The Husky weight distributing hitch that came with our TT needs to be dropped a couple of inches. The instructions say the bolt that I need to undo to lower it should be tightened to 260 ft lbs of torque. :EMy torque wrench doesn't even go above 160, and I'm not sure I'm man enough to pull 260 even if it did. I've got a 1/2" breaker bar and a long pipe. How important is it to get the torque right? Or can I just get it very tight and go with it?I need to get the truck in for some service work and considered letting the mechanic there do it for me, but I suspect he'd just use the long-pipe method himself.

The ball on my wdh needed to be torqued to 450 ft pounds. Fortunately they have a torque wrench at work that could do the job. You should see the size of that thing! The other bolts needed 250 ft pounds. I was able to get a torque wrench to tighten them myself. Fortunately I was able to put the part to be torqued in the receiver and get the right torque. Yeah, it's a lot of force! In my opinion, I would have a mechanic torque it. Ask him first if he has a 260 ft pound torque wrench and if he does, go for it. It is definitely worth doing it right. There is no way to "guesstimate" that kind of torque.

I never torqued my bolts with a TQ wrench when we had our EQ. 1/2" breaker bar and a pipe is all I used. I just gave it all I could. Same with the hitch ball. Between the two TT's I had I put about 14,000 miles on them with no problems. Did the same with my 5'er king pin. It's never moved either. I put some scribe marks on the frame to see. And 1 year latter it's still in the same spot.

In my area most auto parts stores have tools to loan such as torque wrenches. You actually buy it with a credit card and when you return it they credit your credit card. I did this twice with a heavy duty torque wrench. Great service they provide.

Good advice above and those types of torque wrenches are generally 3/4" drive which few people have lying around. My Equalizer hitch required big torque on the ball (over 400 lbs as I recall) and I luckily had a buddy with a repair shop that had the required torque wrench and socket. If you don't know anybody, try a local mechanic and let them know you'll slip them a 20 for 60 seconds of work. Well worth it.

I would use a breaker bar . Do the calculations on length and ft lbs. Use a pull scale to get it close.

260 ft lbs of torque? Really? | Good Sam Community

jfkmk
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
The ball on my wdh needed to be torqued to 450 ft pounds. Fortunately they have a torque wrench at work that could do the job. You should see the size of that thing! The other bolts needed 250 ft pounds. I was able to get a torque wrench to tighten them myself. Fortunately I was able to put the part to be torqued in the receiver and get the right torque. Yeah, it's a lot of force! In my opinion, I would have a mechanic torque it. Ask him first if he has a 260 ft pound torque wrench and if he does, go for it. It is definitely worth doing it right. There is no way to "guesstimate" that kind of torque.
goducks10
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
I never torqued my bolts with a TQ wrench when we had our EQ. 1/2" breaker bar and a pipe is all I used. I just gave it all I could. Same with the hitch ball. Between the two TT's I had I put about 14,000 miles on them with no problems.

Did the same with my 5'er king pin. It's never moved either. I put some scribe marks on the frame to see. And 1 year latter it's still in the same spot.
Bigbird65
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
In my area most auto parts stores have tools to loan such as torque wrenches. You actually buy it with a credit card and when you return it they credit your credit card. I did this twice with a heavy duty torque wrench. Great service they provide.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 18, 2014
Good advice above and those types of torque wrenches are generally 3/4" drive which few people have lying around. My Equalizer hitch required big torque on the ball (over 400 lbs as I recall) and I luckily had a buddy with a repair shop that had the required torque wrench and socket. If you don't know anybody, try a local mechanic and let them know you'll slip them a 20 for 60 seconds of work. Well worth it.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
I would use a breaker bar . Do the calculations on length and ft lbs. Use a pull scale to get it close.
Andymon
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
I had the rv place install ours. They used an air impact wrench.
dockmasterdave
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
I agree with ron3rd. I doubt the 1/2" bar with a pipe will stand up to that torque. I bet it'll take a 3/4" or 3/4"impact wrench.
toaobigal
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
You can use a torque multiplicator....
wmoses
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
ECones wrote:
The Husky weight distributing hitch that came with our TT needs to be dropped a couple of inches. The instructions say the bolt that I need to undo to lower it should be tightened to 260 ft lbs of torque. :E

If there is a failure at these bolts which were not torqued per Husky's specifications, would you approach Husky looking for compensation?
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
Here is what I would do. Take your 1/2" breaker bar with a 3 foot pipe. Pull on that til it breaks. You're almost there. Then get a 3/4" breaker bar and a 3 foot pipe. Turn it another 1/4 turn. Done.

Forum Discussion

260 ft lbs of torque? Really?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

260 hp?

Engine torque

Lug Nut Torque

Duramax Torque Management

HP vs Torque