Ball Height Adjustment Questions

mkirsch wrote:
Well, the best way to remove the bolts is with the appropriately sized wrenches. Seriously. What are they, 3/4" diameter bolts? That takes a 1-1/8" wrench, which are usually 16-18" long. Plenty of leverage unless you're only like 98lbs soaking wet. Harbor Freight sells a hitch ball wrench with a 1-1/8" and a 1-1/2" end. I keep one in every truck. They have hundreds of uses besides hitch balls.

Put the shank in the receiver so the nuts are on the passenger side of the vehicle. That might mean putting it in upside down. The vehicle is the best vice you can ask for when dealing with shank bolts. This way you can put the wrench on and push down to loosen the nuts. You might have to stand on the end of the wrench and give it a bounce or two to crack them loose. Just be aware that the wrench isn't going to hold you up and be ready to compensate when it turns. We don't need any skinned shins.

Tightening the bolts back up, don't worry about getting "exactly" 250 ft-lbs. Use your 5th grade lesson on moments, torque is force times distance. An 18" long wrench is 1.5ft. 1.5ft times 170lbs is approximately 250 ft-lbs.

Insert the shank in the receiver with the nuts facing the driver's side so you can push down to tighten. Pushing down with approximately 170lbs of force (i.e. a 170lb person standing, NOT bouncing, on the end of the wrench until it stops turning the nut), gives you around 250 ft-lbs.

Thank you so much for your reply! Yeah the tools needed are as follows:

Shank Bolts:
1-1/8 wrench
1-1/16 wrench

15/16 wrench for angle set bolt

I might get a breaker bar as that will help break them loose. We are at a resort and I don't know that it would go well if I start using an impact. I will probably pickup a torque wrench and keep it in the trailer just for piece of mind...its good to have for the lugs as well.