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stevemorris's avatar
stevemorris
Explorer
Aug 06, 2018

Torquing Hitch Assembly

does everybody torque their hitch assembly and ball?
mine requires 260 ft lbs on everything
we just got a bigger tt and had to reset everything and change the ball, should I get them torqued? and where? truck repair shop, rv place?

14 Replies

  • Regardless of how many ft. lbs.......the answer is YES, you should torque it to the required specs.

    Harbor Freight of a cheapo torque wrench that you won't use very often or go into any auto repair shop and buy the guy lunch to torque it for you...
  • stevemorris wrote:
    so little torque? 260 ft lbs seems like a lot to me!!
    that's a little less than me standing on a 2 ft power bar

    quote:
    "During hitch ball installation, torque all 3/4" shank diameter balls to 160 ft. lbs., and 1" shank diameter balls to 250 ft. lbs., and 1-1/4" shank diameter balls to 450 ft. lbs"

    from: http://www.draw-tite.com/products/hitch-balls/lpW61mcmaM7Rn!U40Vrhb2uvBig0MnRv

    so actually my 2 5/16 dia 1 1/4 shank should be 450 ft lbs


    Depends on the system - Equal-i-zer head shank bolts require 320 ft-lbs. :E Hitch ball torque - 450 ft-lbs is more like it. ;)
  • so little torque? 260 ft lbs seems like a lot to me!!
    that's a little less than me standing on a 2 ft power bar

    quote:
    "During hitch ball installation, torque all 3/4" shank diameter balls to 160 ft. lbs., and 1" shank diameter balls to 250 ft. lbs., and 1-1/4" shank diameter balls to 450 ft. lbs"

    from: http://www.draw-tite.com/products/hitch-balls/lpW61mcmaM7Rn!U40Vrhb2uvBig0MnRv

    so actually my 2 5/16 dia 1 1/4 shank should be 450 ft lbs
  • stevemorris wrote:
    does everybody torque their hitch assembly and ball?
    mine requires 260 ft lbs on everything
    we just got a bigger tt and had to reset everything and change the ball, should I get them torqued?


    Torque wrenches rated to 250 ft-lbs are common and reasonably priced so invest in one and do it yourself, 'though it would surprise me to find any hitch ball that required so little torque - you sure about this?