coast, more specifically SF to SEA