valhalla360 wrote:
neu wrote:
I don't't quite understand how physics changes for the torque that is applied to my body depending on the height of the regular trailer hitch that I use. The only thing that seems to be affected more from my perspective is the hitch itself at the welding points due to the "lever".
With a standard ball, it's in line with the square tube. As a result the acceleration forces are straight in or out of the tube. They don't generate any torque on the hitch.
The ball may sit 6inches behind the tube, so your 440lb max hitch weight will result in 220ft-lb of torque due to the dead weight.
A couple inches of riser likely won't be a big deal but if you need a foot of rise, in a panic stop or just hitting a potholeat atspeed, there could be a couple thousand pounds of force pushing forward or back on that 1 foot arm. That would result on something on the order of 2000 ft-lb of torque on the hitch...ten times as much as the dead weight applies.
No guarantees but that may be enough to tear the hitch out of the car body...had a friend with a unibody hitch that did just that.
Yes, you're right, now I understand the logic.
Now you've given me a new reason to worry. I think in my case, I'll raise it by 7 inches to level the trailer, but now I won't be able to stop thinking about the potential problem.
It would make sense for car manufacturers to take into account such "impactful" loads, especially if they have a hitch as low as mine. But how can I be sure now...
