How often do you need to tighen your hitch ball?

I tighten it once when it is first put on. They have a large lockwasher and I have never had one ever come loose or require re-tightening.

I have been towing since around 72 and I have had an uncountable number of vehicles and hitch balls.

I use a half inch drive socket with an 18" flex bar. Plenty strong enough for the task.
If you are in doubt, get a torque wrench and get a visual on the tightness of the nut.

I really wouldn't worry about it.

Just tighten it good with whatever tools you have , no need to get too technical.I been towing whatever for sixty plus years and never had a ball come loose.We have way too many urban myths on the site.

There are whole college level courses on fastening methodology (part
of my strength of materials classes) and can not cover it here, but
the essence is that the designers have chosen via calculations and
empirical data the proper sizing and torque (that should be on the
ball's packaging)

Here is a good site that has most of the germane info:
Bolt Science..info page

Or you can go 'farmer tight'... :S

Part of the science is to preload the bolt (the balls threaded shank is that)
so that the clamping force (shear and tension...clamping are the some of the
things it does).

In consideration of the application and possible worst case vibration
and other forces...so it should NOT come loose if tightened to spec

That clamping force is to keep the ball from turning and moving around in the
hole.

My guess is that your ball packaging will list something in the 400-500 ft/lb range.
A four to five foot long breaker bar with 100 lbs at 12 inches from the pivot


Suggest you take the shank & head to a RV or good mechanic shop and ask them
to tighten it. Some will do it for free...others for not much $$$

I paint a red line across the nut on the bottom of mine so I can easily see any movement. In 40 years of boats and trailers I had only one that moved. I still carry the breaker bar and socket with me.

I have never had to tighten the hitch ball.

In the 16 years I towed my TT the ball never came loose. You do need to use a large ratchet & breaker bar/torque wrench or wrench.

You can use a large pipe wrench on the base of the ball (will leave marks) and jam the nut with a large screwdriver or prybar. Works in an emergency but not the proper way to do it.

Instead of buying the tools, take it to a local auto, truck or RV repair shop and pay them to do it.