Getting rid of the 2.5" to 2" adaptor

So I bolted up my Draw-Tite hitch head and it fit perfectly. I believe for $130.00 this is a great option to use in place of a Bushing.

I painted my adapter pink. This way I see it and don't forget to remove it.

I'm thinking about tack welding my 2 1/2" adapter in place so I don't misplace it.I can't imagine ever needing a 2 1/2" shank on anything I plan to tow.

B.O.

In the past I always had a tow vehicle with a 2" hitch (my wagon). In the last 2 years we bought the 2500 Suburban, bought a bigger trailer (about 7500 lbs loaded), and I upgraded the factory hitch on the Suburban with a Reese 2.5" Class V. I had once borrowed my FIL's 2005 F350 before we had the Suburban to try it out. I had to buy a longer 2" drop shank to use his truck, which I use today with my Suburban and the sleeve adapter. I had thought of buying a 2.5" shank, but I haven't felt like spending the money. 3 weeks ago we were leaving town on a 4500 mile trip out west and the fuel pump went out on my Suburban 25 miles from home. It was Friday night and it would have been Monday before I could get anyone to do more than look at it so we would have had to skip part of our vacation (Glacier NP would have been skipped) but my dad volunteered his 2006 2500HD Duramax. It still has the factory 2" hitch. Amazingly I was able to move my shank and hitch head into his 2" hitch with no adjustments (close enough on the W/D and the cams were aligned perfectly on the Dual Cam). If I had been using a 2.5" shank, we'd have been out of luck. However, if I had a heavier trailer, I'd probably want to upgrade the shank anyway. Worked out well to be using a sleeve this time around!

465,

Now get that new shank bolted up!!! Lol They are heavy. My Titan shank is crazy heavy for being a "cut and carved" cast model. I am sure it weighs more than my solid, welded deep drop 2" shank. Now I need to take my own advice and get my 2.5" shank bolted up!!! Showed up after our last trip and we are headed out again next Fri!!! ??

As an added note, the dealer had messed up ordering the Titan shank and bolted my Reese to a Husky shank. Other than not being the 2.5" shank like we agreed on as part of the deal it worked fine.

Larry,

It seems at least Ford and some (aftermarket) adapter sleeves are either de-rating the hitch when using the adapter, or suggest/state not to use it with a wd hitch. I looked through my GM owners manual and could not find anything stating a de-rating. Also, it is easy to loose if you forget to remove the sleeve, or you may forget to grab the sleeve when going to pick a trailer up if you had left it in the garage.

I still use it for our snowmobile trailer, but I have a Reese 2.5" ball mount for the utility trailer (most 2" shank ball mounts weren't rated high enough) and now a 2.5" Reese Titan shank for the wd hitch. There is less play this way in the hitch also.

Calicajun wrote:
Just picked up a new 2" drop insert a little over a month ago, it works fine. Do wish the OP had posted this a sooner I would have bought a 2.5" insert if I had know they were out on the market. If for no other reason that I have almost lost the insert three times so far.

You must have missed my thread asking about the different 2.5" shanks and which would be better to go with. I posted it at least 2 months ago. Wasn't sure about a solid, welded shank vs cast one piece shank. Ended up getting the Reese Titan cast model. Maybe you could exchange it???

Vintage465 wrote:
So I posted a thread a while ago called "Need a new hitch". I think this is a venerable subject that needs a solution other than using the 2.5" to 2" bushing adaptor. I'm not looking to get a bunch of flak from persons using adaptors and being happy with them. If you're happy, I'm happy for you. I have ordered a Curt 2.5" drop shank that I believe I can install my Draw-Tite hitch head too. When I get the new shank and get the head installed and set up correctly I will post the results. I am pretty sure some will question whether you should install one brand of hitch onto another brand of shank. I will take that chance and not worry about it. It's a giant hunk of steel and in my opinion,if it bolts together......one giant hunk of iron is as good as another if it gets the job done.

V-465

Nothing wrong with what you are doing IMO, but why are you so opposed to using an adapter? I can't see any downsides to the adapter and for someone like me that already has a non WDH 2" ball mount hitch head for use with things like U-hauls, etc. the adapter route seems to make more sense.

Larry

So I got my new drop shank from Curt. I a completely confident that I can bolt up my Draw-Tite equalizing head to it and have all my "adaptor" issues gone....cause there will be no adaptor! I will put it together tomorrow and report back. Oh and by the way....that drop shank is real heavy!

Vintage465 wrote:

sh410 wrote:
Will the existing Draw-Tite hitch head fit on the 2.5" shank?

All of the online studying I did and viewing the photo of the unit leads me to believe it will fit. However if it doesn't, then I have two choices: I can buy the rest of the unit from Curt to fit the Curt drop shank, or................I have a $150.00 door stop! I am hoping it fits.

V-465

One more option if they aren't compatible is to return the Curt drop shank and buy a Reese 2.5" drop shank. I agree that the adapter is a pain especially on a heavy hitch. It always wants to slide into the receiver as your trying to install the shank or ball mount...

I use the Reece 2.5 with a Curt w/d hitch . Works great. But I do have and carry the
2" in my tool box just in case.

sh410 wrote:
Will the existing Draw-Tite hitch head fit on the 2.5" shank?

All of the online studying I did and viewing the photo of the unit leads me to believe it will fit. However if it doesn't, then I have two choices: I can buy the rest of the unit from Curt to fit the Curt drop shank, or................I have a $150.00 door stop! I am hoping it fits.

V-465